Glasgowegian of the 16th century, has never yet been fully answered, so far
as we can learn. It appears, however, that Nicholson had no choice in the
matter; that a Greek building and no other he was commissioned to devise—and it is evident that he has made the most of it.
The next residence of Mr. Nicholson was Carlisle, where, through the recommendation of his countryman, Telford, who, like himself, had commenced life as a stone-mason, he was appointed architect of the county of Cumberland, and in this situation he superintended the building of the new court-houses in the county town. While here, he also obtained rewards from the Society of Arts for an improvement in hand-railing, and for the invention of an instrument called the Centrolinear. After remaining two years in Carlisle, he returned in 1810 to London, and resumed the work of authorship, in which his pen was both active and prolific, as appears by the list of his works at this period. These were, "The Architectural Dictionary," in two volumes large quarto, the publication of which extended from 1812 to 1819, "Mechanical Exercises," and "The Builder and Workman's New Director." Besides these practical works connected with his own profession as an architect, Mr. Nicholson turned his attention to subjects of a more purely scientific character, and was author of the "Method of Increments," "Essays on the Combinatorial Analysis," "Essay on Involution and Evolution," for which he received the thanks of the Academic des Sciences at Paris, "Analytical and Arithmetical Essays," and the "Rudiments of Algebra." In 1827 he commenced the publication of a work entitled "The School of Architecture and Engineering," which he designed to complete in twelve numbers, at 1s. 6d. each; but, in consequence of the bankruptcy of the publishers, only five numbers appeared. This failure combined with the pecuniary loss it occasioned him, so annoyed Mr. Nicholson, that in 1829 he removed from London to Morpeth, and afterwards, in 1832, to Newcastle-on-Tyne, where his time was chiefly spent in teaching, for which purpose he opened a school in the Arcade; and in the production of various scientific works. Here, also, his well-established reputation procured his election as president and honorary member of several societies connected with architecture, civil engineering, and the fine arts. But, notwithstanding such a long life of interesting and multifarious authorship, his pecuniary profits by no means kept pace with his merits; and while he was the means of enriching others by his discoveries and instructions, he obtained little else for his own share than the reputation of a highly-talented originator. His writings, twenty-seven in number, were thus justly characterized in a petition from the inhabitants of Newcastle to his majesty in 1835, for the grant of a pension to Nicholson from the privy purse:—"The works of Peter Nicholson, while they have contributed to the advancement of knowledge, have tended to raise the English mechanic to that pre-eminence he has attained over the other artificers of Europe; and while they have been honoured with the proudest marks of distinction by the various learned societies of this kingdom, have yet failed to produce to their author those benefits which are necessary for his existence; and it must ever be a source of regret that an individual who, having devoted his best energies to the advancement of science, should be left at the close of a long and laborious life, and in his seventy-third year, to struggle in penury and want." This application to the royal bounty was made after an attempt of Nicholson's grateful friends in Newcastle had failed to raise for him an annuity by a general subscription. On this occasion the sum of 320 had been subscribed,
