12 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1869-1873 



It may be added, that Napier devotes several sections 

 of his Constructio to the discussion of the doctrine of 

 limits (de accuratione) ; that his logarithms were de 

 nounced by the metaphysicians of his day as founded 

 on the false system of approximation, but that, fortun 

 ately for the progress of exact science, their objections 

 were unheeded. 



Sir W. Thomson said that the metaphysicians, wishing 

 to find the speed of a vessel at 12 o clock from an hour s 

 run, would choose the hour from 12 to i ; whereas 

 Napier, Newton, and the rest of the world would 

 take it from 11.30 to 12.30.] 



