430 Mr. Wuewett on the Selection of a Notation 
labour than the levity and restlessness in proposing new symbols, 
which some writers allow themselves: and no notation at all 
deserves consideration, which does not by its structure exhibit 
the analogies of the things represented, so as either to facilitate 
our reasonings on them, er, at least, our understanding of them. 
I hope, however, to be able to shew that what I have proposed 
in the following pages introduces no alterations, except such as 
are requisite to maintain the symmetry, and, if I may so speak, 
the homogeneity of the notation: and, having made it my object 
to leave no anomalies which appeared capable of removal, I 
trust the evil of change will be more than compensated by 
the establishment of a system, which there will be no future 
necessity to remodel. The merit of this improvement will hardly 
diminish the obligation due to the first introducer of an efficient 
notation. 
In order to point out the reasons for the proposed changes, it 
may be allowed to introduce, and refer to, some general principles 
which ought to regulate all scientific notation, and which, though 
they come with no authority beyond their own reasonableness 
and utility, will nevertheless, I think, be acknowledged as true 
by all who give the subject a scientific consideration. They will 
offer themselves as we review the different points of the system. 
It will be seen that the indices which I have used, are generally 
the same as those used by Mohs, and that the difference lies prin- 
cipally in the mode of writing and combining them: hence, my 
system has the same means of obtaining results which his possesses, 
with so much additional symmetry as was consistent with the 
retention of this property. 
