The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-10 00:00:00

43r1 /Jib' MAir TI OWN. 't 101

S.

•," ,141

That- a blitid man should' TrioviT thti ASO are
of a mathematichmk, seems a phenojnenon difficult
to be aceounted antj, has desavedly excited
the admiration 6 every age in which it ifitiap.
peared. TtillY mentions it its 'athing Scarcely
credible ;in his oWrifinaSter, DietiltuS, " that ire
exercised himself in learning with more
assi-
duity after he bectiine:llind:; and that he pro-
fessed: geometry, describing his diagetitinrio e*.
pressly to his tlholars, that they could dads.
every line hilitsproper 'direction." St: tierome
relates. a:more remarkable instance' in Didymn's
of Alexandria, who 66 though blind, from his in.
fancy, and therefore even ignorant of letters,
appeared so great a miracle ttv the world, as
not only to learn logic, but geometry, also to
perfection, which seems the most of any thing
to require the help of sight." Cassidorus men-
Lions
,ia:tisebius of Asia, who, according to his own
account
,of himself, " had been blind from five
years old, and yet had treasured up in his mind all
kinds of learning, and also taught them with the
greatest clearness to others," Trithemius gives a
similar account of one " NiCait,e of Itlechlin,
Whin, though blind froM the third year of his age,
yet, like another Didymus, became so great a
master of all learning and knowledge, divine and
htiMan, that he publicly taught in the University
of Cologne both the canon and the civil law,
frepently citing books 'he had never seen, but
had learnt froni their being read to him." Men-
tion has also' been 'Made of a native of Holland,
Who, notwithstanding his blindness, excelled in
mathematical learning. Dr. Nicholas Sauuders
son, who' was Professor of Mathi;maties in the
University of Cambridge, at the cornmenceinent
orate test century, wits totally deprived of both
his sight and eyes when only twelve months old.
He '.diseovered 'wheti u
.bOy 'a strong predilection
for niiithenthticat studies, and as these were cul.
tivated, he made kiitest, rapid progress. In
,the
year 1707, being ;then twenty-five years of age,
he' Was sent to Cambridge, where his friends had
Intended!. he should 'givt lectures, tiot doubting
'lntl that the amazing proficiency he laid already
made in mathematical learning, and his peculiar
felicity of expression in conveying his idea to
others, would enable him to teach the mathema•
tics with great credit and advantage even in Ow
University. When he artived_atCambridge, he
found that as Mr. Whiston,then in the Mathema-
tical Peofessinlashair, read lecturei in the manner
he had proposed; any attempt of this kind would
.be an encroachment on the privileges of his office.
Bot Mr. Whiston readily consented to the appli
cation of Mr.S.'s friends, and Wowed him togive
lectures. These were immediately so well attended
by students from the several Colleges, that ho
could hardly divide the day arming all who were
desirous of his instruction. The Principe' .411a7:
thertmlicri of Sir Jsaac Net, ton, with Ids Treegiw
on Optics, Mid his Airilleenctica iiniversuliy, were
the foundation of Mr. SatiodersOn's lectures.
t pon the renioval of Mr. WhiStiia from his Pee's
fessorship, Mr. Saundersoa's mathematical merit
occasioned an 'extrtiOrdinary Step to be,takento
qualify him with a degree which the Statutes re-
quires. A mandate was granted from the Queen,
for c onferriag or him the degree of Master of
Arti; upon which he was chosen Lucasian Pro•
fessor of Mathematics hi 1711. Ills inaugural
speech hi Latin was distingUished by elegance,
and by the graceful manner in which it was do.
livered. lii the year 172.8„ when George
visitedlthir University of. Catithridgei he express-,
ed-a wish to see so eittiOrdinary a petson ;
the Prafesior was introduced. to his
Majesty, who created him Doctor of hairs by
his royal favour. Dr. Sanderson had so strong a
memory, that he could Calculate in his mind,
multiply, divide, and extract the squaw or cube,
root to many placeS,Of figures ; and could keep
pace with any calculator: in working algebraical:
problems., infinite Series, &c. Ills sense of touch
was so acute, that he ctitild with great nicety-
and exactness discover the slightest difference of
Enlace,. or tho lieSt defect Of poliSii; thus he
distinguiihed in a set of Roman medals the ge-
nuine from the false, although they bed been coml.
terfeited With such eXactneitias to deCeive it con-
noisseur.

SHOCKIN4 the Reading coach
was Yeste`rda7 proceeding, through Timbal-,
green, on ltS way to town, thc coachman, observ,
lug several children playing in the road, called too
them to got out of the way. Unfortunately one.
of them in ho doing slipped down, and the coach
being then close by, the driver was 'enable to'
check his horses in time, and the wheel passed
over his thighs, both of which were dreadtilly
crushed ; but liltle. hopes are entertained of his
saniving the unfortunate accident.

• Yesterday, about tw.etve• o'clock a relnale
,
servant in the employ ht n respectable trades
IYlittl reSiaiiife in 11.1nefirei, rs -road, suddenly
rushed froni-the liltehen Into the street in ft trait
owing to her elOtbei having can lit
the.' y were innnedintely ectlngutilieo by, soiut!
pasSengers thiSsing by ; but not' `before the un.'.
foittinitte 'female was considerably bOrnt, al-
Ahongh not- •so mueh ns tO endanger lrt 'r
life.; A Geitiferinnni belOrigibg to the olike'Of the
creek of tti Chafiaety.,
lane, stopPitlif,at the to' render her assist.
ane,e, %vita robbed at the met' ent bygang,of
thieie4 who snirontuied him and a gentleman
awirol*e tisWthlethbilultintol;l 6011ftltf
hisl
Containing
stole pgooctkceite-abook,