The elements of Euclid, explained and demonstrated in a new and most easie method with the uses of each proposition in all the parts of the mathematicks / by Claude Francois Milliet D'Chales, a Jesuit ; done out of French, corrected and augmented, and illustrated with nine copper plates, and the effigies of Euclid, by Reeve Williams ...

THE TRANSLATORS PREFACE.

THE Reader having perused the Authors Preface, with this farther intimation, that he will find the Subject and Scope of this work Succinctly and pertinently presented to him, in the Argument before each particular book, may I presume, expect the loss from me, and I shall not at all endeavor to bespeak the Readers acceptance of Euclid's Elements, or persuade him to beleive, the Necessary and Excellent Ʋsefulness thereof, because every mans Experience, so far as he understands them, is an abundant Testimony thereunto. Neither shall I need to commend the Method with the uses of our Author D'Chales, (who is well known to the learned of this Age by

his Several excellent Mathe∣matical Tracts (* 1.1for whoso∣ever shall be a while conversant with this book, may I presume fiind that instruction and in∣courgment in the learning of Euclid's Eliments as he hath not before met with in our English Tongue, And this as it hath been my own experience, since I Translated it from the French for the use of my English Schollars, so it is one great cause of its coming abroad into the World: for such as had Learned by it found it difficult to attain, unless Transcribed, which they thought tedious, being a subject so Voluminous in Manuscript, and full of Schemes, I did therefore at their re∣quest, and the importunity of some Friends condescend to the Printing hereof, though not without much averseness to my own mind, being unwilling to Expose my self in any Pub∣lick thing, in this nice Critical Age; But that difficulty being now overcome, I shall only give the Reader to understand, that I have faithfully rendred this Piece into Eng∣lish according to the sense of the Author, but here and there omitting some small mat∣ters, which I judged not so properly related to the subject of this Work, and therein will make no want to the Reader, nor I hope be any offence to the Ingenious Author himself, I

have only one thing more to add, and that upon the account of an Objection I have met with, that here is not all the Books of Euclid, and it is true, here is not all, here are only the first six Books, and the Eleventh, and Twelfth, the other being purposely omitted by our learned Author, who judged the understand∣ing of these to be sufficient, for all the parts of the Mathematicks,* 1.2 and I could also give Instances of other excellent Authors, that are of his Opinion, and have taken the like course, nay the truth is some very learned in the Ma∣thematicks, have reduced the Propositions of these Books to a much lesser Number, and yet have thought them a compleat foundation to all the Sciences Mathematical, but I shall not trouble my Reader farther on this account, not doubting but when he hath perused and well considered our Euclid, he will have a better Opinion thereof, then any thing I can now say, may Justly hope to beget in him, and so I shall submit my whole Concernment here∣in to the Impartial Reader, and remain ready to Serve him.

Reeve Williams.

Form my School at the Virginia Coff-house in St. Michaels Alley in Cornhill.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cursus Mathe his Navigation, his Local Mo∣tion, &c.
• * 1.2

  See Argu∣ment before the Eleventh Book, Page 304.