Dissertation, decouverte, et demonstrations de la quadrature
mathematique du cercle. Par M. de Faure, geometre. [_s. l._, probably
Geneva] 1747, 8vo.
Analyse de la Quadrature du Cercle. Par M. de Faure, Gentilhomme
Suisse. Hague, 1749,[323] 4to.
According to this octavo geometer and quarto gentleman, a diameter of 81
gives a circumference of 256. There is an amusing circumstance about the
quarto which has been overlooked, if indeed the book has ever been {150}
examined. John Bernoulli (the one of the day)[324] and Koenig[325] have
both given an attestation: my mathematical readers may stare as they
please, such is the fact. But, on examination, there will be reason to
think the two sly Swiss played their countryman the same trick as the
medical man played Miss Pickle, in the novel of that name. The lady only
wanted to get his authority against sousing her little nephew, and said,
"Pray, doctor, is it not both dangerous and cruel to be the means of
letting a poor tender infant perish by sousing it in water as cold as
ice?"--"Downright murder, I affirm," said the doctor; and certified
accordingly. De Faure had built a tremendous scaffolding of equations,
quite out of place, and feeling cock-sure that his solutions, if correct,
would square the circle, applied to Bernoulli and Koenig--who after his
tract of two years before, must have known what he was at--for their
approbation of the solutions. And he got it, as follows, well guarded:
"Suivant les suppositions posees dans ce Memoire, il est si evident que
t doit etre = 34, y = 1, et z = 1, que cela n'a besoin ni de preuve ni
d'autorite pour etre reconnu par tout le monde.[326]
"a Basle le 7e Mai 1749. JEAN BERNOULLI."
"Je souscris au jugement de Mr. Bernoulli, en consequence de ces
suppositions.[327]
"a la Haye le 21 Juin 1749. S. KOENIG."
On which de Faure remarks with triumph--as I have no doubt it was intended
he should do--"il conste clairement par ma presente Analyse et
Demonstration, qu'ils y ont deja {151} reconnu et approuve parfaitement que
la quadrature du cercle est mathematiquement demontree."[328] It should
seem that it is easier to square the circle than to get round a
mathematician.
An attempt to demonstrate that all the Phenomena in Nature may be
explained by two simple active principles, Attraction and Repulsion,
wherein the attraction of Cohesion, Gravity and Magnetism are shown to
be one the same. By Gowin Knight. London, 1748, 4to.
Dr. Knight[329] was Mr. Panizzi's[330] archetype, the first Principal
Librarian of the British Museum. He was celebrated for his magnetical
experiments. This work was long neglected; but is now recognized as of
remarkable resemblance to modern speculations.