... not less pleased than surprised at this attempt of a young man from the same county with himself, of whom he had never heard. Mr Bonnycastle, accordingly, on his next visit in Buckinghamshire, procured an interview with the young genius, whom he found threshing in a barn, the walls of which were covered with triangles and parallelograms. Such was young Anderson's bashfulness, however, that Mr Bonnycastle could not draw him into conversation, until he won his heart by the loan of Simpson's 'Fluxions', and two or three other books.

Military Instruction, Woolwich Common.

Mr Bonnycastle, Mathematical Master of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, and Mr Hommey, continue, with proper Assistants, to instruct young Gentlemen, designed for the army, in the various Branches of the Military Education.
The Plan of Studies consists of all such Parts of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy as are connected with a Military Profession; also Geography, Fortification, Artillery, Tactics, Plan Drawing, Surveying, Levelling, Reconnoitring, with the Method of Tracing Works on the Ground, and the Principles and Practice of the French and German Languages.
N.B. Two Vacations in the Year of a Month each, one at Christmas and the other at Midsummer; during which Time, however, any young Gentlemen are allowed, if more convenient to their Friends, to remain in the House, where a Mathematical Master resides to attend them daily, and other Masters attending occasionally.

The powers of the mind, like those of the body, are increased by frequent exertion; application and industry supply the place of genius and invention; and even the creative faculty itself may be strengthened and improved by use and perseverance. ... Books of rudiments, therefore, concisely written, well digested, and methodically arranged, are treasures of inestimable value; and too many attempts cannot be made to render them perfect and complete. ... From these consideration, I have been induced to compose an introductory course of mathematical science; and from the kind of encouragement which I have hitherto received, am not without hopes of a continuance of the same candour and approbation. Considerable practice as a teacher, and a long attention to the difficulties and obstructions which retard the progress of learners in general, have enabled me to accommodate myself the more easily to their capacities and understandings.

The art of measuring, like all other useful inventions, appears to have been the offspring of want and necessity; and to have had its origin in those remote ages of antiquity, which are far beyond the reach of credible and authentic history. ... To Dr Hutton I am particularly obliged, and am so far from desiring to supersede the use of his performance by this publication, that I only wish it to be thought a useful introduction to it. In school-books, and those designed for the use of learners, it has always appeared to me, that plain and concise rules, with proper exercises, are entirely sufficient for the purpose. In science, as well as in morals, example will ever enforce and illustrate precept; for this reason, an operation, wrought out in length, will be found of more service to beginners than all the tedious directions and observations that can possibly be given them.

At a time when the sciences are generally cultivated, and a love of literature and useful information has pervaded every rank and order of society, an easy and familiar account of the most interesting parts of Astronomy, will, it is presumed, be found an acceptable performance. Many persons who have not acquired a sufficient stock of Mathematical knowledge to read, with satisfaction, the works of Newton, and other eminent writers upon this subject, are yet very desirous of obtaining such an idea of it as will enable them to comprehend the leading principles upon which it is founded ...

Bonnycastle was a good fellow. He was a tall, gaunt, long-headed man, with large features and spectacles, and a deep internal voice, with a twang of rusticity in it; and he goggled over his plate, like a horse. I often thought that a bag of corn would have hung well on him. His laugh was equine, and showed his teeth upwards at the sides. ... Bonnycastle was passionately fond of quoting Shakespeare, and telling stories; and if the Edinburgh Review had just come out, would give us all the jokes in it. He had once an hypochondriacal disorder of long duration, but had entirely outlived it. ... Perhaps he thought more highly of his talents than the amount of them strictly warranted; a mistake to which scientific men appear to be more liable than others ... But the delusion was not only pardonable, but desirable, in a man so zealous in the performance of his duties, and so much of a human being to all about him, as Mr Bonnycastle was.

Sacred to the memory of John Bonnycastle, Esq., late Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, born January, 1752, died May 15, 1821.
Also the body of Bridget, his wife, who departed this life Oct 19th , 1825, aged 73 years.