Ewing, John, 1732-1802.
John Ewing notebooks on astronomy and physics, 1784-1796.
Folder 1 contains Ewing's notebook of astronomical tables for 1784 and astronomical observations from July 17-September 5, 1784 including "a comparison of the correspondent observations made at Wilmington [De.] and ye S. West corner of Pennsylvania," regarding a boundary dispute. One leaf laid in indentifies the observers as Ewing, Ellicott, Hutchins, and Madison. Total of 4 leaves laid in.
Folder 2 contains Ewing's notebook of astronomical tables for 1790; the final third of the notebook contains a copy of "de la Caile's catalogue of...Decl[inations] of Stars, for 1788, of 405 Stars." Three leaves laid in include a notarized certificate identifying Hugh Maffet [or Maffit], born in Philadelphia and baptized in Rev. Ewing's church, signed by Robert Maffet, Hugh's father, and John Ewing, pastor, 13 September 1796 (with a description of his complexion, hair coloring, and scars); document signed by John Ewing regarding payment of his dividends from Insurance Company of North America, August 1796; and an envelope or wrapper dated 1845, addressed to Prof. Reed and Prof. Frazer (both at U. Pennsylvania), with the "compliments of [I.] M. Pettit" (donor?).
Folder 3 contains Ewing's notebook, pages numbered 9-42, with questions and answers, on, for example, Equable Motion, Projectiles, Specific Gravity, and Hydrostatics. With 8 unnumbered pages (4 leaves, loose) of lecture notes on "The Descent of Bodies" and on Mechanics. With 4 pages (2 leaves, loose) of lecture notes on "Central Forces."
John Ewing was a Presbyterian minister and a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. A vice-president of the American Philosophical Society, he contributed articles on astronomy to their Transactions. Ewing's lectures on natural philosophy were published, posthumously, as "A Plain Elementary and Practical System of Natural Experimental Philosophy" (Philadelphia: Hopkins and Earle, 1809).
Maffet, Hugh, b.1775.
Astronomy -- Observations -- Pennsylvania -- 18th century.
Boundary disputes -- Pennsylvania -- 18th century.
Physics.
Lecture notes -- Physics -- University of Pennsylvania. ftamc
Journals (accounts). ftamc aat aat ftamc
La Caille, Nicolas Louis de, 1713-1762. Coelum australe stelliferum. English.
University of Pennsylvania. Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center. Annenberg Rare Book & Manuscript Library. 3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206, USA