The Romance of Mathematics Being the Original Researches of a Lady Professor of Girtham College in Polemical Science, with some Account of the Social Properties of a Conic; Equations to Brain Waves; Social Forces; and the Laws of Political Motion.

How they came into the possession of the present writer it is not his intention to disclose; but inasmuch as they seemed to his unscientific mind to contain some important discoveries which might be useful to the world, he determined to investigate thoroughly the contents of the mysterious desk, and make the public acquainted with its profound treasures. He found some documents which did not refer exactly to the subject of 'Polemical Mathematics;' but knowing the truth of the Hindoo proverb, 'The words of the wise are precious, and never to be disregarded,' and feeling sure that this Lady Professor of Girtham College was entitled to that appellation, he ventured to include them in this volume, and felt confident that in so doing he would be carrying out the intention of the Authoress, had she expressed any wishes on the subject. In fact, as he valued the interests of the State and his own peace of mind, he dared not withhold any particle of that which he conceived would confer a lasting benefit on mankind.

Internal evidence seems to show that the earlier portion of the MS. was written during the period when the authoress was still in statu pupillari; but her learning was soon recognised by the Collegiate Authorities, and she was speedily elected to a Professorship. Her lectures were principally devoted to the abstruse subject of Scientific Politics, and are worthy of the attention of all those whose high duty it is to regulate the affairs of the State.

The Editor has been able to gather from the varied contents of the desk some details of the Author's life, which increase the interest which her words excite; and he ventures to hope that the public will appreciate the wisdom which created such a profound impression upon those whose high privilege it was to hear the lectures for the first time in the Hall of Girtham College.

CONTENTS.

PAPER PAGE I. Some Remarks on Female Education:

Cambridge Man's Powers of Application.--Torturing Ingenuity of Examiners.--Slaying an Enemy.--'Concentration.'-- 'Tangential Action.'--'Gravity' 1

II. Lecture on the Theory of Brain Waves and the Transmigration and Potentiality of Mental Forces 15

III. The Social Properties of a Conic Section, and the Theory of Polemical Mathematics:

'Circle.'--'Parabola.'--'Ellipse.' 'Eccentricity of Curves' 25

IV. The Social Properties of a Conic Section (continued):

'Ellipse.'--Most favoured State.--Alarming Result of Suppression of House of Lords.--Analogies of Nature.-- Directrix.--Contact of Curves and States.--'Hyperbola.'-- Problems.--Radical Axis and Patriotism.--Extension of Franchise to Women.--Correspondence 39

V. Social Forces, with some Account of Polemical Kinematics:

The Use of Imagination in Scientific Discovery.--Kinetic and Potential Energy.--Social Statics and Dynamics.--Attractive Forces.--Cohesion.--Formation of States.--Inertia.--Dr. Tyndall on Social Forces 71

VI. Social Forces (continued): Polemical Statics and Dynamics:

'Personal Equation.'--Public Opinion, how calculated.-- Impulsive Forces.--Friction.--Progress 89