Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/212

 some, that not one in Forty who now mind Books, because they love Reading, would then apply themselves to it. (4.) The Notice of new and excellent Books is more easily dispersed. (5.) The Text is hereby better preserved entire, and is not so liable to be corrupted by the Ignorance or Malice of Transcribers; this is of great Moment in Mathematicks, where the Alteration of a Letter, or a Cypher, may make a Demonstration unintelligible. But to say more upon this Subject would be to abuse Mens Patience, since these things, if not self-evident, yet need no Proof.

Engraving upon Wood, or Copper, is of great Use in all those Parts of Knowledge where the Imagination must be assisted by sensible Images. For want of this noble Art, the Ancient Books of Natural History and Mechanical Arts, are almost every where obscure; in many Places unintelligible. Mathematical Diagrams, which need only a Ruler and a pair of Compasses, have been better preserved, and could with more Ease be drawn: But in Anatomy, in Mechanicks, in Geography, in all Parts of Natural History, Engraving is so necessary, and has been so very advantageous, that without it, many of those Arts and Sciences would to this