TRUTH, like one Sun, that has enlightened human Intelligence through every age, and faved it from the darknefs both of Sophiftry and Error.

Nothing can more tend to enlarge the Mind, than thefe extenfive views of Men, and human Knowlege; nothing can more effectually take us off from the foolish admiration of what is immediately before our eyes, and help us to a jufter eftimate both of prefent Men, and prefent Literature.

'Tis perhaps too much the cafe with the multitude in every nation, that as they know little beyond themselves, and their own affairs, so out of this narrow fphere of knowlege, they think nothing worth knowing. As we BRITONS by our fituation live divided from the whole world, this perhaps will be found to be more remarkably our cafe. And hence the reafon, that our ftudies

4

are

are ufually fatisfied in the works of our own Countrymen; that in Philofophy, in Poetry, in every kind of fubject, whether ferious or ludicrous, whether facred or profane, we think perfection with ourselves, and that'tis fuperfluous to fearch farther.

The Author of this Treatife would by no means detract from the juft bonours due to thofe of his Countrymen, who either in the prefent, or preceding age, have fo illuftriously adorned it. But tho he can with pleafure and fincerity join in celebrating their deferts, he would not have the admiration of thefe, or of any other few, to pafs thro' blind excefs into a contempt of all others. fuch Admiration to become univerfal, an odd event would follow; a few learned men, without any fault of their own, would contribute in a manner to the extinction of Letters.

Were

A

A like evil to that of admiring only the authors of our own age, is that of admiring only the authors of one particular Science. There is indeed in this last prejudice fomething peculiarly unfortunate, and that is, the more excellent the Science, the more likely it will be found to produce this effect.

There are few Sciences more intrinfically valuable, than MATHEMATICS. 'Tis hard indeed to fay, to which they have more contributed, whether to the Utilities of Life, or to the fublimeft parts of Science. They are the nobleft Praxis of LOGIC, or UNIVERSAL REASONING. 'Tis thro' them we may perceive, how the stated Forms of Syllogifm are exemplified in one Subject, namely the Predicament of Quantity. By marking the force of thefe Forms, as they are applied

here,

1

here, we may be enabled to apply them of ourselves elsewhere. Nay farther fill-by viewing the MIND, during its procefs in these fyllogiftic employments, we may come to know in part, what kind of Being it is; fince MIND, like other Powers, can. be only known from its Operations. Whoever therefore will ftudy Mathematics in this view, will become not only by Mathematics a more expert Logician, and by Logic a more rational Mathematician, but a wifer Philofopher, and an acuter Reafoner, in all the poffible fubjects either of Science or deliberation.

But when Mathematics, instead of being applied to this excellent purpose, are used not to exemplify Logic, but to Supply its place; no wonder if Logic pass into contempt, and if Mathematics, inftead of furthering Science, become in fact an obstacle.

For

For when men, knowing nothing of that Reafoning which is univerfal, come to attach themselves for years to a fingle Species, a fpecies wholly involved in Lines and Numbers only; they grow infenfibly to believe thefe laft as infeparable from all Reafoning, as the poor Indians thought every horfeman to be infeparable from his horfe.

And thus we fee the use, nay the neceffity of enlarging our literary views, left even Knowlege itfelf fhould obftruct its own growth, and perform in fome measure the part of ignorance and barbarity.

Such then is the Apology made by the Author of this Treatife, for the multiplicity of antient quotations, with which he has filled his Book. If he can excite in his readers a proper Spirit of curiofity; if he can help in the leaft degree to enlarge the bounds

of