The two notebooks of Benjamin Robins

Benjamin Robins (1707–1751), kept two notebooks, his (i) Miscellaneous Notebook and (ii) a Commonplace Notebook. The first was a record of new topics and “ideas” which might become useful or valuable for new papers or helpful in writing them. It embraces several distinct subjects. The second was largely a gathering of artillery results — such as records of cannon ball range and air resistance calculations derived from different authors. The Contents of both Notebooks are given in brief and a few typical examples from each is presented. The Notebooks have little been mentioned by earlier authors interested in Robins’ work, and indeed, their existence is certainly not known at large. Both the Notebooks are handwritten. A somewhat incomplete transcription of the Miscellaneous Notebook has been compiled by the writer and lodged in the library of the Royal Society of London. Some examples from the Commonplace Notebook, and an Index of the names of authors in it, are given below; copies of the book itself are easily obtained. It is hoped that the above material will appeal to those interested in Robins’ researches.