This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1844 Excerpt: ... CHAP. XVII. A.d. 1817,1818. In The Decline Of Life. Dr. Milner's private reading, at this period, seems to have been divided between theological investigations, and books of a strictly devotional character. Of leisure, however, he had but little. The time of the College audit approached; and the annual duty of the examination of the Smith's Prize-men demanded his attention. It is true, indeed, that this last occupation cost him little in the way of preparation: he had discharged it during a long series of years, and in addition to the readiness which long practice must give, his style of examination, according to the representation of many of the distinguished men, who, in different years, sat for the Smith's prize, was, as he himself half-jocularly declared it to be, very much 'off-hand.' The following highly characteristic recollections of the examination of this year, most kindly communicated to me by the Rev. Temple Chevallier, illustrate this peculiarity, and are otherwise in remarkable consistence with those of the other eminent mathematicians whose reminiscences of similar scenes have enriched this volume. After speaking in warm terms of the 'great talents and high character of Dean Milner, together with the great and beneficial influence which he exerted for so many years, in so eminent a station, ' Mr. Chevallier thus proceeds: 'I was examined by him when I was a candidate for one of the Smith's prizes, in January, 1817. I was then somewhat older than when I sat for the Bell's scholarship, and had, perhaps, become divested of some of that extreme awe with which a Freshman looks up to such a man as Dean Milner. I remember well, that his style of examination was then very peculiar. There were but few candidates, I think four; and the Dean entered upon...

Excerpt from The Life of Isaac Milner, D. D., F. R. S: Dean of Carlisle, President of Queen's College and Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge More than twenty years having elapsed since the death of the subject of this biography, some explanation is, perhaps, due, from the Author, respecting the publication of a work which has been so long delayed. On this point it might be sufficient to observe, in general, that those lives, the histories of which best deserve the attention of mankind, are, at the same time, those which are least dependent for their interest, upon the circumstances of time or place. With more particular reference, however, to the present work, it may be fairly asserted, that the value which may be reasonably supposed to belong to a faithful Memoir of the Life and Character of the late Isaac Milner, is, by no means, of an ephemeral nature. The history of a man whose mental endowments raised him from poverty and obscurity to wealth and fame, must always command attention, and possess an enduring worth; and if it were the sole object of the following pages to exhibit an eminent instance of the success which, almost invariably, in a greater or less degree, rewards the vigorous and persevering exercise of superior talents, such an object would amply justify their publication. That life must surely be worthy of being recorded, of which the whole course affords a striking illustration of the animating truth, that, in this free country, ability and industry are the passports to honourable distinction. In the case of Dean Milner, however, another and a more powerful source of interest is superadded. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.