It has come to my attention that you are—shall we say—prostituting your talents. A friend of mine who works at the War Office tells me that you are doing some mathematical work by correspondence—something to do with cannon, I believe.

Now, I quite understand that you are in a somewhat precarious financial position, and believe me, I deeply sympathise with you. I know that the earning of a few pounds can mean a great deal to you in furthering your education.

I do not say that such work is menial, either. I would not have you think that I deplore your choice of work in any way; it is necessary work, and money is certainly necessary for life.

However, let me warn you: a simple task like this, which pays rather well, can become soporific in its effect. Many men of talent, finding themselves comfortably fixed in a mediocre position, have found their minds have become stultified through long disuse. Please, dear boy, don't fall into that trap; don't throw away a fine career in mathematics for the sake of a few paltry pounds. You are young and inexperienced, I know, and have a great deal yet to learn, so please take the advice of one who is somewhat older and wiser.

No, I haven't gotten round to reading your paper yet; I'll do it this evening, my boy, I promise.

Most sincerely, Isaac Barrow

3 January 1667 Cambridge

My dear Isaac,

I read your paper, and I am, I must confess, somewhat nonplussed. What are you doing?

I see that my letter of yesterday was somewhat premature; I should have waited until I had read your paper, since it is in exactly the same category.

You ask: "What is the optimum shape for a wine barrel? Should it be tall and thin, or squat and broad?"

And I ask: "What on Earth difference does it make?"

Surely you are not thinking of becoming a wine merchant? If so, what need is there to waste your time studying mathematics? On the other hand, if you intend to become a mathematician, why should you debase a noble and lofty study by applying it to 

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