Mathematics drew from Edmund Gurney the odd definition, that “a
mathematician is like one that goes to market to buy an axe to break an
egg.”
Bacon complains that men do not sufficiently understand the excellent
use of the Pure Mathematics, in that they do remedy and cure many
defects in the wit and faculties intellectual. For if the wit be too
dull, they sharpen it; if too wandering, they fix it; if too inherent in
the sense, they abstract it. So that as tennis is a game of no use in
itself, but of great use in respect it maketh a quick eye, and a body
ready to put itself into any postures; so in the mathematics, that use
which is collateral and intervenient is no less worthy than that which
is principal and intended. And as for the Mixed Mathematics, I only make
this prediction, that there cannot fail to be more kinds of them, as
nature grows further disclosed;” thus foretelling the advance of Natural
Philosophy.
However, the understanding of Applied Mathematics is not unattainable
under ordinary circumstances. Lord Rosse has observed that, without any
special mathematical knowledge, a well-informed man may often, in the
results announced, and from the observations elicited, obtain very
interesting glimpses of the nature of mathematical processes, and some
general idea as to the progress making in that direction. In applied
mathematics there is much more of general interest, and the results are
often perfectly intelligible without special education. In proof of this
Lord Rosse adduces, that “at the meeting of the British Association at
Oxford, the general results of a very abstruse investigation in applied
mathematics in physical astronomy were made very interesting. The
subject was so brought forward as to rivet the attention of the whole
section, and there were many ladies present. The paper was given in by
M. Leverrier, and the subject was the identification of a comet. How
wonderful from its origin has been the progress of mathematical science!
Beginning perhaps three thousand years ago almost from nothing—one
simple relation of magnitude suggesting another, and those relations
gradually becoming more complicated, more interesting, I may add more
important, till at length in our day it has expanded into a science
which enables us to _weigh the planets_, and, more wonderful still, to
calculate the course they will take when acted continually upon by
forces varying in magnitude and direction.”
We trace in Porson’s habits of thought the influence which the study of
mathematics had upon him.[76] He was to his dying day fond of these
studies. There are still preserved many papers of his scribbled over
with mathematical calculations; and when the fit seized him in the
street which caused his death, an equation was found in his pocket.
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Footnote 76:
In enabling him to give to English scholarship its accuracy and
certainty,—as a substratum on which to rest other branches of
knowledge often more useful in themselves. See Mr. Luard’s able
_Cambridge Essay_.
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