This instrument was described in a work on arithmetic, published by Mr. Friend forty years ago.  The instrument is, however, of much older date; it is the same in principle as the Abacus of the Romans, and in its form resembles as nearly as possible the Swanpan of the Chinese, of which there is a drawing in the Encyclopaedia Brittanica.  Mr. Wilderspin merely invented the name.”  Now, I defy the writer of this to prove that the Arithmeticon existed before I invented it.  I claim no more than what is my due.  The Abacus of the Romans is entirely different; still more so is the Chinese Swanpan; if any person will take the trouble to look into the Encyclopaedia Britannica, they will see the difference at once, although I never heard of either until they were mentioned in the pamphlet referred to.  There are 144 balls on mine, and it is properly simplified for infants with the addition of the tablet, which explains the representative characters as well as the real ones, which are the balls.

I have not yet heard what the Central Society have invented; probably we shall soon hear of the mighty wonders performed by them, from one end of the three kingdoms to the other.  Their whole account of the origin of the Infant System is as partial and unjust as it possibly can be.  Mr. Simpson, whom they quote, can tell them so, as can also some of the committee of management, whose names I see at the commencement of the work.  The Central Society seem to wish to pull me down, as also does the other society to whom reference is made is the same page of which I complain; and I distinctly charge both societies with doing me great injustice; the society complains of my plans without knowing them, the other adopts them without acknowledgment, and both have sprung up fungus-like, after the Infant System had been in existence many years, and I had served three apprenticeships to extend and promote it, without receiving subscriptions or any public aid whatever.  It is hard, after a man has expended the essence of his constitution, and spent his children’s property for the public good, in inducing people to establish schools in the principal towns in the three kingdoms,—­struck at the root of domestic happiness, by personally visiting each town, doing the thing instead of writing about it—­that societies of his own countrymen should be so anxious to give the credit to foreigners.  Verily it is most true that a Prophet has no honour in his own country.  The first public honour I ever received was at Inverness, in the Highlands of Scotland, the last was by the Jews in London, and I think there was a space of about twenty years between each.

CHAPTER XIII.

FORM, POSITION, AND SIZE.

Method of instruction, geometrical song—­Anecdotes—­Size—­Song measure—­Observations.

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“Geometry is eminently serviceable to improve and strengthen the intellectual faculties.”—­Jones.