The Discovery of Logarithms

Abstract

IN the review of a book, “Letters from the Dead to the Dead,” which appeared in your number of May 31, your reviewer says:—“As another example we may take the notes to Henry Briggs's letter, in particular the supposed proof (p. 75) that Napier's true base is the reciprocal of e and not e itself. As the difference depends entirely on whether log sin 45° has a plus or a minus sign attached to it, it is interesting to speculate on how many readers will be deceived, by what is after all a somewhat clever hoax.” (The italics in the above extract are mine.)