THE LADY'S PRACTICAL ARITHMETICIAN, OR CONVERSATIONAL ARITHMETIC, IN WHICH ALL THE RULES ARE EXPLAINED IN EASY AND TO WHICH IS ADDED A Short History of the Coinage ; WITH CABLES OF THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OF THE ANCIENTS. PREFACE. IN submitting the following pages to the public, the writer does not make any pretension to new discoveries in the science of Arithmetic, nor does the wish in any way to depreciate the value of those works already written on the subject, in order to claim superiority for her own. The design of the present work is to simplify and render agreeable and pleasing to children a study which is frequently looked upon by them as tedious and incomprehensible, and therefore only regarded with feelings of dread and dislike. The course adopted by the author of explaining the science by means of familiar dialogues, may be objected to by some: there are, however, many advantages gained by this mode of explanation, which a formal system of language would never obtain and the author has endeavoured to explain : not only the practical part of Arithmetic, but the principles also, by presenting them to the youthful mind through the medium of the common occurrences of life. The examples are chiefly selected from history, science, and art, that the student may see how every rule has its proper adaptation, and how much one branch of education may be the means of facilitating another. The examples given for exercise under some of the rules may be omitted till the pupil is more advanced, and after having thoroughly mastered those less difficult, they will be found of great benefit. The tables of the weights and measures of the ancients are intended to assist the young in their historical studies; and though not usually inserted in works of this kind, the author considers them an essential part of an English education, serving to elucidate many parts of history, which writers frequently leave unexplained to the reader. The changes made into English value are calculated from the most approved modern authors on the subject; and when any uncertainty exists about the value, it is stated. The account of our own coinage will, it is hoped, prove useful and interesting to the student. The answers to the questions have not been given, but a key has been prepared for the use of teachers, which will be found of great benefit both in schools and private families. The author would here remark that this branch of a lady's education is considered of too little importance, and neglected, by many, for accomplishments which are rarely brought into exercise in after-life; not that she would underrate the utility of cultivating talents that render woman a cheerful and polished member of society, and an ornament to the circle in which she moves; far otherwise; but it is the mistaken habit of permitting accomplishments to take the place of useful knowledge, that she condemns; an error generally discovered too late to be remedied: for how much soever a refined taste and an accomplished mind may enhance the pleasures of life, if useful knowledge be sacrificed to them entirely, it is like raising the superstructure of a building without a foundation; and for want of which the comforts of a family circle too frequently sink into confusion and irretrievable misfortune. Much care has been bestowed to render this edition as correct as possible; but in a work con |