Autograph letter from Colin Maclaurin comprising a secretarial copy of an English translation of a letter from Maupertuis to James Bradley, 4 February 1737 [Old Style, i.e. 1738]
Scope and Contents
Autograph letter from Colin Maclaurin addressed to James Stirling "at Leadhills", dated 4 February 1737 [Old Style, i.e. 1738], comprising a secretarial copy of an English translation of a letter from Maupertuis to James Bradley, Paris 27 September 1737, announcing the return of the French expedition to Lapland, 1736-37, and describing in detail the findings of the expedition, with Maclaurin's autograph covering note to verso of conjugate leaf, with apostscript inviting Stirling to join a newly established "philosophical society", i.e. the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh.
Dates
- Creation: 4 February 1737 [Old Style, i.e. 1738]
Creator
- MacLaurin, Colin, 1698-1746 (mathematician) (Author, Person)
- Maupertuis, Pierre Louis Moreau de, 1698-1759 (French mathematician, philosopher and man of letters) (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Full Extent
1 letter
Physical Description
Folio, Maclaurin's letter written on 1 page, Maupertuis's letter on 3 pages, 38 x 24 cm, retaining red wax seal, a few small holes and marginal chips (causing loss of a few words in the postscript of Maupertuis's letter).
Subject
- Stirling, James, 1692-1770 (Scottish mathematician) (Recipient, Person)
- Bradley, James, 1692-1762 (Astronomer-Royal) (Recipient, Person)
- Philosophical Society of Edinburgh (1737-1783) (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Technique
Topical
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk