The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-09
combination. oe arithmetic. and, ~ oce -e-nsmS

combinations of arithmetic, and ~ che rerHeeAt
| oers that he eve ANY inqui.i es bout nun.
ners, or their use. AS he always lived IN t.on>
| tier town OF Vermont, where education meeta
win little encouragement, and as his TAT era
resources were few and triang, ne had recei-
yea no instruction, and was in fact ignorant of
| The first rubin, ms of reading. Ii was there.
tore with unqualified astonishment, that his fs.
ther overheard him multiplying different sums
"erey Tor MS own amusement and on nvesti.
gazing the extent OF his powers. found h could
multiply any two numbers under one tlndre -
ms happened about the beginning of last Az
gust. Immediately on this disc ~ cry, the satncr
sent HIM To- a woman's school, such as is usua,lv
Kept IN our back settlements during the summet
Se'soh There he remained until the latter part
Oh september, and WAS taught to read little
pui IS sun completely ignorant oftigures ana our
method or using them Tho want Of artificial
symbols dues not, however, seem 10 embarrass
ni'n IN the least. Instead of them, he EMPLOYS
'he,r names, and without any other assistance,
periorms mentally all. the common operat i,s II .
Uie Tour fundamental rules of arithmetic. he
Can add column OF figures four in height and
Ht IN width. lie can subtract five figures 8x
o"ioe iour He Call multiply any number under
ne thousand by any number under me and eds
vi b" series OF three questions each CT whose fac
OTIS 10 not exceed one hundred. He has also
nc "t oy enquiry several of The different kinds
vi iueasure ana nov reduces u,les TO rods md
'N"'' ~ oayss HOurS, &c Ills most e.
V" n'"i .: -" IN as >at Oi discovering the Sc
Ferai multIples of given number and this he
uoeS win SUCH astonishing rapidity, rhat the
heaier cannot note them do wn so fast. as he ut
.srs ,nen ;-Ex. gr. when asked what numbers
mutt Piled together will produce 1924 ne reDli-
ed instantly, x 612. . K 3O6, SIX l55, 3X 4os.
. 2o4, II lu2, d K 81, OK I3o, iY < 63,
% n So and II K r. In tins, and similar opera
th'hs, N. probably discove the two first factors
ny DIVISION, and afterwards muI,iphes aud il
woes these factors To procure the next Sc, aud
SO on un IL the series IS exhausted, when he re-
ours TO the original nuHber, and making ew
DIVISION proceeds before. In multipiication
lie inds the mutples of one factor and multip les
'iiem successfully IN tie other. Thus, in mutt.
plying 80 by l56, instead of t4k,ng the common
mohe' o, saws, l3X S2=4l6X i2-4992; be-
Cause IL lS=l5o But, if the hundreds pro-
posed will not suffer this process, he first muitis
Pies AT nund'eds and then the tens, and S.isco-
$ me aggregate byaddtion HIS facility IN
multiple alton arises III great measure fr m the
extent "t MS t'o!e, which instead of compr sing
o'y one hundred and forty-four combinations.
probably comprises ten thousaIl as he EVIDENT
ly answers all Questions whose factors re less
thaii ore "undred, from recollection, and not
from computation. His memory is prodpious
and appears capable of almost indefinite cultva-
.ion' In his general disposition, ne is unrommsn-
~ oociie and ,Hcctionate, although he di ,yers
considerable PRIDE OF opinion, and is chasrined
"neh detected IN an error. He is remark oily
lquisti'e, and is never satlsf,. with suJe f.
elai examination OF any new object or fact -
Mhsick excites nun powerfully and next, to-
mss pictures Ills person IS strong and weik
l'roPortiuned except his head, which is much
larger than usual This circumstance ha, r4Is-
cd suspicious. that he had been subject 10 the
ricKets dis order which has been supposed
s"metlmcs 10 produce premat urity of tai MT.
ou' tie father declares, that the child has A ways
been healthy, aud particularly denies tn It ne e.
yer discovered my appearances OF this disease
Considering all these circumstances the pre-
sent appears to be an unparalleled Instance of he
early deveiopement of mind 1t is prepostereus
70 compare INN with the admirable Critton or
the blind D!dmus because their faculties
were drawn forth by the usual artifices of sdu-
cauon while the youth of this cid, the ieno-
rance of bls parents, and their relative stua OH
l. society, preclude the possibility of his eays
.nE attained his preset powers b, my of The or
My means of Improvement. 1t is ceftaln.
Their fore, tha 1t is certain, therefore, th.t he
has made SELF what he n W is the most
astonishing 'istance of premature kill in arith.
metc combinations that the world ever saw.
De-. Ii III