M ATHEMATICS are ftudied either by gentlemen of birth and fortune, as a neceffary part of genteel education, or by thofe in the middle rank of life, in order to qualify them for the employments or profef{fions which they intend to follow.w The views of thefe claffes are as different as their ftations. The gentleman, by studying a system of theory, and fuch of its applications as are neceffary in his other ftudies, may have all his ends anfwered. But the foldier, failor, engineer, furveyor, and man of business, cannot follow his profeffien rationally, without being expert in moft parts of practical mathematics. That this clafs may obtain their end in the most ef fectual manner, it is neceffary to throw the feveral parts to be learned into the fhorteft form. It is a great encouragement to proceed, when the end of the task is in view; nor is any thing more difcouraging to a beginner, than to be told, that the science he is about to learn fills many volumes. The apparent length of the labour fets proficiency at fo great a diftance, that half a lifetime feems too little to acquire it; and, if the natural defire of knowledge be nipt in the bud by fuch an idea, it will be difficult afterwards to make any one apply diligently to the study, But it is not enough to learn the feveral parts of practical mathematics at fchool; they must be remembered, or kept in view by fome means or other, that the stu dent may be always prepared to perform his part with propriety. The following Synopfis is compofed with the defign of anfwering both thefe ends. As a school-book, it will leffen the labour of teaching, and shorten the time of learning. As a memorandum, the young practitioner will find here many useful rules, delivered in fuch clear and easy terms, that he cannot mistake their meaning; and even the most learned will find fome affiftance to his memory. I have revised and corrected the tables of logarithms, and of logarithmic fines and tangents with attention, and hope they are more correct than any fmall tables formerly published; and, although printed in the most concife form, will answer every purpose as well as Sherwin's tables. In fection 3, I have endeavoured to fhow, that most problems in the menfuration of heights and distances, and furveying of land, may be performed accurately enough by a right application of lineal measures, fuch as the furveying chain and poles; and therefore inftruments for measuring angles, are not fo very neceffary as has been commonly fuppofed.. The favourable reception which the public has given to the former editions, has encouraged the Author to make this Fourth Edition ftill more compleat than either of them, by feveral useful additions interfperfed in the different fections; and it is hoped, that the book has now a very good claim to its title, and will be useful to all ftu dents, who defire to become expert in Practical Mathematics. CON ADVERTISEMENT.. BOOKS wrote by the fame Author, fold by 1. INSTITUTES of ARITHMETIC, for the use of ✨Schools and Academies: the third edition.-Price 2s. 2. PRACTICAL ASTRONOMY, containing aftronomical Tables of the Sun, Moon, and Primary Planets, according to the latest difcoveries; and alfo many Auxiliary Tables useful in that Science, with Directions for ufing them, in the solution of many Principal Problems in Aftronomy; among which are the Prediction and Calculation of Eclipfes.-Octavo, Price 6s. ウ CHARACTER of this Book in the MONTHLY REVIEW. "This Work is not offered to the Public as a com"plete treatise. Its object is to afford eafy accefs to the study of Aftronomy; and to enable fuch Students to "folve its Problems, who are acquainted merely with "Arithmetic, the Circles of the Sphere and Logarithms: "-for fuch a purpose, the publication is well defigned "and properly executed." ・・・ It may be added, that the Book was intended to affift those who study by themfelves, and the Tables will be equally useful to Students in general. |