The theory of determinants in the historical order of development, by Sir Thomas Muir.

CHAPTER II.

DETERMINANTS IN GENERAL, FROMI 1841 TO 1860.
THE number of writings to be considered under this heading is
sixty-six, and the number of writers thirty-eight, both numbers
being slightly in excess of the corresponding numbers for the
period of the whole previous history of the subject. For the
first time a fair share of the advance is contributed by English
mathematicians: indeed, from being practically of no account,
England suddenly leaps to a position of predominating influence.
As, therefore, we have already spoken of a French period (1693 -1812) and a German period (1813-1841), it would not be
inappropriate to style this the English period, or the period
of Cayley-and-Sylvester.* Italy also became notably active,
emerging from a still more unproductive condition: while Germany and France steadily continued their former labours. The
period is also marked by the first appearance of text-books
specially devoted to the subject.
CAYLEY, A. (1841).
[On a theorem in the geometry of position. Cambridge Math.
Journ., ii. pp. 267-271; or Collected Math. Papers, i.
pp. 1-4.]
Of the two English mathematicians whose names are inseparably associated with the development of what has been called
* It must be remembered, of course, that Sylvester's work began in the latter
part of the previous period (see History, i. pp. 227, etc.).