Excerpt from An Essay on the Usefulness of Mathematical Learning: In a Letter From a Gentleman in the City, to His Friend at Oxford But, notwithfianding their Excellency and Re putation, they have not been taught nor fiudy'd lo univerfally, as fome of the reft; whichi take to have proceed from the following Caufes The Aver/ion of the greatqfl Part of Mankind to ferions Attention, and clay} arguing, Their not comprehending fuficientty the Neccfit), or great efficine/f, cf the]? In other Parts of Learning An Opinion that this Study requires a particular Genius and Turn of Head, which flow are fit happy as to he horn uithz, And the ivant of public Encouragement, and able Aiajiers. For thefe, and perhaps fome other Reafons, this Study hath been generally neglected, and regarded only by fome few Perfons, whofe happy Genius and Cu riofity have prompted them to it, or who have been forced upon it by its immediate Subferviency to fome particular Art or Office. Therefore I think I cannot do better Service to Learning, Youth, and the Nation in general, than by Ihewing, That the Mathematics, of all Parts of human Knowt'cge, for the Improvement of the Mind, for their suh/ereicncy to other Arts, and their lz/cful nefi to the Commonwealth, dcfirve mofi to he encou raged. I know a Difcourfe of this Nature will be offenfive to fome, who, while they are ignorant of Mathematics, yet think themfelves Matters of all valuable Learning: But their Difpleafure mufi not deter me from delivering an ufeful Truth. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.