To Peter Collinson SIR, I am glad the perusal of the magical squares afforded you any amusement. I now send you the magical circle. Its properties, besides those mentioned in my former, are these. Half the number in any radial row, added with half the A Magic Circle of Circles. central number, make 180, equal…
All posts in The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, Vol II: Philadelphia
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The Arithmetical Curiosity
To Peter Collinson SIR, According to your request, I now send you the Arithmetical Curiosity, of which this is the history. Being one day in the country, at the house of our common friend, the late learned Mr. Logan, he shewed me a folio French book, filled with magic squares, wrote, if I forget not,…
Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, &c.
1. Tables of the Proportion of Marriages to Births, of Deaths to Births, of Marriages to the Numbers of Inhabitants, &c. form’d on Observations made upon the Bills of Mortality, Christnings, &c. of populous Cities, will not suit Countries; nor will Tables form’d on Observations made on full settled old Countries, as Europe, suit new…
Appeal for the Hospital
Post obitum benefacta manent, aeternaque Virtus Non metuit Stygiis, nec rapiatur Aquis. I was sick, and ye visited me. Matth. xxv. Among all the innumerable Species of Animals which inhabit the Air, Earth and Water, so exceedingly different in their Production, their Properties, and the Manner of their Existence, and so varied in Form, that…
Rattle-Snakes for Felons
To the Printers of the Gazette. By a Passage in one of your late Papers, I understand that the Government at home will not suffer our mistaken Assemblies to make any Law for preventing or discouraging the Importation of Convicts from Great Britain, for this kind Reason, `That such Laws are against the Publick Utility,…