MAC AN BHAIRD Ciarán

ABSTRACT

This talk will explore the late 18^th and early 19^th-century handwritten mathematical notes which were recently rediscovered at Maynooth University[1]. A large subset of these notes are written in French, they focus on preliminary mathematical material such as arithmetic and algebra, and some sections must have originally formed part of a larger set of notes, with standalone headings such as "3^e Cayeu d’Arithmétique".

 

While the notes are unsigned, the handwriting appears to be that of Rev. André Darré. Darré (1750–1833), who was a teacher at the Collège Royal d’Auch, fled persecution in France, arrived in Dublin in the early 1790s, and was appointed Professor of Logic, Metaphysics, and Ethics at the Royal College of St Patrick’s Maynooth when it was established in 1795. The College was principally established as a Catholic seminary. The earliest professors were either exiled French priests or Irish priests who were previously teaching across continental Europe, typically in Irish Colleges such as those in Lisbon, Paris, etc. The unique mathematical collection housed in Maynooth’s Russell Library, which also provides insights on the mathematics taught there, is testament to this significant continental influence and is the subject of a forthcoming publication[2].

 

Prior to the study of the handwritten notes, research into early instruction at Maynooth was limited to an examination of college histories, records, and reports. Initial findings were presented at ICHME-5 in Utrecht, including a list of topics taught. Material within the handwritten notes appears to largely correspond to this list which suggests that the notes relate to Darré’s teaching. Darré was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy in 1803 and assumed responsibility for mathematics. Priests who graduated from Maynooth often became teachers of mathematics in schools, so we are pursuing links between the notes and school curricula.

 

We also explore tantalizing hints contained within these notes as to the original French sources. One document contains references to three French authors, Bézout, Lingois, and Marie. While specific book titles are not mentioned, each author had textbooks[3] used in the instruction of mathematics in France in the 18^th century.