nal to them. But then theſe finite Exponents are found by the help of Fluxions. Whatever therefore is got by ſuch Exponents and Proportions is to be aſcribed to Fluxions: which muſt therefore be previouſly underſtood. And what are theſe Fluxions? The Velocities of evaneſcent Increments And what are theſe ſame evaneſcent Increments? They are neither finite Quantities, nor Quantities infinitely ſmall, nor yet nothing. May we not call them the Ghoſts of departed Quantities?
XXXVI. Men too often impoſe on themſelves and others, as if they conceived and underſtood things expreſſed by Signs, when in truth they have no Idea, ſave only of the very Signs themſelves. And there are ſome grounds to apprehend that this may be the preſent Caſe. The Velocities of evaneſcent or naſcent Quantities are ſuppoſed to be expreſſed, both by finite Lines of a determinate Magnitude, and by Algebraical Notes or Signs: but I ſuſpect that many who, perhaps never having examined the matter, take it for
