Autograph Letter Signed ('S. P. Rigaud') from Stephen Peter Rigaud, Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford, to Rev. W[illiam]. T[oovey]. Hopkins of Elmdon House, Coventry [Rector of Nuffield], explaining a mistake.in geometry.
Author:
Stephen Peter Rigaud (1774-1839), mathematian and astronomer, successively Fellow of Exeter College, Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford, and Savilian Professor of Astronomy
Publication details:
Richmond; 28 January 1824.
£80.00
SKU: 11674
2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Black wax seal adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is addressed, with postmarks, by Rigaud to 'Revd. W. T. Hopkins / Elmdon House / Coventry'. He explains, with two diagrams, a geometrical mistake by Hopkins, the letter beginning: 'Your difficulty arises entirely from your imagining that the squares of lines are proportionate to the lines themselves - This is by no means the case'. He concludes: 'I return to Oxford in the latter end of next week & if I have not made this all clear to you or if any other difficulty occurs to you, here or there I shall always be happy in hearing from you.'