C4 
PRICE’S OESERVATIONS ON 
metic and geometry. In this country 
the work will naturally labour under 
some disadvantages, though the tran- 
slator has himself added to its utility by 
inserting several articles omitted by Mon- 
tucla, and adapting others to the meri- 
dian of London. To those who have 
REVERSIONARY PAYMENTS. &29 
made some progress in the mathematics 
the Recreations will be really such, and 
convey beside a great deal of instruc- 
tion ; and the editor deserves well of the 
mathematical world for giving to so va- 
luable a foreign publication an English 
dress. 
Art. VII. Observations on Reversionary Payments ; on Schemes for providing Annuities 
for Widows, and for Persons in old Ages on the Method of calculating the Values of As- 
surances on Lives ; and on the National Debt. Also, Essays on different Subjects in the 
Doctrine of Life-Annuity and Political Arithmetic 3 a Collection of new Tables, and a Poste 
script on the Population of the Kingdom. 
By Ricwarp Paice, D.D. £.R.S. The 
Whole new arranged and enlarged, by the Addition of Algebraical and other Notes, the 
Solutions of several new Problems in the Doctrine of Annuiiies, and a General Introduction; 
éy Wittiam Morcan, F. R.§. Sixth Edition. 2 vols. Syo. 
THE several editions of this very va- 
luable work are so well known to the 
public, that it is not necessary here to 
enlarge upon the contents of these vo- 
lumes. Itis needless to say that the con- 
tents of the former editions are arranged 
in the best manner, because from the ac- 
knowledged talents and abilities of the 
editor, whose life has been employed in 
the pursuits recommended by his uncle, 
and whose investigations, presented to 
the Royal Society, exceed any thing of 
the kind in the mathematical world, no- 
thing else could be expected than that 
this edition should surpass all that have 
gone before it. The work is absolutely 
necessary to all who engage in the nu- 
merous plans at present for providing for 
future payments dependent on lives; and 
the experience the editor has had in one 
of the greatest magnitude, qualifies him 
to determine with great precision on the 
probable stability of those which are born 
only to wither in a short time, or to take 
deep root and flourish. Indeed, the ad- 
vice given by him cannot be too often 
repeated, that every society of this kind 
should every five or six years calculate its 
eal value, whence its rise or decline may 
be determined, or proper correctives be 
applied. ‘Vhe fluctuating state of pro- 
perty makes a great difference in all these 
calculations. Ifthe plan is made accu- 
rately, according to the Northampton 
tables, when money is at five per cent. 
interest, a great change must necessarily 
take place in the circumstances of the 
society, if money should rise or fall to 
six or four per cent. ‘The present. state 
of the country makes these things very 
precarious; and if Dr. Price was Bareed 
tor the state of the mation, the editer 
te 4 
seems to be justified in his additional 
fears. 
«* Had Dr. Price lived to witness the pro- 
fusion of the last ten years, he would proba- 
bly have moderated the seyerity of this cen- 
sure. The debt which appalled him, when 
it amounted to 230 millions, has lately swol- 
len to the enormous mass of 540 millions; 
and the yearly expenditure of a peace-estab- 
lishment, which he considered insupportable 
at 16 millions, will in future require an an- 
nual taxation of more than 34: millions !— 
The paper-circulation, which he so justly 
deplored when he first published this work, 
appears to have been then only in its infancy : 
it has now completely inundated the country. 
The coin has disappeared, and the bank, for 
whose credit he was apprehensive, has for 
many years ceased to pay its notes in specie: 
The American war, which he regarded as in- 
jurious and disgraceful to the kingéom, has 
been suicceeded by another infinitely more 
ruinous, and more degrading in its conse- 
quences. Had he therefore lived to witness 
these, and u long train of other calamities, 
which are too deeply felt to need the recital 
of them—had he lived to behold the. man, 
during whose administration they were pro- 
duced, retiring from office in neh, and 
congratulating the nation on the envied state 
of prosperity to which jt had been lately exalt: 
ed, he would have changed the object of his 
resentment, and acknowledged that Lord 
NorrH had long lostthe distinction assigned 
to him in this preface.” bale did ; 
The variety of tables in this work, and . 
the mathematical demonstrations of in- | 
tricate problems, make it of peculiar ad; 
vantage to every one engaged in this 
species of calculation.; and the: science 
cannot be under better auspices than 
those of the editor, whe, while hé is em. 
_ balming his, uncle’s memory, is laying 
the surest foundation for his own weil. 
deserved fame. rgd £4 
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