Page:The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy - 1729 - Volume 1.djvu/14

Rh ''accurate is called Geometrical, what is les o is called Mechanical. But the errors are not in the art, but in the artificers. He that works with les accuracy, is an imperfect Mechanic, and if any could work with perfect accuracy, he would be the most perfect Mechanic of all. For the decription of right lines and circles, upon which Geometry is founded, belongs to Mechanics. Geometry does not teach us to draw thee lines, but requires them to be drawn. For it requires that the learner hould firt be taught to decribe thee accurately, before he enters upon Geometry; then it hews how by thee operations problems may be olved. To decribe right lines and circles are problems, but not geometrical problems. The olution of thee problems is required from Mechanics; and by geometry the ue of them, when o olved, is hewn. And it is the glory of Geometry that from thoe few principles, fetched from without, it is able to produce o many things. Therefore Geometry is founded in mechanical practice, and is nothing but that part of univeral Mechanics which accurately propoes and demontrates the art of meauring. But ince the manual arts are''