Elements of Algebra

iv ADVERTISEMENT. supposed to rest on the basis of truth; but finding also, that, from imitation and habit, he had been led to think too highly of those metaphysical speculations, which abound in terms to which we annex no distinct ideas, and which often require the admission of principles, that are either unintelligible, or incapable of proof; I recommended to his notice Euler's Algebra, as affording an admirable exercise of his reasoning powers, and the best means of cultivating that talent for analysis, close investigation, and logical inference, which he possessed at an early period, and which he afterwards displayed in so eminent a degree. At the same time, I was of opinion, that to translate a part of that excellent work from the French into English, when he wished to vary his studies, would improve his knowledge of both languages, and be the best introduction for him to the mathematics. He was soon delighted with this occasional employment, which seemed to supply his mind with food, that was both solid and nutricious; and he generally produced, two or three times a week, as much as I could find time to revise and correct. In the course of the first twelvemonth, he had translated so large a portion of the two volumes, that it was determined to complete the whole, and to publish it for the benefit of English students: but he returned to Scotland before the manuscript was ready for the press; and, therefore, the labor of editing it necessarily devolved on me. I wished to give this short history of the Trans-