138
Examination of an Inscription
but his rules are illustrated in words, letters, and figures. Under the chapter of Numeration, page 9, he states, "There are tenne figures that are used in arithmetick, and of those tenne one doth signifie nothing, which is made like o, and is privately called a cypher; though all the other sometime be likewise named: the other nine are called signifying figures, and are thus figured:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
And this is their value:
i. ij. iij. iiij. v. vi. vij. viij. ix."
A specimen of his method of illustrating an example shall be subjoined in a note[1].
The author has not suggested a hint as to the time when, or the persons by whom these figures were brought into England[2].
- ↑ Page 13. "A general Rule—Scholar. If I make this number 91359684, at all adventures, there are eight places. In the first place is 4, and betokeneth but foure; in the second place is 8, and betokeneth ten times 8, that is 80; in the third place is 6, and betokeneth six hundred; in the fourth place 9 is nine thousand; and 5 in the fifth place is XM times five, that is fifty M. So 3 in the sixth place is CM times 3, that is CCCM. Then 1 in the seventh place is one M.M. and 9 in the eighth ten thousand thousand times 9 that is XCMM—i. e. (at p. 14) XC thousand thousand CCCLIX thousand, 684, that is VIC.LXXX.iiij."
Fortunate is it for the clerks in the revenue department, and in the Bank and other money offices, that they are not bewildered with an accumulation of Ms Ds Cs Ls Vs Xs and Is; and extremely would it puzzle the head of the craftiest Argus, or bull or bear at his counter at Jonathan's, or the Stock Exchange, had he not the knowledge of figures tenne for numbering on a rencountre day his gain, or as a lame duck loss by speculating in consols and omnium. For every age has its peculiar technical language, that antiquaries in later days find it difficult to decypher. - ↑ Record's Arithmetick, p. 17.—"Master. I might shew you here who were the first inventors of this art, and the reason of all these things that I have taught you, but that I will reserve till ye have learned over all the practice of this art, lest I should trouble you with over many things at the first."
But
