AN

ACCOUNT

OF THE

LIFE, WRITINGS, and INVENTIONS

OF

JOHN NAPIER,

OF

MERCHISTON;

BY

DAVID STEWART, EARL OF BUCHAN,

AND

WALTER MINTO, L. L. D.

ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPER-PLATES.

QUANDO ULLUM INVENIES PAREM?

PERT H:

PRINTED BY R. MORISON, JUNR.

FOR R. MORISON AND SON, BOOKSELLERS; AND SOLD BY J. MUR-
RAY, FLEET-STREET, LONDON; AND W. CREECH, EDINBURGH,

M,DCC,LXXVIII.

As the writings of Archimedes were addreffed to the King of Sicily, who had perused and relished them, fo I do myself the honour, to addrefs to Your Majefty, the following account of the Life, Writings, and Inventions of our British Archimedes, in which, I can claim no other merit, than having endeavoured to call forth and illuftrate the abilities of others. I feel great pleasure, in dedicating this Tract to Your Majefty, after the chaste and dignified model of Antiquity, bestowing on the King, the merited encomium, of having promoted the Sciences and Arts, with which it is connected; and in affuring Your Majefty, that I am, with the greatest respect,

Your MAJESTY'S

Most dutiful Subject, and

1

Obedient humble Servant,

BUCHAN.