On the other hand Unity may be esteem'd a Number, since it is no less (if I may be allow'd that term) some Quo∣tity than two or three. But as we denote or signifie particular Things, when we speak of them Universally, by the Letters of the Alphabet, A, B, C, (a, b, c,) &c. as universal Signs or Symbols of them; so for distinctly and compendiously Expres∣sing the innumerable Variety of Numbers, Men have found out various Notes, the most natural whereof, are Points disposed in particular extended Orders, as . . . to denote Three,
to denote Nine,
&c. But that way which is most commodious for Practise, is by the common Notation, or Cyphers, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. the invention whereof, as we have it by Vulgar Tradition, is owing to the
Arabians. By a very few of these we express any number tho never so great, by a won∣derful, tho now adays familiar, Artifice; the first Inventor of them having Establish'd this as an arbitrary Law, that the first of them shall signifie
unity or
one; the 2d
two, &c. as often as they stand alone; but placed in a row with others, or on the left hand of one or more 0, or noughts, (which of themselves stand for nothing, but fill up empty places) if in the second, be∣fore a nought, they denote Tens; if in the 3d. Hundreds; in the 4th Thousands; in the 5th Myriads or Tens of Thousands; in the 7th so many Thousands of Thousands, or Millions; in the 8th Tens of Millions,
&c. and so onwards, increasing al∣ways in decuple Proportion, by Tens, Hundreds, Thousands,
&c.
COROLLARY I.
HEnce you have a way of expressing or writing any Sum by these Notes, which you may hear expressed in Words; as if we were to express in Notes the year of our Lord, One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety and Nine, it is manifest, that according to the method above described, by placing 9 on the right hand in the first place, and nine again in the second to∣wards the left, six in the third, and one or unity in the fourth, the business will be done. Thus it will be easie to any one with a little attention, to express any Number whatsoever by these Notes; (as suppose that which Swenterus proposes, in Delic-Physico-Math.