44 9 
Mr. Hell i ns on the Rectification, See, 
the state of fluxions in his time, is in a great measure appli- 
cable to it in ours ; viz. “ If arts and sciences of many hundred 
“ years standing receive daily improvements and additions, it can- 
“ not be supposed that this most sublime art of all, found out but 
“ yesterday, can be arrived at perfection all on a sudden. If this 
“ art be so exceedingly useful and valuable, it certainly deserves 
“ the pains and attention of the learned mathematicians — And 
indeed, whoever considers the great number of mathematical 
and physico-mathematical problems which are solved by means 
of fluxions and series only, the several different ways in which 
series may be applied to the solution of the same problem, the 
fewness of those who employ themselves at all about these 
abstract sciences, and the still smaller number of those who 
have skill, leisure, and resolution enough to attempt any im- 
provement in them ; I say, whoever duly considers these things, 
(even without making allowance for the want of patronage 
which the liberal arts have of late years experienced, ) will see 
reason to think, that many ages must yet elapse, before this 
most sublime and extensively useful method of computation 
will receive all the improvements of which it is capable. He 
will perceive, that, of the large field opened by Sir Isaac New- 
ton, a considerable part is still covered with briars and thorns. 
Fie will have no doubt, that the mine is not yet exhausted, but 
that, although the first workers of it have carried away the 
largest and most brilliant diamonds, enough still remain to 
reward the labour of those who shall have the resolution to di<? 
o 
deeper, and the patience of those who shall yet carefully sift 
the rubbish which has been thrown up by former adventurers. 
The subject of the following sheets was first offered to ray 
* Preface to his Fluxions.. 
