Notebooks of prof. Rigaud

Title

Notebooks of prof. Rigaud

Shelfmark

MS. Rigaud 37

Summary

Notebooks of, and chiefly written by, prof. S. P. Rigaud on scientific and literary subjects, especially Astronomy, Mathematics, and Natural Science, usually consisting of stitched sections, each dated and signed and containing varying numbers of leaves: every volume has a (later) list of contents. Prof. Rigaud was fond of noting down criticisms as he read through a book, and everything he did was distinguished by neatness and precision.

The chief contents are as follows, the papers and essays to which no name is attached being by Rigaud:

Fol. 3. Collections for a Life of dr. Edmund Halley, by S. P. Rigaud, 1835-38, consisting of copies of papers by Halley, letters by, to or relating to him, extracts, etc. Twenty leaves of Rigaud's paper on Halley's Astronomia: Cometicæ Synopsis are wanting before fol. 4, and one after fol. 255. At fol. 43r is a copy of a long letter from Rigaud to F. Baily about Halley's instruments, May 27, 1831

Fol. 256. Similar collections for a Life of James Stirling the mathematician, by S. P. Rigaud, 1832-38

Fol. 443. A paper on the MSS. of mr. William Jones (d. 1749

Fol. 460. Papers about John Collins (d. 1683), Thomas Tompion (fol. 470) and Thomas Savery (fol. 487)

Fol. 503. 'On the first publication of the Principia' of Newton, a paper, 1838

Fol. 546. 'Further Defence of Halley', by Stephen Jordan Rigaud, about A.D. 1850 (?)

Date

Written in 1806-1839, chiefly by S. P. Rigaud

Language

English

Physical facet

On paper

Physical extent

554 Leaves