Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society

Abstract

THE papers read before this Society still preserve the high character attributed to them in the notice of vol. ii., which appeared in this journal. That such should be the case is not matter for surprise, when we run our eyes over the list of contributors. The principal authors are Prof. Cayley and Mr. Samuel Roberts. The former furnishes three memoirs on quartic surfaces (pp. 59–69; 198–202; 234–266); sketch of recent researches upon quartic and quintic surfaces; rational transformation between two spaces (pp. 127–180); on Plücker's models of certain quartic surfaces. The latter communicates papers on the order of the discriminants of a ternary form; pedals of conic sections (pp. 88–98); on the ovals of Des Cartes (pp. 1o5–126); on the order and singularities of the parallel of an algebraical curve (pp. 209–259); on the motion of a plane undercertain conditions. Prof. Clerk Maxwell contributes a paper on the mathematical classification of physical quantities. Besides the foregoing communications, the above-named gentlemen have laid other papers before the Society. Memoirs have also been presented by Mr. J. Griffiths, Mr. J. J. Walker, Prof. Clifford, Hon. J. W. Strutt, and other members. Some other highly valuable communications, we learn from the “Proceedings” were made to the Society, but no record has as yet been made of them, their authors not having yet sent their completed papers for publication. The Society, from the number and high character of its memoirs, seems to have met a want, and is, perhaps, the only Society before which many of the communications could have been brought. As generally the papers are worked out in some detail at the meetings, members have an interesting opportunity of seeing how some of our foremost mathematicians employ their divers instruments. The Society has lost by death during the past session, its first president, and one of its earliest warm supporters. A slight sketch of Prof. De Morgan and his works appeared in NATURE close upon his death in March last. The eighth session of the Society's existence has just commenced, and we trust its future work may be as good as that it has already achieved. Floreat.