THE
REGULATING
Silver Coin, &c.
Writing on so curious, and intricate a Subject, I have great Reason to bespeak the Candour of the Reader.
A Book of this Nature cannot but expect to meet with great Opposition, and ’tis very probable from Two sorts of Men especially, viz. Those that know little of the Subject-Matter, and those that know much.
They that know little are Jealous, and they that know much Opiniatre, and whilst one will not take Pains to comprehend a thing, another taketh too much to overthrow it.
Mr. Lowndes.
But as I hope I shall say nothing here, to be pity’d; so I am on the other side pretty secure from Envy, because, the greatest Credit that can be gotten, by a thing of this Nature, doth already seem to be engross’d by a late learned and industrious Writer upon this Subject.
It was, I must needs say, a prudent piece of Service the Lords of the Treasury did the Nation, and more particularly the Parliament, under whose Judgment this matter justly falls, by imploying so able a Pen to clear the way, in giving a true, and entertaining Account of Matter of Fact.
But I must do my self that little piece of Justice too, as to acknowledge the main Design of these Papers was laid before I could have a sight of that Book:
And now I am ready enough to confess my own Weakness, and Insufficiency, for so great an Undertaking; nor do I pretend to write a Stile equal to that experienc’d Minister, but am contented to be understood without shining, and to offer Mathematical Reasoning, without polishing and Ornament.
When I at first form’d the whole Scheme, I had more Leisure, by much, than when I put it in Writing, and I can better answer for my Design, than for my way of expressing it; and therefore all the Favour I expect or ask, is, that the Theorem, which is the main of the Work, may not suffer for the Inartificialness of the Problems that lead to it.