P R E F A C E.

T

THE Opinions of the Moderns concerning the Author of the

Elements of Geometry which go under Euclid's Name, are very different and contrary to one another. Peter Ramus ascribes the Propositions, as well as their Demonstrations, to Theon; others think the Propositions to be Euclid's, but that the Demonstrations are Theon's; and others maintain that all the Propositions and their Demonstrations are Euclid's own. John Buteo and Sir Henry Savile are the Authors of greatest Note who allert this last, and the greater part of Geometers have ever fince been of this Opinion, as they thought it the most probable. Sir Henry Savile, after the several Arguments he brings to prove it, makes this Conclusion (Pag. 13. Praelect.) “ That excepting a very few Interpolations, Explicati“ons and Additions, Theon altered nothing in Euclid.” But, by often considering and comparing together the Definitions and Demonftrations as they are in the Greek Editions we now have, I found that Theon, or whoever was the Editor of the present Greek Text, by adding some things, suppressing others, and mixing his own with Eucliil's Demonstrations, had changed more things to the wore than is commonly fuppofed, and those not of finall moment, especially in the Fifth and Eleventh Books of the Elements, which this Editor has greatiy vitiated. for instance, by substituting a frorter, but infuficient Demonstration of the 18th Prop. of the 5th Book, in place of the legitimate one which Euclid had given; and by taking out of this Book, besides other things, the good Definition which Eudoxus or Euclid had given of Compound Ratio, and giving an absurd one in place of it in the 5th Definition of the 6th Book, which neither Euclid, Archimides, Apollonius, nor any Geometer before Theon's Time, ever made use of, and of which there is not to be found the least appearance in any

of their Writings. and as this Definition did much embarrass Beginners, and is quite useless, it is now thrown out of the Elements, and another which without doubt Euclid had given, is put in its proper place among the Definitions of the 5th Book, by which the Doctrine of Compound Ratios is rendered plain and easy. Besides, among the Definitions of the nith Book, there is this, which is the 10th, viz. " Equal and fimilar folid figures are those which are contained by similar planes of the same number and magnitude." Now thiş Proposition is a Theorem, not a Definition, because the equality of figures of any kind must be demonstrated, and not assumed. and therefore, tho' this were a true Propofition, it ought to have been démonstrated. But indeed this Proposition, which makes the 10th Definition of the 11th Book, is not true universally, except in the case in which each of the solid angles of the figures is contained by no more than three plane angles ; for, in other cases, two folid figures may be contained by similar planes of the same number and magnitude, and yet be unequal to one another , as shall be made evident in the Notes subjoined to these Elements. In like manner, in the Demonstration of the 26th Prop. of the 11th Book, it is taken for granted, that those solid angles are equal to one another which are contained by plane angles of the fame number and magnitude placed in the same order ; but neither is this universally true, except in the case in which the solid angles are contained by no more than three plane angles; nor of this case is there any DemonItration in the Elements we now have, tho' it be quite necessary there should be one. Now

upon

the i oth Definition of this Book depend the 25th and 28th Propositions of it; and upon the 25th and 26th depend other eight, viz. the 27th, 31st, 320, 33d; 34th, 36th, 37th, and 40th of the same Book. and the 12th of the 12th Book depends upon the 8th of the same, and this 8th, and the Corollary of Proposition 17th, and Prop. 18th of the 12th Book depend upon the oth Definition of the 11th Book, which is not a right Definition, because there may be folids contained by the fame number of similar plane figures, which are not similar unto one another, in the true sense of similarity received by all Géometers. and all these Propositions have, for these reasons, been insufficiently demonstrated since Theon's time hitherto. Besides, there are several other things, which have nothing of Euclid's accuracy, and which plainly few that his Eleinents have been much corrupted by unskilful Geometers, and tho' these are not so grofs' as the others now mentioned, they ought by no means to remain uncorrected,

Upon these Accounts it appeared' necessary, and I hope will prove acceptable to all'Lovers of Accurate Reasoning and of Mathematical Learning, to remove such blemishes, and restore the principal Books of the Elements to their original Accuracy, as far as I was able ; especially since these Elements are the foundation

of a Science by which the Investigation and Discovery of useful Truths, at least in Mathematical Learning, is promoted as far as the limited Powers of the Mind allow ; and which likewisë is of the greatest Use in the Arts both of Peace and War, to many of which Geometry is absolutely necessary. This I have endeavoured to do by taking away the inaccurate and falfe Reasonings which unskilful Editors have put into the place of some of the genuine Demonstrations of Eaclid, who has ever been justly celebrated as the most accurate of Geometers, and by restoring to him those Things which Theon or others have suppressed, and which have these many ages been buried in Oblivion.

In this Edition Ptolomy's Propofitiori concerning a property of quadrilateral figures in a circle is added at the end of the fixth Book. Also the Note on the 29th Prop. Book it is altered, and made more explicit. And a more general Demonstration is given instead of that which was in the Note on the roth Definition of Book 11th. besides the Translation is much amended by the friendly affistance of a learned Gentleman.