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1
That is uninteresting, which promises
to give no pleasure, and to avert no pain
or to comprehend both cases in a single expression,
which gains promises no pleasure.
2
A discourse promises no pleasure, which prom giving
none at present, gives none in expectation.
3.
The ex pleasure of expectation resulting from
a set of ideas communicated in a discourse
is termed use.
4
What A discourse that is uninteresting is said, in a figurative
but very usual way of speaking, to
be dry; as it gives that sort a kind of disappointment
to him who takes it up in expectation
of deriving pleasure from it, it gives
him I say a sort of disappointment
analogous to what a man who taking
up a cup in expectation of
finding liquor in it, finds none it dry
5.
If a set of Definitions read by themselves
in a suite, no use appears
the use of a definition then first appears
when the word first occurs that
is defined.
6.
Therefore it seems that a learner in Geometry for example should
not be put to get by heart a string
of definitions for as least he find it
dry: but should be made to begin with the propositions
and refer to each Definition as it is
wanted.
Written by way of explanation of what
is said in the 2d sentence of Clairants'
Preface to his Geometry
Yes, Elmsley as usual has been faithless.
I will refresh his memory on Monday —
and as soon as I can get the Books
from him, or before, & I see no likeleyhood
of getting them there soon will send your
packet
Caveats I know noth of nothing of by
myself, but only from my Father.
The notions I have of about them from
recollection, agree with yours.
Mr Simmon's invention we talked of
when I was at Chatham. He shewd
me his cubes, and I proposed if you
remember, the adding of paper dipped
in Nitre of Copper to facilitate the
ascension — I think it a very useful
and ingenious contrivance.
Faulkner's Dictionary promises I think
to be a useful book. I did not find
in some particulars quite so full as I
expected: however it contains a good deal
of information and is written in a more
philosophical stile than one should expect.
Observe what he says "Pumps"
with a view to your invention.
Thou shammest Abraham, and knowest
not what it is to sham Abraham —
Thou comest within benefit of the prayer,
" Lord Father forgive them, for they know not
"what they do. For my Part, I do not
pretend certainty the
ription:
tat fa
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Identifier: | JB/537/334/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 537.
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1775-09-08 |
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537 |
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334 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Jeremy Bentham |
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