Helmdon Mantle Tree Infcription, &c.

15* faiences. We learn, however, that he communicated to his intimate acquaintance the knowledge and the fignifications of thefe figures; and from the brief explanation given of them by the hiftorian, who has Hkewife contracted them with two other kinds of numerals, it may, I think, be demonstrated that he muft have meant the Greek figures. This, obferves the hiftorian, was the thing moft to be ad- mired in them, that by a {ingle figure any number is reprefented, a pofition that a paffage in the Appendix to the Lexicon by Scapula, p. 233, has a tendency to illuftrate. " De Graecorum notis Arithmxticis compendium ex Hadrian! Amerotio Scriptis, Grasci utuntur notis numerorum literis alphabeticis ; idque tri- bus modis. Primo fmgulis elementis fecundum alphabet! feriem loci fub numerum fignificantibus. Nam quorum in ordine alpha- bet! locum quaeque litera fortita eft,, ejufdem numerum reprefen- tat, ut a primum, c fecundum, et ita deinceps ufque IV. quod 2,4 iymbolum habet." But, continues the hiftorian, this is not the cafe with the Latin numerals, non eft in Latino ; and the difference is obvious, there being no more than feven Latin letters ufed, viz. M. for a thoufand ; D. for five hundred ; C for one hundred ; L. for fifty ; X. for ten ; V. for five ; and I. for units ; fo that there are feven of the firft ten numbers not noted by a fmgle figure, or let- ter. Matt. Paris concludes with remarking, vel AJgorifmo, or in Algorifm ; clearly contrafting the figures he had before defcribed with a third clafs. To make what he calls the Greek letters the fame with the characters in Algorifmo is to fuggeft a distinction without any difference : and Algorifmus is a word agreed by the gloflarifts to be of Arabic etymology, and to denote numbering ; and therefore Arabic figures muft be here meant, which prima facie cover only nine figures ; the o being a mere cypher, without any fignification, except from its relative pofition to the other cha- 6 rafters..