"There is a story told by Mr. Wood, but it does not appear entitled to any attention, that one Dr. Craig, a Scotchman, coming out of Denmark into his own country, called upon John Napier... and told him of a new invention in Denmark, by Longomontanus, to save tedious multiplications and divisions in astronomical calculations. Napier being solicitous to know further of him of this matter, he could give no other account of it than that it was by proportional numbers; which hint Napier taking, desired him, at his return, to call upon him again. Craig, after an interval of some weeks, did so, and Napier then showed him a rude draught of what he called canon mirabilis logarithmorum. Had there been any truth in such a story, we may be sure that Longomontanus and the Danes would not have abstained from laying their claim to so admirable a discovery."
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