Details
MASKELYNE, Nevil (1732-1811). A Proposal for measuring the Attraction of Some Hill in this Kingdom by Astronomical Observations. London: n.p., 1776. 4o (213 x 161 mm). Collation: A4. 4 leaves. Contemporary calf, lettering pieces on spine. FIRST EDITION. Norman 1451. -- [Bound with:] MASKELYNE. An Account of Observations made on the Mountain Schehallien for finding its Attraction. London: n.p., 1776. 4o. Collation: A-F4 (-F4 blank). 23 leaves. FIRST EDITION. Norman 1455. -- [Bound with:] John PRINGLE (1707-1782). A Discourse on the Attraction of Mountains, delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Society, November 30, 1775. London: for the Royal Society, 1775. 4o. Collation: A-D4 (D4+1). 17 leaves (B3 misbound after D1). FIRST EDITION. Norman 1757.
Provenance: Lady Margaret Clive, Nevil Maskelyne's sister (bookplate of her and her husband, Robert Clive, and her signature on title-page dated March 1776).
RARE PAMPHLETS BELONGING TO MASKELYNE'S SISTER. Following a procedure suggested by Newton in his Treatise on the system of the world (1728), Maskelyne attempted to determine the density of the earth by measuring the deviations from the perpendicular produced in a plumb line by the mountain's gravitational attractions. "His results provided the first convincing demonstration of the Newtonian theory that gravitation is a universal force, operating not only between the heavenly bodies but between the elements of which each body is made" (Norman). The final paper in this collection is Pringle's address in honor of Maskelyne, who had been awarded the Royal Society's medal in 1775 for his experiments confirming Newton's theory of universal gravitation. Norman 1452.
Provenance: Lady Margaret Clive, Nevil Maskelyne's sister (bookplate of her and her husband, Robert Clive, and her signature on title-page dated March 1776).
RARE PAMPHLETS BELONGING TO MASKELYNE'S SISTER. Following a procedure suggested by Newton in his Treatise on the system of the world (1728), Maskelyne attempted to determine the density of the earth by measuring the deviations from the perpendicular produced in a plumb line by the mountain's gravitational attractions. "His results provided the first convincing demonstration of the Newtonian theory that gravitation is a universal force, operating not only between the heavenly bodies but between the elements of which each body is made" (Norman). The final paper in this collection is Pringle's address in honor of Maskelyne, who had been awarded the Royal Society's medal in 1775 for his experiments confirming Newton's theory of universal gravitation. Norman 1452.