The first volume contains mathematical problems, which appear to be college exercises (1814); the second volume is an essay on the projection of the sphere and spherical trigonometry, including an appendix on astronomy (1812); and the third volume is a lecture on natural philosophy, apparently prepared for delivery [n.d.].

Robert Maskell Patterson (1787-1854, APS 1809) was a professor of chemistry and natural philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania (1812-1828) and professor of natural philosophy at the University of Virginia (1828-1835). He was director of the U.S. Mint from 1835 to 1851. His father, Robert Patterson, was a revolutionary soldier, professor of mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania (1779-1814), and director of the U.S. Mint (1805-1824).