[ So ] 
ferently applied in different Countries. And he 
thinks it very ftrange, that, when it was always the 
Cuftom to diftinguifh their Numbers by ’Decades , 
they fhould not more early have fallen into the Me- 
thod of ufing only ten different Characters, by means 
of which the largeft Sums are now computed with 
fo much Eafe and Expedition. But the Romans , as 
he obferves, had fome Affifiance from their Abacus r 
or Counting Table ; a Defcription of which, with the 
Ufe of it, he has given from Velfer , by whom it was 
firft publifhed, and afterwards by Grater? and others (a). 
And a Draught of the Table may be feen alfo in the 
ThiloJ'ophical Tranf actions , Number 180. I would 
therefore only beg Leave to make a fhort Obferva- 
tion or two concerning it. And firft I imagine, 
that the 0, which is placed between the two Series 
of Rings on the Right-hand, may (land for the Greek 
Word Srgauafjictla., fr alHons 5 as that Order of Rings 
denotes Ounces or Tarts of the feveral following 
Decades towards the Left-hand, which are all AJfes 
or Integrals . Nor was it unufual with the Romans 
to make ufe of tingle Greek Characters on fome 
Occaftons 5 as we ufe the Latin Letters, /. s. d . for 
Pounds , Shillings , and Pence. I would further re- 
mark, that the four Rings, placed by themfelves on 
the Right-hand of the former, are doubtlefs Parts 
of the Ounce, as Velfer explained them. Bur, 
whereas Peireskius (as our Author obferves from Gaf 
fendus) thought Velfer was miftaken in calling the 
(a) Gruf. Jnfcript. antiy. ccxxiy. Pignor. De Servir, p. 344, 
<W. 1674. GSavo. 
two 
