1802] 
changes multiplication into addition, di- 
vifion into fubtrastion, the formation of 
powers into multiplication, and the ex- 
traétion of roots into divifion, is indeed 
one of the mof ufeful and ingenious im- 
provements in arithmetic. 
(Geometry in our next. ) 
ae 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
OUR Correfpondent from Glafgow, 
[ p.27, vol. 12, has written upon a 
very important fubject, and which not 
only deferves ‘the attention’’ of your 
readers, but of the public in general. 
To inveftigate, and, if poffible, to alcer- 
tain the caufes why * feven millions of 
uncultivated acyes’’ yet remain in this 
Door obferves a wonderful fimilarity, or 
rather identity, in the language and ideas of 
the great inventor of Fluxions, and thofe of 
Napier, whom he juftly calls the Scottith 
Newton. The words welocity, moving point, 
moment, increment, decrement, flow, jiux, or 
piuxion, ave tobe found in feveral parts of the 
“Canon Mirificus, and nearly, fometimes  in- 
tirely, in the fame fenfe in which Newton 
ufes them, See part i. p.1, 2, and 3, and 
part li, p. 12, 13, Lyon’s edition. But does 
not the learned gentleman gorather too far, 
when. he infers that ¢* Newton’s idcas of 
fluxions were borrowed from Napier?” Ido 
not like the word forrowed. We commonly fay, 
and 1 hope elfewhere to prove, perhaps, more 
conclufively than has hitherto heen done, 
that Defcartes borrowed the difcoveries of 
Harriot, and Leibnitz thofe of Newton. But 
is tiiereynot a vait difference between ufing a 
few ordinary words, in a fenfe but little re- 
moved from thecommonly received one, and 
borrowing a moft refined and accurate theory, 
capable of ferving as a broad bafis for a new 
and ample edifice of fcience ? Befides the 
* logarithms,: Napier invented feveral inftru- 
ments, which greatly facilitate arithmetical 
calculations: The chief of them are his 
Rbabdology, Prompiuary, and Local Arithmetic: 
His Five Circular Parts, which, in a manner, 
comprehend {fpherical trigonometry in a nut- 
fhell, vie in utility with any mathematical 
difcovery, the logarithms alone excepted. 
The circular parts have been improved by the 
excellent Wolfius, (Elem. Math. Univ. tom, 
3.) by M. Pingré, and very lately by the 
Reverend Mr. Fifher, Minifter of Cranitown, 
Scotland. See the Edinburgh Phil. Tranf. 
1798. But the invention is Napier’s, and 
many prefer his form of it to any other — 
The name of Mr, Henry Briggs, Savilian 
Profeffor of Geometry, at Oxford,’ fhould 
always accompany that of the great inventor 
of thelogarithms, as his friend and fellow- 
labourer in reducing thofe admirable numbers 
to a more convenient form. 
Obftacles to General Enchfure. at 
{mall ifland, when its ©‘ annual produce is 
far fhort of its annual con{umption,’? is 
indeed a matter of the very firk conle- 
quence. In imitation therefore of your 
corre{pondent, I beg leave to offer ‘a few 
ideas which have occurred tome upon the 
fubject,”’ and hope to fee it yet further 
inveltigated in your ‘truly ufeful and 
excellent Mifcellany.”’ 
What this fenfible writer has fuggefted 
under the form of Queries, may pofibly 
have fome remote effest in preventing the 
cultivation of our wafte lands; but I 
venture to think they can be no material, 
much lefs no ‘‘ principal bar to the pro- 
grefs of improvement.’ My apinion is, 
that the principal obftacle to this branch 
of agricultural improvement arifes from 
the want of a General Enclofure Bill, coa- 
ftructed upon liberal, rational principles ; 
by virtue of which the majority of free- 
holders in any parihh might be enabled tq 
enclole their open, or waite lands, without 
that procraftination and heavy expence 
which the. prefent mode uniformly and 
unavoidably occalions. I think too, that 
one principal reafon why fuch a bill is not 
pafied, is owing to the oppofition which it 
has met, and will meet, with from the lords. 
of manors—the clergy—-and the country 
attornies, together with their profeffional 
connections in London. 
1. With refpect to the lords of manors 
through the remains of the feudal fyftem, 
their power is yet~ Very, great. ‘They 
claim, a right to all mineralswhich can be 
found in waite er common land; together 
with various other privileges ; and when- 
ever an enclofure is propofed, they take 
care to demand ample fatistaction for every 
claim, whether real or doubtful. They 
alfo ufually nominate one of the commif- 
fioners, who is thereby under their imme-. 
diate influence, and is expected to act 
rather -as their direct agent, than as an 
impartial perfon elected for the exprefs 
purpofe of doing juitice to all the parties 
concerned. Sometimes too, thefe rural] 
Seigneurs enrol themfelves among the noily 
fons of the chace; and then they will op- 
pofe an enclofure, left it fhould obftruct their 
lavage diverfions. - . 
2. As tothe Clergy, theireagernefs and 
rapacity is proverbial 5 and iftheirclaims, 
however unfair or exorbitant, are oppofed, 
they have a number of vigilant and power- 
ful friends, who have an excellent oppor- 
tunity of examining the contemts of an 
Esclofure Bill, and ean lay a dead weight 
upon it, whenever they think it will prove 
avy diminution to the rights or emolu- 
ments of our holy mother. Now, from 
theie 
