Chapter I: Front Matter

PASSAGES FROM THE LIFE OF A PHILOSOPHER, by Charles Babbage

_B. H. Babbage, del._

Impression from a woodcut of a small portion of Mr. Babbage’s Difference Engine No. 1, the property of Government, at present deposited in the Museum at South Kensington.

It was commenced 1823. This portion put together 1833. The construction abandoned 1842. This plate was printed June, 1853. This portion was in the Exhibition 1862.]

PASSAGES

FROM

THE LIFE OF A PHILOSOPHER.

BY

CHARLES BABBAGE, ESQ., M.A., F.R.S., F.R.S.E., F.R.A.S., F. STAT. S., HON. M.R.I.A., M.C.P.S., COMMANDER OF THE ITALIAN ORDER OF ST. MAURICE AND ST. LAZARUS, INST. IMP. (ACAD. MORAL.) PARIS CORR., ACAD. AMER. ART. ET SC. BOSTON, REG. ŒCON. BORUSS., PHYS. HIST. NAT. GENEV., ACAD. REG. MONAC., HAFN., MASSIL., ET DIVION., SOCIUS. ACAD. IMP. ET REG. PETROP., NEAP., BRUX., PATAV., GEORG. FLOREN, LYNCEI ROM., MUT., PHILOMATH. PARIS, SOC. CORR., ETC.

“I’m a philosopher. Confound them all— Birds, beasts, and men; but no, not womankind.”—_Don Juan._

“I now gave my mind to philosophy: the great object of my ambition was to make out a complete system of the universe, including and comprehending the origin, causes, consequences, and termination of all things. Instead of countenance, encouragement, and applause, which I should have received from every one who has the true dignity of an oyster at heart, I was exposed to calumny and misrepresentation. While engaged in my great work on the universe, some even went so far as to accuse me of infidelity;—such is the malignity of oysters.”—_“Autobiography of an Oyster” deciphered by the aid of photography in the shell of a philosopher of that race,—recently scolloped._

LONDON:

LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, ROBERTS, & GREEN.

1864.

[_The right of Translation is reserved._]

DEDICATION.

TO VICTOR EMMANUEL II., KING OF ITALY.

SIRE,

In dedicating this volume to your Majesty, I am also doing an act of justice to the memory of your illustrious father.

In 1840, the King, Charles Albert, invited the learned of Italy to assemble in his capital. At the request of her most gifted Analyst, I brought with me the drawings and explanations of the Analytical Engine. These were thoroughly examined and their truth acknowledged by Italy’s choicest sons.

To the King, your father, I am indebted for the first public and official acknowledgment of this invention.

I am happy in thus expressing my deep sense of that obligation to his son, the Sovereign of united Italy, the country of Archimedes and of Galileo.

I am, Sire, With the highest respect, Your Majesty’s faithful Servant,

CHARLES BABBAGE.