NOT 
discoveries made by algebra are wholly to 
be imputed to that symbolical language 
made use of in it: for by this means we 
are enabled to represent things in the form 
of equations: and by variously proceeding 
with tliese equations, to trace out, step by 
step, the several particulars we want to 
know. Add to all this, that by such a no- 
tation, the eyes and imagination are also 
made subservient to the discovery of truth ; 
for the thoughts of the mind rise up and 
disappear, according as we set ourselves to 
call them into view ; and, therefore, with- 
out some partienlar method of fixing and 
ascertaining them as they occur, the re- 
trieving them when out of sight would be 
no less painful, than the very first exercise 
of deducing them one front another. As, 
therefore, we have frequent occasion to 
look back upon the discoveries already 
ma^e, could these be no otherwise brought 
into view, than by the same course of think- 
ing in which they were first traced, so many 
different attentions at once m\ist needs 
greatly distract the mind, and be attend- 
ed with infinite trouble and fatigue. But 
now, the method of fixing and ascertaining 
cur thougl)ts by a Itappy and well cliosen 
notation, entirely removes all those ob- 
stacles; for tints, when we have occasion 
to turn to any former discovery, as care is 
taken all along to delineate them in proper 
characters, we need only cast our eye on 
that part of the process where they stand 
expressed, which will lay them at once 
open to the mind in their true and genuine 
form. By this means we can take, at any 
time, a quick and ready survey of our pro- 
gress, and running over the several conclu- 
sions already gained, see more distinctly 
what helps they furnish towards obtaining 
those others we are still in pursuit of. Nay, 
further, as the amount of evety step of the 
investigation lies before us, by comparing 
them variously among themselves, and ad- 
justing them one to anotlier, we coma at 
length to discern the result of the whole, 
and are enabled to form our several dis- 
coveries into an uniform and well-connect- 
ed system of truths, which is the end and 
aim of all our inquiries. 
NOTES, in music, characters which 
mark the sounds; i, e. tlie elevations and 
fellings of the voice, and the swiftness and 
slowness of its motions. In general, under 
notes are comprehended all the signs or 
characters used in music, though in pro- 
priety the word only implies the marks 
VOL. V. 
NOU 
which denote the degrees of gravity and 
acuteness to be given to each sound. 
NOTONECTA, in natural history, boat- 
fly, a genus of insects of the order Hemip- 
tera. Snout inflected ; antennae shorter than 
the thorax ; four wings folded cross wise, 
coriaceous on the upper half ; hind-legs hairy, 
formed for swimming. There are seven- 
teen species in two divisions, viz. A. Lip 
elongated, conic. B. Conic, spinous at the 
sides. Mr. Donovan in his English insects 
has described N. clauea: upper wings 
yellow-brown, the anterior margin bright- 
brown dotted with black, the tip bifid. It 
is found in Europe. 
NOTOXUS, in natural history, a genus 
of insects of the order Coleoptera. Antennae 
filiform; four feelers, hatcliet-shaped ; jaw 
one-toothed; thorax a little narrowed be- 
hind. There are about thirteen species. 
N. moneceros, described in Donovan’s in- 
sects, has a thorax projecting like a horn 
over the head; shells pale, with a black 
band and dot. It inhabits Europe on 
umbelliferous plants. 
NOVEL, in the civil law, a terra used 
for tlie constitutions of several emperors, as 
of Justin, Tiberius, Leo, and more parti- 
cularly of those of Justinian. The constitu- 
tions of Justinian were called novels, either 
from their producing a great alteration in 
the face of tlie ancient law, or because they 
were made on new cases, and, after the re- 
visal of the ancient code, compiled by 
order of that emperor. Thus the constitu- 
tions of the emperors Theodosius, Valen- 
tfnian, Mai’cian, &c. were also called novels, 
on account of their being published after 
the Theodosian code. 
Novel assignment, or new assignment, 
a term in law pleadings which it is difficult 
to explain to those unacquainted with prac- 
tical pleading. It occurs in actions of tres- 
pas.s, where the form of the declaration being 
very general, the defendant pleads in bar a 
common justification ; to which the plaintiff 
replies by stating, that he. brought his ac- 
tion as well for a certain other ti-espas$ 
which he states with more particularity, as 
for tliat which is justified. This is called a 
new assignment. 
NOVEMBER, in chronology, the llth 
month of the Julian year, consisting only of 
thirty days: it got the name of November, 
as being the ninth month of Romulus’s year, 
which began with March. 
NOUN, in grammar, a part of speech, 
which signifies things without auy relatioB 
C 
