The nature and laws of chance / By Thomas Simpson.

  • Thomas Simpson
Date:
1740
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The nature and laws of chance / By Thomas Simpson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Matter on one, that perhaps may ferve equally well for their Purpofe. I am fatisfied, it may be deem'd a fort of Prefumption to attempt, upon any Account, a Subject like this, after fo great a Man as Mr Dc Moivre; and that fome, who wouldpafs for confiderable Judges, have not been wanting to cenfure and contemn this ‘Performance already on that Head, before having the leaf Knowledge of the Particulars therein con¬ tained. But they would do well to reflect, whether to pro¬ ceed thus, may not prove a greater Impeachment of their own Judgment and Conduit, even among their Friends, than of his, whofe Work, without any Offence given, they en¬ deavour to depreciate. ; ' - * ■; I have perhaps as high an Opinion of that learned Au¬ thor's Productions as a?iy of thofe Gentlemen. But does it follow, becaufe one Perf on has done well on this Subjell, that nothing farther can be neceffary ? Bejides, it is not every one that has a Genius fitted for the mo/I exalted Speculations or that is capable of reading the Works of the mofi fublime and celebrated Authors', and, therefore, tho' I flmild go no farther than to bring down fome of the befi and mofi itfeful Things already known to the Level of ordinary Capa¬ cities, I Jhould think this might, in fome meafure, ex¬ empt me from Cenfure. However, 1 would not have the Reader conclude from hence, that he has nothing more to ex¬ pect in thefe few Sheets than a bare Collection of low Mat¬ ters3 or that, like fome of our prefent Mathematical Wri¬ ters, I Jhould be poorly ambitious of appearing the Author of a Performance, that would, was every Bird to claim his own Feather, be ftript as naked as the Jay in the Fable. It \
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