Replies to Minor Queries.
_James Wilson, M.D._ (Vol. v., p. 276.).--To the numerous list of men
whose services to literature our English biographers have injudiciously
omitted to record may be added James Wilson, M.D. As editor of the
_Mathematical tracts_ of Mr. Benjamin Robins in 1761, he has often been
noticed with commendation. Beyond that circumstance, all is obscurity.
He wrote, however, a valuable _Dissertation on the rise and progress of
the modern art of navigation_, which was first published by Mr. John
Robertson in his _Elements of navigation_ in 1764, and republished by
him in 1772. The authors shall now speak for themselves:--
"This edition [of the _Elements of navigation_] is also enriched
with the history of the art of navigation; for with the author's
leave, I have published the following dissertation on that
subject, written by Dr. Wilson, believing it would afford the most
ample satisfaction on that subject."--John ROBERTSON, 1764.
"My enquiries into these matters [navigation] induced the late
learned Dr. James Wilson to review and complete his observations
on the subject, and produced his _Dissertation_ on the history of
the art of navigation, which he was pleased to give me leave to
publish with the second edition of this work.... The second
edition of these _Elements_ having also been well received by the
public, Dr. Wilson took the pains to revise his _Dissertation_,
which he improved in many particulars."--John ROBERTSON, Nov. 1,
1772.
"This _Dissertation_, written at first by desire, is now reprinted
with alterations. Though I may be thought to have dwelt too long
on some particulars, not directly relating to the subject; yet I
hope that what is so delivered, will not be altogether
unentertaining to the candid reader. As to any apology for having
handled a matter quite foreign to my way of life, I shall only
plead, that very young, living in a sea-port town, I was eager to
be acquainted with an art that could enable the mariner to arrive
across the wide and pathless ocean at his desired harbour."
London. James WILSON, 1771?
The united libraries of Henry Pemberton, M.D., F.R.S., and James Wilson,
M.D., were sold in 1772. The sale occupied eighteen evenings, and
produced 701_l._ 17_s._ 6_d._ The learned writers, who were intimate
friends, died within seven months of each other in 1771.