MONTMORT. 79 



proceeded far with it; on this subject Fontenelle has some inter- 

 esting remarks. See also Montucla's Histoire des Mathematiques, 

 first edition, Preface, page vii. 



137. There are two editions of Montmort's work; the first 

 appeared in 1708; the second is sometimes said to have appeared 

 in 1713, but the date 1714 is on the title page of my copy, which 

 appears to have been a present to 'sGravesande from the author. 

 Both editions are in quarto; the first contains 189 pages with 

 a preface of xxiv pages, and the second contains 414 pages with 

 a preface and advertisement of XLII pages. The increased bulk 

 of the second edition arises, partly from the introduction of a 

 treatise on combinations which occupies pages 1 — 72, and partly 

 from the addition of a series of letters which passed between 

 Montmort and Nicholas Bernoulli with one letter from John 

 Bernoulli. The name of Montmort does not appear on the title 

 page or in the work, except once on page 338, where it is used 

 with respect to a place. 



Any reference which we make to Montmort's work must be 

 taken to apply to the second edition unless the contrary is stated. 



Montucla says, page 394, speaking of the second edition of 

 Montmort's work, Cette edition, independamment de ses aug- 

 mentations et corrections faites a la premiere, est remarquable par 

 de belles gravures a la tete de chaque partie. These engravings 

 are four in number, and they occur also in the first edition, and of 

 course the impressions will naturally be finer in the earlier edition. 

 It is desirable to correct the eiTor implied in Montucla's state- 

 ment, because the work is scarce, and thus those who merely wish 

 for the engravings may direct their attention to the first edition, 

 leaving the second for mathematicians, 



138. Leibnitz corresponded with Montmort and his brother; 

 and he records a very favourable opinion of the work we are now 

 about to examine. He says, however, J'aurois souhaite les loix 

 des Jeux un peu mieux decrites, et les termes expliques en favour 

 des dtrangers et de la posterite. Leibnitii Opera Omnia, ed. 

 Dutens, Vol. v. pages 17 and 28. 



Reference is also made to Montmort and his book in the cor- 

 respondence between Leibnitz and John and Nicholas Bernoulli ; 



