, an eminent and learned tutor of the university of Cambridge, was
, an eminent and learned tutor of the
university of Cambridge, was born at Beriew in Montgomeryshire, June 23, 1756. His education, till he entered
on his twelfth year, was confined to the instruction of a
common country school, first at Beriew, and afterwards in
the neighbouring parish of Kerry. During the time that
he frequented the latter school, the vicar of the parish,
discovering in him those talents which he afterwards so
eminently displayed, advised his mother (for he lost his father at an early age) to send him to the grammar-school
at Shrewsbury, where he continued nearly seven years,
and was inferior to none of his schoolfellows, either in
attention to study or in regularity of conduct. In May
1774, he was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge,
and came to reside there in October following. From that
time the excellence of his genius became more particularly
conspicuous. He had acquired, indeed, at school, a competent share of classical learning; but his mind was less
adapted to Greek and Latin composition than to the investigation of philosophical truths. At the public examinations of St. John’s college he not only was always in the
first class, but was without comparison the best mathematician of his year. His first summer vacation was devoted
entirely to his favourite pursuit; and at that early period
he became acquainted with mathematical works, which are
seldom attempted before the third year of academical
study. He remained at St. John’s college till after the
public examination in June 1776, when, having no prospect
of obtaining a fellowship, there being already a fellow of
the diocese of St. Asaph in that college, and the statutes
limiting the fellowships to one from each diocese, he removed to Trinity college. Here he took his bachelor’s
degree in 1779, and his superiority was so decided, that
no one ventured to contend with him. The honour of
senior wrangler, as it is called in academical phrase, was
conceded before the examination began, and the second
place became the highest object of competition. If any
thing was wanting to shew his superiority, it would be
rendered sufficiently conspicuous by the circumstance, that
he was tutor to the second wrangler, now the learned Dr.
Herbert Marsh, professor of divinity at Cambridge, who
acknowledged that for the honour which he then obtained,
he was indebted to the instruction of his friend.
In the same year in which Mr. Jones took his bachelor’s
degree he was appointed assistant tutor at Trinity college.
In Oct. 1781 he was elected fellow, and in Oct. 1787, on
the resignation of Mr. Cranke, he was appointed to the
office of head tutor, which he held to the day of his death.
In 1786 and 1787 he presided as moderator in the philosophical schools, where his acuteness and impartiality were
equally conspicuous. It was about this time that he introduced a grace, by which fellow-commoners, who used to
obtain the degree of bachelor of arts with little or no examination, were subjected to the same academical exercises
as other under-graduates. During many years he continued to take an active part in the senate-house examinations; but for some years before his death confined himself
to the duties of college- tutor. These, indeed, were sufficiently numerous to engage his whole attention and he
displayed in them an ability which was rarely equalled,
with an integrity which never was surpassed. Being perfect master of his subjects, he always placed them in the
clearest point of view; and by his manner of treating
them he made them interesting even to those who had
otherwise no relish for mathematical inquiries. His lectures
on astronomy attracted more than usual attention, since
that branch of philosophy afforded the most ample scope
for inculcating (what, indeed, he never neglected in other branches) his favourite doctrine of final causes; for arguing from the contrivance to the contriver, from the
structure of the universe to the being and attributes of
God. And this doctrine he enforced, not merely by explaining the harmony which results from the established
Jaws of nature, but by shewing the confusion which would
have arisen from the adoption of other laws. His lectures
on the principles of fluxions were delivered with unusual
clearness; and there was so much originality in them, that
his pupils often expressed a wish that they might be printed.
But such was his modesty, that though frequently urged, he
never would consent; and when he signed his will a short
time before his death, he made the most earnest request
to Dr. Marsh, that none of his manuscripts should be
printed. But it is a consolation to know, that his lectures
in philosophy will not be buried in oblivion: all his writings
on those subjects were delivered to his successor in the
tuition, and, though less amply than by publication, will
continue to benefit mankind. The only things he ever
published were “A Sermon on Duelling,
” and “An Address to the Volunteers of Montgomeryshire.
” The former
was published as a warning to the young men of the university, soon after a fatal duel had taken place there. The
latter, which he wrote with great animation (for he was a zealous advocate of the volunteer system) was calculated to
rouse the volunteers to a vigorous defence of their country.