Baker 11-19-23 DEDICATION To the SCHOOLMASTERS of Great Britain and Ireland. GENTLEMEN, T HE great demand for, and fpeedy fale of the four laft impreffions of this small Treatise, naturally leads me to think, that many of you have encouraged the undertaking. Permit me, therefore, in this fifth edition, to return you hearty thanks for your friendly and undeferved favours. I am very fenfible, (as I told you before) that many abler hands have undertaken this task before me, and have, in large volumes, done that which cannot be ex. pected to be found here: But as you are sensible too many of them have spent their time, rather upon curiofities than bufinefs, (the very thing that every fcho lar fhould particularly drive at, and which, I am fenfible, every one of you would promote the knowledge of) I have here made it my chief care to inform the learner of every thing that is neceffary thereto. * It was not without reluctance that I appeared upon this fubject; but having publifhed a fmall treatise of Fractions and Algebra, by way of dialogue, in 1750, which has met with great encouragement. I was perfuaded by feveral Schoolmasters, and private Gentlemen, to publish also a piece of Arithmetic, after the fame manner; as they were fenfible, they faid, (and indeed, I confefs, I think the fame) that this way of writing conveys the matter better, and communicates things fooner to the learner, than the bare setting of fums, and not working them at all, or, in a dry, intricate manner. As I do not pretend to recommend the work, by comparing it with other Authors; fo, I hope, you will not condemn it, till you have perused it throughout. The third Edition, with fome Quadratic Problems was published in 1759. 'Tis true, that the last method of reducing C's. qrs. lbs. into lbs. (in the first Example of Tare and Tret) is well worthy your obfervations, it being as eafy as it is new; and several perfons in business, to whom I have communicated it, never pretend to use any other way for ease and expedition. To fuch of you, indeed, as are perfect mafters of the fciences, this little piece may appear infignificant; but to others, I am fenfible, the dialogues will be of great fervice, as they are intermixed with a variety of familiar Examples, in natural converfation and I perfuade myself, they will be of great help to your pupils, and, in a great measure, ease you of that heavy tafk, which every diligent mafter (with a number of scholars) muft of neceffity la bour under. This, Gentlemen, is one reafon (as I faid) why I built it upon this plan; and I hope, for the defign's fake, you will forgive those errors that have yet escaped my notice, and which you know are fo common to a work of this fort; tho' I have taken A 3 taken care to correct all fuch, as I have at prefent discovered in former editions. I have made no great alteration in the work, only have taken off part of the Double Rule of Three Direct and Inverfe (as you know the Rule of Five Numbers will fupply that defect) in order to make more room (by the defire of several Merchants) for a fuller and more clear explanation, both of the true and customary way of Discount. To my thanks, I add my best wishes for your fuccefs, jointly and separately, in your several undertakings; and defire always to fubfcribe myfelf, GENTLEMEN, Your moft obliged humble Servant, Royal Exchange Affurance Office, London, April 10, 1765. D. Fenning. THE |