Correspondence in the British Libary Manuscripts Department VOL 2 1833 - Undated

British Library Add Ms 37188 f7
8th July 1833 Park Lane
Duke of Somerset to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
In looking round for some laws of nature, that might be permanent for a time, and after that time vary according to some more general law, and might so far resemble some of the calculations of your engine, I have stumbled upon the propagation of Aphis. A full account is given in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, with references to the works of those Naturalists by whom the observations were made. The case appears to me to be very much in point and therefore I take this early opportunity of mentioning it to you. I have mentioned it to others, by whom it has been rejected as a fable.
I remain
My Dear Sir
Yours Very Truly
Somerset
British Library Add Ms 37188 f12
15 July 1833 Highwood Hill
Extract of Letter from WH Fitton to Babbage
... Mr Barker who will deliver this note ... is the son of a very old and excellent friend of mine Dr B Professor of Chemistry in Dublin College ...
...and if you can let him see your Engine, which he has heard of as one of the wonders of the world. His pursuit is Chemistry. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f14
22 July 1833, 31 Prospect Place Southwark
Joseph Clement to Babbage
Sir,
In answer to your Letter of the 31st May I beg to inform you that I have this day sent a letter to the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, begging to be informed if it is their Lordship's pleasure to exonerate you from the payment of my Account respecting the Calculating Machine up to the 30th March 1833.
Although I have made a proposition to their Lordships for the payment of the said Account, and should their Lordships agree to my proposition, I most respectfully beg to inform you Mr Babbage that I do not mean to exonerate you from the payment of my Account, until the whole of it has been paid to me; And should any part of the Machine which may be in my possession be destroyed by Fire, I will not be bound to replace it again at my own Expence.
I am Sir
Your most Obedt Hble Servt
Joseph Clement
British Library Add Ms 37188 f16
22 July 1833
Joseph Clement to the Right Honorable Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury
My Lords
I hope you will excuse the humble individual who has taken the liberty of addressing you on the following subjects, having been employed by Mr Chas Babbage for a considerable time in Designing Drawing and Executing several parts of a Machine which is intended for Calculating Mathematical Tables, hitherto Mr Babbage is the only person that has given me any instructions respecting the Machine, the only person that has paid my Accounts, and the only person that I have delivered any part of the Machine to and hitherto I have looked upon him as the only person responsible to me for the work done.
In April 1830 it was then agreed upon by Mr Babbage and myself that Mr Maudslay and Mr Donkin should be requested to examine the several parts of the Machine and the Account and to abide by their decision; their Report was that the work as far as finished was satisfactory, and the charge reasonable, and that Mr Babbage was to settle it up to that time, which he did; It was also arranged that my Account was to be made up every three months, and that Mr Maudslay and Mr Donkin was to examine the work done to the Calculating Machine from the previous settlement and also the Account, and when examined Mr Babbage was to pay me the money up to that time, and that no part of the Money was to be witholden from me till the Completion of the Machine, and that I was to execute under Mr Babbages direction the several parts of the Machine to the best of my ability. Having the misfortune to lose my friend Mr Maudslay, I was requested by Mr Babbage to appoint some other person on my behalf. I applied to Mr Joshua Field and he had the goodness to say that he would undertake the task which had been allotted to Mr Maudslay, and to which Mr Babbage acquiesced. On the 8th February 1833 Mr Donkin and Mr Field (at my request) called upon me to examine the several parts of the calculating machine which had been executed since the 30th June 1832 (up to which time the Account had been regularly settled); after having examined the parts which are in my possession we proceeded to Mr Babbage, to examine a small part of the Calculating Machine which I had put together and delivered to Mr Babbage at his request. After having examined the several parts of the Machine they then examined the Combinations, the Actions and the result of several trials of the Machine to which they and Mr Babbage expressed themselves perfectly satisfied. On the 20th February they finished the examination of the Account and I presented it to Mr Babbage on the following day; his answer was that he would not present my Account to Government unless I would give him some other proposition for my removal to East Street. I told him the very great inconvenience that I should be put to, made me decline going there altogether. On the 20th March Mr Babbage called upon me and wished to know if I was going to make any proposition for my removal to East Street. My answer was that I wished to decline it. I then pressed Mr Babbage for a settlement of my Account, his answer was that he had got no Money, as he had not yet presented the Account to Government. I told him that hitherto I had no communication or dealing with Government respecting the Calculating Machine and that I looked upon him as the only responsible person; his answer was, that for the future he would never advance or pay me a single shilling. I then said Mr Babbage am I to understand you from that declaration that you wish to stop all further proceedings with the Machine for that was the most effectual plan; his answer was that he had no authority; I asked him if the Machine was his property or the property of Government; his answer was that he had no authority to answer that question. Now after that declaration that he would neither be responsible himself for the work that might be done hereafter to the Machine, nor let me know whose property the Machine was, I do not think I should have been justified in proceeding any further with the Calculating Machine until my Account was settled and someone was made responsible for the work done hereafter. On the 26th March I sent a letter to Mr Babbage giving him to understand that unless some arrangement was made I should be under the necessity of stopping the work at the end of the Week March 30th; no arrangement being made the Work was accordingly stopped.
About the beginning of May I was given to understand by Mr Babbage and also by Mr Donkin and Mr Field that it is your Lordship's intention to exonerate Mr Babbage from the payment of my Account, that is, for the Materials and work done to the several parts of the Calculating Machine since the 30th June 1832. On the following Conditions that is when all the Drawings not in use, and all the parts of the Calculating Machine which can be removed without preventing the progress of the Work, have been deposited in the Fireproof Building in East Street your Lordships will direct payment to be made of my Account to the 31st December 1832 and which Account I was given to understand by Mr Babbage had been laid before your Lordships, but I informed Mr Babbage previous to removing the several parts of the Machine to the Fireproof Buildings that proper preparations should be made for receiving them, and that it would be more convenient for Mr Donkin and Mr Field to examine the several parts of the Machine which had been executed since the 31st December 1832 previous to their removal, and that I was very anxious to have a complete settlement up to the present time. Mr Babbage informed me that he would call on Mr Field on his return home; and write to Mr Donkin and request them to take an early opportunity of examining my Account etc. Mr Donkin and Mr Field called on me the following week and requested me to write to your Lordships and state my propositions. I then asked them to have the goodness to examine my Account etc so that we might have a complete understanding up to that time; their answer was, that I was putting them to a great deal of inconvenience, that I was taking up a considerable portion of their time for which they were not receiving any remuneration, that it was altogether an unpleasant undertaking and that they were tired of it, but they at last agreed to examine my Account &c in the course of two or three days, but I have not yet seen them. I should have written to your Lordships before this time, but being anxious to have a complete understanding and Settlement with Mr Babbage up to the present time, I hope that your Lordships will have no objection to the following proposition;
That is, as it will require some time to make preparations in the Fireproof Building for the reception of the drawings and the several parts of the calculating machine, and that as Mr Babbage ought to have settled my Account up to the 31st December 1832 upwards of Four Months ago I hope your Lordships will be pleased to direct the payment of it on the Receipt of this Letter.
And I would respectfully suggest to your lordships that as Mr Donkin and Mr Field find it inconvenient to examine my Account and the several parts of the Calculating Machine which has been executed between the 31st December 1832 and the 30th March 1833, that two other Engineers may be appointed in their stead, and that as soon as the Machine and the Account are Examined, and such parts of the Calculating Machine and drawings as can be removed without preventing the progress of the work are deposited in the Fireproof Building in East Street, I hope your Lordships will then be pleased to direct the payment of my Account up to that time.
I further beg to inform your Lordships pleasure to direct me to proceed with the Calculating Machine under the direction of Mr Chs. Babbage as hitherto, that I am willing to undertake it on the following understanding; that is, that I will execute the several parts of the Calculating Machine at my own Manufactory in Prospect Place Southwark under the directions of Mr Chs. Babbage and when certain parts are finished and examined by the Engineers, I will remove them to the Fireproof Building in East Street, and when the several parts are completed I will put the whole together in the Fireproof Building in East Street.
That two Engineers (one chosen and paid for by each party) be appointed to examine the progress of the several parts of the Machine with the Accounts once every three Months.
That when the Account and such parts of the Calculating Machine as may have been executed since the previous Account have been examined and signed, that the payment thereof shall be a complete settlement between all parties up to that time. But should the two Engineers not agree in their opinion, they shall be authorized to appoint another Engineer as referee.
That the said Engineers are to complete the Examination of the Calculating Machine and of the Account within one Month of the date that the Account is made up to, and if not examined and signed within that time, that I shall be legally justified (as if the Account had been Signed) in presenting the said Account to his Majesty's Treasury for payment, and that such payment be made to me within two Months of the date of the Account. And that no part of the Money shall be witholden from me until the completion of the Calculating Machine.
That should any part of the Machine which may be in my possession be destroyed by Fire, I will not be bound to replace it again at my own Expence.
I am
Your Lordships
Most Obedt Hble Servant
Joseph Clement
No. 31 Prospect Place
Southwark
Mr Joseph Clements proposals for continuing the work on Mr Babbage's Calculating Machine and for Payment of His Account.
[Notes:] Minute No. 14368 6th Division
Recd 23 July 1833 read 13 Aug 1833
Note for Mr Clement, Mr Babbage, Mr Sargent to pay
British Library Add Ms 37188 f
29th July 1833
Babbage to J.Stewart
Sir,
On the receipt of your letter of the 29th of May I communicated by letter to Mr Clement the instructions I had recd [deleted: of] from the Lords Comm of HMT respecting the removal of the drawings and finished parts of the Calc. Engine to the fireproof buildings in East Street and on the following day I had a conversation with him upon that subject. This conversation was so unsatisfactory that I requested him when he had reconsidered the subject to [deleted: write] communicate his views by letter. Since that time I have repeatedly urged him to reply to my letter of the 31st May -and I have now received his answer a copy of which I enclose for their Lordships information. Mr C has not communicated to me the propositions for the future construction of the Calc. Engine which he informs me he has submitted to their Lordships.
I have the honor to be Sir
Your obdt Humble Servt
C. Babbage
To J. Stewart
29 July 1833
British Library Add Ms 37188 f23
6 August 1833, Mitcham Grove
J.W. Lubbock to Babbage
Dear Babbage,
Will you oblige me by allowing the Chevalier Binkhausen the Russian consul a sight of your machine if without any inconvenience to yourself.
We leave here on Friday next on a short excursion to the North. We have taken a house N.29 Eaton Place.
Yours most truly
J.W. Lubbock
Pray excuse twopenny as I have no messenger.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f24
8 Aug 1833
Marc Brunel to Babbage
My dear Sir,
without entering into my motives for resuming a subject which has always interested me, namely the completion of your great undertaking allow me to make this observation to you.
What would become of it if C[lement]. were to be either by a very severe illness, or death, out of the way? Now you ought to assume the first at once, and make up your mind to some plan: you may presume the other as in the probabilities.
I place myself in this dilemma, and it strikes me that the most prudent course to pursue at once is in being independent; but you will say, where is the substitute? Now I have one for you with all the qualifications that are necessary to take up the business Skill, Ingenuity, a good Draughtsman, Experience in conducting the execution of machinery of the most perfect and most elegant description, with as good an assortment of Tools as Clement has. I have known the person in question for upwards of 20 years, some part of that time in my employment.
I have not recommended him sooner to you because his business was such that he would not have taken, I imagine, such a work in hand; he being then so much on the Continent.
Now, I believe, that he has nothing that would divest him from your object, I therefore bring him to your notice, and I may add, you will find him a very honest dealer in every respect: and in him a gentlemanly behaviour.
Should this exposition meet your views I can satisfy you and relieve you, I am convinced, of all you vexations. You may judge of all the qualifications by yourself. It will give me great pleasure to relieve you of the harassing labour coupled with your great invention. I am quite competent to make a choice in a circumstance as that in which you are placed. Think of this!
and believe me Yours Sincerely
M.I.Brunel
8th Augt 1833
British Library Add Ms 37188 f26
9th Augt 1833
M.I. Brunel to Babbage
My dear sir,
I have written to Spiller who will call upon you, early I am sure. upon reconsidering the subject, I would advise that no money be paid untill all the component parts of your work and all the Drawings be brought into a Secure a fireproof place. That should be insisted upon and no compromise whatever not one penny paid untill that reasonable request be fully complied with.
When this is done the remainder is at your command.
I am very sincerely yours
M.I. Brunel
9 Augt 1833
If I am wanted at the Treasury to confirm this I will attend to it readily. In the meantime take Spiller to C[lements].
British Library Add Ms 37188 f
13 August 1833
Copy of Treasury Minute dated 13th August 1833
[Minute No.] 14368
Read a Memorial from Mr Joseph Clement dated 22nd Ulto on the subject of the Calculating Engine which he is constructing under the superintendence of Mr Chas. Babbage, in which he complains of the non-payment of his Account and submits certain propositions under which he is willing to continue the Work.
[Minute No.] 14836
Read also a letter from Mr Charles Babbage dated 29th Ulto on the subject of the removal of the different parts of His Calculating Engine to the fireproof Building in East Street.
[Minute No.] 9626
Read again the Report of the Treasury Auditors of the 7th May last by which it appears that the sum of £1782-11-4 is due to Mr Clement for carrying on the construction of the Engine to 31 December 1832.
As it now appears that the work proceeded until the 30th March 1833 and that a further payment will consequently become due to Mr Clement in addition to the sum of £1,782-11-4 there is no objection to the payment of that Sum to Mr Clement before the Drawings and completed part of the Engine are removed to the fireproof Buildings.
My Lords are therefore pleased to direct Mr Sargent to pay to Mr Clement the sum of £1782-11-4 to discharge his Account to 31st December 1832 out of Money in his hands on account of Civil Contingencies.
Write accordingly to Mr Clement and acquaint him that such parts of the Machine and Drawings as can be removed without preventing the progress of the Work should be placed forthwith in the fireproof Building and whenever they shall be there deposited My Lords will direct the payment of his Account when properly examined to 30th March 1833.
Also inform Mr Clement that, with respect to his proposal to employ other persons to examine his Accounts in the place of Mr Donkin and Mr Field, My Lords would regret that the Public should lose the valuable services so liberally afforded by those Gentlemen.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f29
17 Aug 1833, Treasury Chambers
J.Stewart to Babbage
[Minute Nos.] 14368, 14836 and 9626; [Date] 13/8/[1833]
Sir,
I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith a Memorial from Mr Clement of the 22nd Ulto on the subject of the Calculating Machine which he is constructing under your superintendence together with a copy of the Minutes of this Board of the 13th Inst thereon, and I am to request you will take such measures as may be necessary for the removal of the Drawings and completed parts of the Machine to the Fire Proof Building.
I am
Sir
Your obedient Serv.
J.Stewart
Treasury Chambers
17th August 1833
British Library Add Ms 37188 f34
Thursday 22nd August [1833] Highwood Hill
Extract of a letter from Fitton to Babbage
... Pray if you can; come over to us on Friday (the 30th) to arrive by the coach, and stay as long as you can; and in your answer tell me what has been done about Clement and the Engine. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f39
25th August 1833, 16 Lambeth Terrace
C.G. Jarvis to Babbage
Sir,
I trust I shall not be deemed obtrusive for offering the following observations to your consideration. I am aware they would be disregarded by the generality of persons merely because they came from a nameless individual; but I feel I am writing to one who I know has sufficient judgement, and I think also sufficient just feeling, to estimate men and things by their intrinsic qualities.
I cannot help enforcing the necessity of some alteration in the method pursued for the construction of the Calculating Engine -that is, if it is wished or intended to be finished within any reasonable time. The plan I wish to recommend is that the designs and drawings be all made on your premises and under your immediate inspection: working drawings made from them, and the work ordered and directions given in writing to various persons to construct various parts of the machine which parts might be going on at the same time and the entire machine be speedily completed. In this case whenever any difficulty occurred you might be at once appealed to whenever it was found very difficult to produce a given effect, but comparatively easy to produce nearly that effect, which is a very common case in machinery - your decision would at once put an end to all perplexity and hesitation and the work would proceed; instead of having to wait days, weeks, or months for an arrangement which half-an-hour would complete; and the persons employed being obliged to leave the regular and proper course of proceeding and fill up their time with other pursuits.
I am aware there will be great opposition to any such plan as this, and that every thing will be said and every thing will be done by more than one person to prevent its adoption; this I do not wonder at. To a man who although inactive and unenterprising loves money, it must be very agreeable to construct a newly invented machine the cost of the parts of which cannot be taxed; and still more agreeable to be able to charge for time expended upon arranging the parts of that machine without the possibility of the useful employment of that time being disputed, and to dose over the construction year after year for the purpose of making one thing after another, and thus without any inconvenient exertion to gain the profit upon all; but it is not to the interest of the inventor that this should be suffered. His credit requires his invention to be completed with as small an outlay of time and money as possible; and his interest is any thing but promoted when his invention is placed at the disposal of persons who do not even know the names of purposes of the several parts without appealing to better heads than their own.
The calculating part of the machine which is the only part in which anything of consequence has been done, is simple when compared with the printing part; the arrangement, construction, and adjustments of which are far more difficult to comprehend and to remember.
It may be suspected I enforce my opinion on from interested motives. It is perhaps difficult to divest oneself of selfish feelings and even Messrs Donkin and Field were somewhat under their influence when they prohibited the paying of draughtsmen more than a certain sum whatever might be their worth; and therefore all I shall say on the subject is, that my plan may be followed without my being in any way a gainer by its adoption. In fact the probability is that I shall be out of Britain before the machine is proceeded with in any way.
I am Sir
Most Respectfully
Your Very Obedient Servant
C.G. Jarvis
British Library Add Ms 37188 f51
Friday 6th September 1833
Extract of a letter from Maria Fitton to Babbage
... I have just received a letter from Dr Fitton by the carriage giving me an account of your engine; both to the Chamber's and Knights and we as well as they are I hope fully sensible of the compliments you paid them in so kindly taking the pains to render so intricate a machine comprehensible...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f55
Monday September 9th 1833, Colston Basset
Extract of a letter from F.O.Martin to Babbage
... I have dreamed a dream that your machine was finished and actually grinding off whole rolls of tables ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f58
11 September 1833, 16 Lambeth Terrace
C.G. Jarvis to Babbage
Sir,
I have further considered our yesterday's conversation and as it may be convenient to you to know my feelings on the subject I will at once endeavour to explain them.
Although you may be inclined by your own good feelings to continue to superintend the machine; and Mr Clement may be bound in justice to construct it if requested in consequence of having tools which were made expressly for its construction; I am not aware of any circumstance which can justify the expectation that I should make any sacrifice for the sake of assisting in its completion.
I was only known as the draughtsman; was regarded as such, and required to keep an account of my time as if I had nothing to do but draw lines and circles as fast as might be; I was paid for my labour and I trust my services were fully worth the reward they obtained.
Now let me consider what my situation would be if I returned. I must devote all my attention and care to this machine because if any thing was made to a drawing which did not answer its intended purpose, I should incur the principal share of the blame as being necessarily most familiar with the details, whereas all the praise which perfection would secure would attach to Mr Clement, who would come over now and then and sanction my plans only when he could not substitute any of his own either better or worse, and I should have the indescribable satisfaction that I was labouring to increase the credit of a man who was envious of my talents and jealous of my influence -whose interest and inclination it would be to use every method in his power however mean and mortifying to guard against the suspicion of my possessing ability -and who would be paid about four times as much as myself for generously condescending to reap the fruits of my exertions.
No! whatever situation circumstances may force me into I will bear as best I may; but I will never, if I know it, become a party to my own degradation.
I send you this Sir, to prevent your having the trouble of naming me to Mr Clement. For your offer to do so, and the various kindnesses I have received from you I beg you will accept my warmest acknowledgements, and that you will rest assured those kindnesses will always be gratefully remembered.
Sir,
Your Very Respectful
And Obedient Servant
C.G. Jarvis
16 Lambeth Terrace
Sep 11-33
British Library Add Ms 37188 f96
4th Dec 1833
Babbage to Clement
Sir,
Understanding from you that the preparations for removing the parts of the Calcg. Engine [deleted: as regarding for the directions of the Treasury which I communicated to you in my letter about the end of May last] are nearly complete. I request you to inform me of the day on which it will be convenient for you to remove them to the fireproof building in East Street.
The following are [deleted:the] to be removed:
1st All the parts of the Calc Eng except the large platform for the Calculating end and the large columns.
2nd All the Drawings of the Engine; the 2 [7?] which in examining them with you I separated from the rest must not be taken off from the drawing boards and if those drawing boards are not the property of government they must be [deleted: charged] purchased and charged in the account.
3. All the rough sketches on loose sheets of paper, the small book of [deleted: thin..] contrivances determined upon and several loose papers of the Mec Notn of the Engine or its parts.
4. All the pattern parts of the Engine from which castings have been made and which will not be required again.
It will be necessary to oil those [deleted: such] parts of the Engine [deleted: as] which are made of steel and to pack them in the way least likely to expose them to rust.
When these things are removed I request you to furnish me with a list of any property connected with the Cal Eng belonging to the government which will be remaining in your possession.
I am Sir
Your obedient Servt
C.B.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f105
14th December 1833
Copy of a letter from A. Milne, Office of Woods etc., to Decimus Burton
Sir,
As the Board are about to make a statement to the Treasury of the expenditure, and the Balances remaining upon several Grants of Parliament for Buildings, amongst which the Grant for those to contain Mr Babbage's Calculating machine is included, I have to request you will if the Buildings are finished, deliver, with as little delay as possible the final account for them, but if they are not finished, that you will furnish the Commissioners with such information as may be in your power to enable them to make the statement required.
I am Sir
A. Milne (scy)
British Library Add Ms 37188 f107
18 Dec 1833, 6 Spring Garden
Decimus Burton to Babbage
Dear Sir,
I beg to transmit a copy of a Letter I have received from the Office of Woods etc. on the subject of the Building erected for your Calculating Engine. If you desire I should notice in my reply to the Commissioners any matter connected with the occupation of the premises, I request you will favor me with a letter on the subject at your earliest convenience.
I am Dear Sir
Yours Mo. faithfully
Decimus Burton
British Library Add Ms 37188 f109
19 December 1833, Treasury
Speer to Babbage
Mr L. Speer presents his compliments to Mr Babbage, and in Mr Spring Rice's absence, begs to forward the enclosed.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f114
27 Dec 1833
Babbage to Decimus Burton
Dear Sir,
I return Mess Cubitt account for the Gas fittings and attendances of the Calculating Engine room. Having been myself absent from London during [deleted: the great part of] the time they were going on I only state that the work appears to me to be satisfactory executed.
I would beg through you to [deleted: suggest] call the attention of the Lord Com of H M Woods to the necessity of having the Building kept heated by regular fires which will become more important [deleted: are I apprehend necessary and] as soon as the drawings and part of the Engine deposited in it. For this purpose it will be necessary to provide an attendant and fuel.
I would also wish to enquire to whom I am to refer the collectors of the Water and Gas Companies for payment of their rates.
I have mentioned on [deleted: accompanying] the other page one or two triffling things which are probably in the course of being attended to.
I am my dear sir
yours faithfully
C.B.
1. The key to the outer iron gate of the side entrance ought not to open the lock to the small iron gate of the coachway.
2. The pieces of iron pipe and rubbish should be removed.
3. It seems that ashes and clinker are produced are produced by the hot water App. and that a dustbin will be required.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f117
30 Dec 1833
Babbage to Baron le Dupin, Membre de l'Institut de France
My dear sir,
Our friend Dr Lardner at the request of the inhabitants of Manchester Leeds Sheffield and many of our great manufacturing towns has undertaken to give them some lectures on the philosophy of their own pursuits. The Calculating Engine having become a matter of considerable curiosity he has undertaken to explain it to them [deleted: in his lectures] and has spared no expence in time in order to understand it and have drawings and models [deleted: like it ...].
It is as you may imagine very gratifying to me that the first person to explain it publicly should really be worthy of it and should be aware of those singular and abstract properties which it is quite impossible to explain [deleted: in bec...] popularly.
He has been unwearied in his study of it and my son [Herschel] has made drawings for him and I have given him every aid in my power.
In the course of my explanations I was obliged to employ that system of [deleted: mech] signs which I have called "mechnical notation". Dr Lardner saw its importance and its power and determined to study that also. I have therefore applied it to the steam engine and have made for him with his assistance an analysis which we both agree gives us considerable additional knowledge of that [deleted: subject] machine. I am now preparing a second memoir on this subject and hope to send you a system of signs which like those of Analysis enable us to look with different degrees of generality at the same object.
I wish that you and my friends should be acquainted with the Calc. Engine and I am perhaps more anxious that you should see my mode of representing the consecutive actions of all machines which having been practically employed in the workshops is useful to the arts but which is more interesting to the philosopher as being one amongst those systems of signs by which man aids his reasoning power.
I have asked our friend whether it would be consistent with his feelings [deleted: to be able] to visit Paris and give some [deleted: [deleted: course of lectures] explanation on the Mecl Notn and the Calc. Eng. and I will [deleted: mention to] explain to you his feelings on the subject.
You should know how zealously he works for the promotion of knowledge and in what he is always doing that consideration is by far the most prominent.]
[deleted: Dr Lardner] If it were the wish of those who are at the head of science in your capital that he should visit it for that purpose he would willingly do so. He would transport all his drawings and models and illustrations entirely at his own expence and would decline any pecuniary recompense whatever. If the Institute of France thought it right to invite him to Paris for that purpose he would esteem any expense or trouble amply recompensated by the honor of that invitation.
I have written this early because I am aware that his engagements in England will fully occupy him untill Easter and I have requested him to postpone any other fixed engagements untill I should hear from you on this subject. Connected as you are with the practical arts on the one hand and the higher sciences on the other I know no one so fit to move in this affair as yourself.
Believe me My dear Sir
with great regards
Yours Sincerely
C. Babbage
30 Dec 1833
to Baron le Dupin
Membre de l'Institut &c.
Rue de l'Universite, Paris
British Library Add Ms 37188 f119
31st Dec 1833, 5 Charing Cross
Watkins to Babbage
Mr Watkins presents his Compts to Mr Babbage and in the name of Dr Lardner begs the favor of Mr Babbage to send pr bearer cylindrical steel rods adapted for the index sent. As Mr Watkins does not know what lengths the rods Mr Babbage may have he begs to mention that to complete Dr Lardner's apparatus 6 of 13 inches long will be required.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f123
Babbage to Alexander Humboldt
My dear Sir,
The warm interest you have always taken in the success of [deleted: my] the Calculating Engine and also in that system of signs by which I have expressed the whole course of the operation of any machine ([deleted: called] its Mechanical Notation) [and described in the] Phil[osophical] Trans[actions] 1826) induces me to point out an opportunity which is of rare occurrence and which I have no doubt you will gladly seize for the diffusion of knowledge and the benefit of your country.
You are of course acquainted with the name of Dr Lardner one of our Savans [deleted: well] highly skilled in mathematical Science and equally so in the various manufactures of this country. he is the inventor of those sectional models of the Steam Engine specimens of which I believe you have at Berlin. Dr Lardner has been invited by the [deleted:towns] inhabitants of Manchester Leeds and several other large manufacturing towns to give them a course of lectures on subjects connected with their occupations and he leaves London tomorrow on a journey to comply with this requisition.
Dr Lardner applied to me many weeks since to know whether I would assist him with drawings etc to explain the Calc engine upon which subject he intended to lecture.
Of course I was glad that my invention should thus be explained to my countrymen by one so highly qualified to understand even its most abstract parts and I immediately gave him every opportunity of seeing the drawings the tools the parts of the Engine and the portion which is already executed and calculates. he has devoted himself most unweariedly to this object and now understands it [deleted: the mighty compared ...] well. he has had drawings and models made of the parts and my son [Herschel] has made for him a beautiful drawing of the part which now works; in fact he has spared neither time nor expense to master the subject. The mechanical notation has also been attended to and with Dr Lardners aid I have applied it to the Steam Engine so as to give a clear view of every separate action of that curious machine. During the last six years I have used the Notation and have so much improved it that I am preparing another memoir on the subject. It is a kind of philosophical system of signs which admits of various degrees of generality and is of great use in all complicated machines.
The number of applications from our [deleted: great] manufacturing towns is so large that Dr L is already engaged untill Easter and [deleted: I have...] other request of a similar nature are arriving.
Now that I am anxious that yourself and my other friends at Berlin should have an opportunity of studying both the Engine and the Notation for I am sure that I shall profit by any hints or criticisms you may make and that this knowledge will be spread. I have accordingly enquired of Dr Lardner whether he could be induced to visit Berlin for that purpose and I will state to you exactly his feelings. Dr Lardner would entirely decline receiving any pecuniary remuneration: but if it should be the wish of your King who is so eminently distinguished by his love of Science or of the learned members of your Academy of Sciences [deleted:or if he would] or if he should be invited to [deleted: give] explain those [deleted:lectures] subjects by the Minister of Public Instruction he would willingly take all his drawings models and apparatus and visit you Capital for a short time.
In this case if you were to give him for his assistants in arranging the apparatus one or two young men of mechanical and mathematical knowledge they would learn much from him and might copy my drawings and perhaps themselves be able to explain the Engine in their own language to their countrymen.
I have request Dr Lardner not to fix definitely any of his other engagements untill I hear from you on this subject.
Herschel has sailed for the Cape of Good Hope which he will reach about the middle of Janry. I saw an admirable portrait of him by Pickersgill which was placed in the Artists studio opposite an equally excellent resemblance of yourself.
The subject of statistics which is so important to every government has at length excited attention in England. The government have made some useful collections and it is in contemplation to establish a statistical society. [deleted: Pray] present my best remembrances to M. Bentt M. Miticherlich Dirilichet Maggans and Crelle.
I was highly gratified by the German translation of my book on the Economy of Manufactures, it has [deleted:already] now appeared in America in Italian French and German but this latter is by far the best.
I remain My dear Sir
Very Sincerely Yours
C. Babbage
Dorset Street
British Library Add Ms 37188 f132 [Misfiled should be ca May/June 1834]
Tuesday n.d., Cambridge Terrace
Extract of note from Dionysius Lardner to Babbage
... Pray endeavour to finish the review [presumably Lardner's article on Babbage's Difference Engine for the Edinburgh Review subsequently published in July 1834] ...
... Baily attended the lecture last night and took the chair...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f138 [Misfiled]
Friday Afternoon, n.d. but ca May 1829, Whewell[?]
Sir James South to Babbage
Dear Babbage,
A wish to see my Large Telescope has since I left [2 words unreadable] Bramah (Timothy the Elder) on my way, I have asked him how far he thinks work done by a draughtsman and mechanic to a considerable amount, should be exhibited in form of bill in one line. "Not on any account I have been an arbitrator many times such a thing I see and would allow."
I this stated "but Clement justifies his having done so on Mr Bramah's Authority."
"Mr Clement has put a number of questions very unfairly to my Brother and I have fixed my opinion very freely". "Such a proceeding as Mr Clement has pursued towards Mr Babbage is in every respect indefensible."
Thinking he [Babbage] would prefer paying two pence to read this tonight, than to receive it perhaps orally tomorrow.
I remain
Yours Truly
J. South
British Library Add Ms 37188 f140
3rd January 1834, Manchester
Dr.Dionysius Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I was so fortunate as to have Spring Rice as my sole companion in the journey here and therefore fount it a very pleasant trip. He has given me a bundle of franks and desires me to use one of them to remember him kindly to you. He has just gone by the railway to Liverpool.
I have been to the Mechs Inst and find it a very spacious theatre capable of accommodating more than 1000 persons. Everything is arranged for my opening lecture on Monday evening and a crowded house is expected. As I am only a few hours here (excepting sleeping hours) I have not seen any one nor delivered any letters having been occupied in getting lodgings which are scarce, bad and dear.
I hope that you will not lose time in getting the printing model done. It will be very important to have it. I think that before Rymer commences the canvass of the notation he ought to give an estimate of the cost of doing it. This he can easily do as he will have the accurate plan of what he is to execute before him.
If you happen to pass Watkins perhaps you would look in and see the wheels that he is doing for me.
Brougham was to have been here on Wednesday next and great preparations were [in the] making for him. Unfortunately this is put an end to by his brother's death. He has notified that he cannot come.
Remember me to Herschel [Babbage's son]
believe me
ever yours sincerely
Dion: Lardner
[to] C. Babbage
P.S. I am [deleted:just] now about to sit down seriously to work at the article for the E[dinburgh] R[eview]. You would materially assist me if you could from time to time as you may find leisure throw upon paper any interesting anecdotes which you may know respecting the history of tables and more especially any which relate to the invention of the machine. State the circumstances which first directed your attention to the subject and any other matters that may occur to your recollection. It would also be very interesting if you could state some of the difficulties moral, mechanical or mathematical which you had to overcome. Also any ingenious trials, the unsuccessful - examples of ingenious methods of evading difficulties - Processes such as that of centreing the figures with respect to the section of the punch - enumerate the contrivances for making the final conextions on the approximate position given to the parts of the machine in the first instance & etc. - All such matters will be highly interesting both now and in future time. This is an irksome task perhaps for you but believe me the opportunity which I now have of acting upon the public mind, not in England only but throughout Europe, is one well worth taking advantage of even at a little personal trouble.
Another occupation which immediately presses upon me is the preparation of a fifth edition of my little book on the Steam- engine. I intend to add to it a section on the application of your mechanical notation to it and give a plate to accompany it. For this reason among others I wish to have Herschel's Plans as soon as convenient.
D.L.
2nd PS, Saturday Evening
Since writing the above I have had some talk with the Hon^y Secretary of the Institute and I broached the subject of the machine. I was however a good deal surprised to find that he did not seem at all satisfied that it would be an attractive subject for lectures. He says that the mechanics want to hear [what] immediately concerns their business, and that they are not interested in the calculation of tables etc. etc. The fact is that he and some others who take an active part about the institute are ignorant self-sufficient persons, who ought to be under the control of better informed persons. Roberts I understand takes an active part in the institute, I think if you would write to him on the subject merely to call his attention to it, it might be useful. You might send me a note of introduction to him.
Can you get me a letter of introduction to Heywood the Banker here. He is president of the Institute and altho I shall of course know him immediately; still I think it would be a mark of respect if I shewed that I had sought an introduction to him. I have not yet been able to call on Heavey, Kennedy or Dalton.
I am rather dispirited at what I hear of the financial concerns of this and other Mechanics Institutes. This is the richest of all in this district and yet it appears that the sum they have undertaken to pay me (50 g[uinea]s for 12 lectures) is more than twice the largest sum they ever before have paid to any lecturer and they could only have ventured to secure it to me from the expectation that my name (god save the mark) would attract larger audiences than they are accustomed to have. Now if this be the case with so very inadequate a remuneration as the present what hope can there be for these societies unless government steps in to their assistance. They appear very grateful to me for accepting their offer but at the same time they evidently regard it as a very exhorbitant sum for them to give. They have gone to the expence of erecting an additional gallery for my lectures to enable them the better to recover the expenses they will incur. If this be the case with the Manchester institute what must be the situation of the others which are struggling to offer me the compensation for visiting them. It is really too bad in a country like this, where the heart's blood of the manufacturing population is sucked to pamper the prostitutes of ex-ministers to see that population craving for instruction and the government, (paid as it is), standing indifferent to the demand.
You could do nothing which would be at once attended with so much good to the public and so much popularity to yourself as to be in someway instrumental in removing this intolerable state of things and if you should do so, you may rely on it that if I live and have brains under my skull a tongue in my mouth and a pen in my hand your candle shall not be hid under a bushel.
In haste
sincerely
D.L.
The Sec^y of the Institute said that he thought the lectures on the machine would do better at the philosophical society than at the Mech^s Inst: If you know any leading members of the Phil Soc^y - perhaps you might have the pulpit there as well as at the institute. It appears that many people object to go to the institute owing to the close proximity of the great unwashed.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f154
11 Jany 1834, Manchester
Dionysius Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
There is now no occasion for any introduction. The lecture on Monday settled that business effectually. I had an immediate application from the Royal Institution and the Mechanics institute received this week subscriptions to the full amount of what they are to give me. I have now three courses going on simultaneously. One at the Manchester Mech^s Inst another at the Manchester Royal Institution and the third at the Liverpool Mech^s Institution. The aristocracy of Liverpool have had the folly to commit themselves in a curious way. They were applied to by the Mechanics Institute of that town to join them in inviting me. the answer they gave was no and the reason they asserted (in express way) was because I had criticised their measures as rail road directors in the Edin. Review. I knew very well that such was their feeling but did not think they would have the folly to acknowledge it.
Thr Mech^s Institute then applied to me themselves and informed me at the same time of the application they had made to the Royal Society of their town, stating the reasons impugned by these cases for their refusal.
I will send you by this post a Manchester paper which has noticed the first lecture.
As yet I have done nothing about the lectures on the calculating machinery. The people here are not as much alive to its interest as they shall be before I am done with them. [deleted: Pray] Send me the drawing thro' Watkins as soon as you can.
Remember me to Herschel [Babbage's son]
ever yours faithfully
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f156
13 Jany [1834], Manchester
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I send another newspaper today but I find that the notices are becoming so numerous that it would scarcely be worth the expense to purchase the newspapers. Similar paragraphs have appeared in two other Manchester papers and three or four papers in Liverpool and they will doubtless be released in the papers of Leeds, Sheffield, Huddersfield etc. etc. .
I gave my first lecture at Liverpool on Saturday night and several hundred persons applied for admission beyond what the theatre would contain. Every nook and corner was literally crammed -and in the sides and passages round the room people get boards into platforms to stand on. The space behind the lecture table was so full of Ladies that I was left barely room to stand.
In the middle of the lecture [deleted: an unexpected] (what was on gravity) an unexpected experiment on that principle took place: one of the platforms aforesaid, broke down under the weight of the people who stood upon it and occasioned no little dismay and confusion. No one however was seriously hurt.
The directors have today set about enquiring whether some larger place cannot be obtained. They think however there is nothing so large in the town except the theatres, at which of course I would not lecture.
When anything peculiar appears in the papers I will send them.
Pray do what you can to send me the printing model and drawing without unnecessary delay.
ever yours
D.L.
My address after friday will be Liverpool.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f158
15 Jany [1834], Manchester
Dion. Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I have concluded an arrangement with the Royal Institution here to deliver a course of lectures into which your machinery will enter. This will then be our first essay on the subject. I find however that a very general impression prevails notwithstanding my assurances to the contrary that it is too scientific a subject for popular lectures. I had promised to give a course of lectures to the Sheffield Philosophical Society and I proposed to make it part of the course, but they likewise took exception to it as being too hard and too scientific.
On the whole I am inclined to think it will be better not to press the matter at the present moment. [deleted: The] I have no doubt whatever that the effect of the London Lectures and above all the Continental phenomena (if they take place) will at once awaken an interest in every other minor place. If we should get up a lecture or two before the British Association it will also be beneficial.
I am now about to Lecture on the Steam Engine at Liverpool and could bring forward the mechanical notation if I had it. I shall do my utmost to make the lecture on the machinery at the R.I. here effective.
Ever yours
D.L.
Any letters for me may be left at 8 St James Square whence they will be forwarded.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f160
15th Jany 1834, 5 Charing Cross
Francis Watkins to Babbage
D Sir,
You will find the snails are glued to a hollow axis, which moves with "tight friction" in the hollow axis of the box wood cylinder; by this means, when the snails are adjusted, they may be retained in their places by small screws.
I you think that I can aid you, in the construction of the model for illustrating the method of printing; I shall have the greatest pleasure in attending to your suggestions.
I sent off to Dr. Lardner this day, his astronomical drawings and diagrams and tomorrow the sectional model of the Steam Engine will leave -the day after that I propose forwarding the two models I have got up to show the principles of your calculating machine.
I remain Dr Sir
Yrs faithfully
Francis Watkins
British Library Add Ms 37188 f176
23rd Jany [1834], Liverpool
D. Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
The ice is at length broken with respect to the machine. The committee of the Royal Institution at Manchester would not agree that I should give more than two lectures to it out of a course of nine on other matters, apprehending that it would be difficult and too scientific. It was arranged that the third and fourth lectures of the course were to be devoted to it. These are to be given on Monday and friday next. However I stole a march on them which they did not expect. At my first lecture last Monday, I took occasion to glance generally at the several topics selected for the course of lectures and devoted fully half the lecture to an account of the invention of the machine! The room was crammed with the best classes in Manchester and I produced a very unequivocal and (to the committee a very unexpected) impression. In fact I have no doubt now that the lectures next week will excite all the attention that can be wished. I send by this post a newspaper which contains a report of the lecture. It gives a very imperfect idea of what I said and especially, as I hit much harder touching the apathy shewn here upon the subject compared with what is felt in every foreign seat of science and learning.
it is unfortunate that the audience at the Royal Inst. is strictly confined to the shareholders and their families. The public in general were rigorously excluded. At the Mechanics Institution Manchester there is a splendid theatre which has been nightly attended since I commenced by not less than a thousand persons and frequently a greater number. But it is in Liverpool that I have produced by far the greatest effect. It is impossible to give you an idea of the state of the theatre every night - People are crowded at the door before it is opened and it is literally in every night in every nook and corner an hour before the lecture begins. The crushing and squeezing and fainting of Ladies etc. etc. surpasses any thing of the kind I have ever before seen at scientific lectures. A clamour is now raised against the Corporation for not giving ground to build a large theatre on, so I shall again be a source of annoyance to these worthies. Ewart the member for Liverpool has expressed his wish to attend the lecture on Saturday next which will be on the Steam Engine.
What dolts these people are! I could not beat into their skulls that the Calculating machine would have been not only the best subject but one the selection of which would have reflected need [for] it on them. No they were afraid of it being too scientific. I told them, that the time would soon arrive when instead of having the subject offerred to them they would be anxiously soliciting it.
The popularity which I have secured already here is far beyond my most sanguine anticipations and I have no doubt whatever of gaining a great ascendancy throughout the manufacturing districts.
I find that it will be impossible for me between this and the middle of April to deliver all the courses which have been asked of me. At that time I have promised to commence at the Royal Institution and at the London Institution so that Halifax etc. etc. must stand over until some future occasion.
I am more and more anxious to learn whether you have received any letter from the Continent. I suppose you have been staying at Cambridge otherwise I should have heard from you.
Ever yours truly
Dion Lardner
[PS] 26th Jany [1834]
This letter was written before I received the news of the heavy affliction which has befallen me. The newspaper alluded to has been mislaid but I have directed another which I suppose is nearly to the same effect to be sent to you.
D.L.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f180
24 Jany 1834, 6 Spring Garden
Decimus Burton to Babbage
Dear Sir,
I communicated with the Commissioners of H.M. Woods etc., on the subject of your letter to me of the 27th Ulto. and I subjoin an extract from a letter I have received from Mr Milne, containing the instructions of the Board to me in this business - Accordingly, I beg you will understand, that, from this period the Building lately erected for the reception of your Calculating Engine and the premises connected therewith, are delivered up into your care and keeping.
I am, Dear Sir,
Yours most faithfully
Decimus Burton
(Extract from Letter above referred to)
"I am further directed to enquire whether you have officially given up the Building to Mr Babbage, and if you have not, to suggest the propriety of your doing so forthwith, as the Grant for erecting the Building does not authorize this Department to pay the expenses of airing, and taking care of the Premises after they are finished, which it appears they are, so far as they can be until the Calculating Engine is Completed and ready for fixing: nor can the Taxes, rates, or other expenses appertaining to the occupation of the Premises, be provided for by the Commissioners of Woods etc out of Grant before alluded to."
PS I have requested Mr Cubitt to direct a man to cal upon you respecting the jobs required to be done, as named in your letter before referred to.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f186
30 January 1834
Copy of letter from Clement to the Honble J. Stewart
Sir,
I beg to inform you that I have completed the preparation for the removal of the several parts of the Calculating Machine to the Fireproof Building in East Street.
But as my Account and those parts of the Calculating Machine which have been executed between the 31 December 1832 and the 30th March 1833 are not yet examined, and as it will be more convenient to examine them previous to their being packed up -I therefore beg of your Honor to have the goodness to make some arrangement for the above purpose and also a complete settlement up to the present time.
As soon as the above mentioned parts are examined I will remove the whole of the Calculating Machine, Drawings, and Patterns, to the Fire proof Building in East Street.
And I further request that your Honor will appoint a person, to examine and see that the several parts of the Calculating Machine (as described in the several Accounts) are delivered.
I am etc
Joseph Clement
British Library Add Ms 37188 f191
4th Feb 1834
Babbage to Bryan Donkin and J. Field
My dear Sir,
I have received a communication from the Treasury requesting me to apply to yourself and Mr Field [deleted: to] respecting the examination of Mr. Clement's accounts. The whole of the Calc^g Engine is now packed [deleted: in boxes] and ready to be removed to the fire-proof building in East Street a measure of precaution to which I have long looked forward to with anxiety. It would be more convenient that [deleted: that] the portion yet unpaid for should be examined [deleted: by] previously to its removal and I shall feel much obliged if you could arrange with Mr [Clement?] to appoint a time [deleted: for that purpose at] which [deleted: it] would be convenient [deleted: for] to you [deleted:to audit] for that purpose.
With [deleted: many] many thanks for your [deleted: liberal and] kind assistance in undertaking a most troublesome duty.
I remain
My dear Sir
Very Truly Yours
Babbage
British Library Add Ms 37188 f
8 Feb 1834, Treasury Chambers
J. Stewart to Babbage
[Minute No.] 2043 4/2
Sir,
I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from Mr Joseph Clement dated 30th Ulto respecting the Calculating Machine, and I am to request you will apply to Mr Donkin and Mr Field to examine such parts of the calculating engine as they have not already examined. And as regards the last passage in Mr Clement's letter, My Lords conceive that you will satisfy yourself of the due delivery at the new Building of the several parts of the engine and give Mr Clement sufficient assurance thereof.
I am, Sir,
Your Obedient Servt
J. Stewart
British Library Add Ms 37188 f199
10th Feb 1834
Babbage to J. Stewart
Sir,
[Deleted: With reference to] The removal of the Calculating Engine to the Fireproof building in East St which will shortly take place renders it [deleted: necessary] right that I should point out to the Lds Com of H. M. Treasury that it is necessary both for the building as well as for the drawings and machinery that [deleted: it should] proper fires should be [deleted: constantly] kept up [deleted: and]. It is also [deleted: preferable] desireable that a small quantity of furniture should be provided for the Calculating room and that the [deleted: rates] parish rates should be paid and the buildings be under the care of proper persons. May I therefore request you to acquaint their Lordship[s] with these circumstances in order that they may [deleted: and direct that the ...] give such directions in the subject as they may deem necessary.
I am Sir
Your very Obdt Humble Servt
Babbage
British Library Add Ms 37188 f200
10 Feb 1834
Babbage to the Honble J. Stewart marked Private
My dear Sir,
I have seen Mr Mylne on the subject of the building in East St from whom I understand nothing more is necessary that the Woods and Forests should receive an order from the Treasury [deleted: inform..] directing them them to take charge of the building etc. and informing them from what fund the payment is to come which might either be from the civil contingencies or from the ordinary revenues of the Woods and Forests.
The furniture required would be a few chairs and tables and tools a carpet some mats and lamp glasses [deleted: shade].
I enclose a letter [deleted: which if it is ...] respecting it.
I am
My dear Sir
Yours faithfully
C.B.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f203 [Misfiled should be relocated Nov/Dec 1833]
n.d.
Note from Dion. Lardner to Babbage
I want to see you respecting some steps to get up a contrivance for explaining the Machine at popular lectures. I will endeavour to call here this evening early but fear I cannot. Can you be at home tomorrow at 3 o'clock. If so let me have a line by post.
D:L:
British Library Add Ms 37188 f208
16 Feby [1834], Liverpool
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
Your note about the drawings of the notation was duly forwarded to me. I regret that they cannot be hung because the canvass drawings have been in a great degree spoiled. I attribute this to having them drawn on white instead of black. It seems to have been necessary to wett the canvas before painting and this has converted it from a developable surface into one not developable. Hence it never can hang without being covered with folds and crinkles which prevent the characters from being read. Besides this had it been on black the characters (white on black) would have been now readable in large places than they are at present. They are not black upon white but brown upon brown ie a dark brown upon a light brown. However such as they are, they are now suspended on the walls of the lecture room where I put them up for a few days before my lecture upon them is delivered. I began on the Steam engine on Tuesday last and delivered another lecture last night, -the room crammed to suffocation on both occasions.
On Friday I delivered my first lecture on the Calculating machine at the Royal Institution at Manchester and for the first time for several years I felt a sensation of nervousness. I soon however repressed it and got on famously. The theatre was of course crowded and the thing went off as well as we could desire.
I fear from the experience of this first lecture that it will be utterly impossible to make the thing understood in three lectures. In fact I only got to the end of the explanation of the principle of differences and just showed the apparatus which illustrates the old method of carrying in this first lecture so that I have not yet advanced a step in the machine itself. I am to give the second and last (!) lecture on it tomorrow and it is evident I must hurry over the thing in a very unsatisfactory manner. This is the only opportunity I shall have for trying these lectures until I go to the Royal Institution. This is unlucky.
I found my spirits so broken down this week that I relinquished one of my engagements (the matter has however been so urgently pressed upon me since by the Bolton people and so liberal an honorarium has been offered that I believe I must sting myself into the necessary excitement to carry me thro. It appears a certainity an herculean Labour Eight public lectures [deleted: most of wh..] per week most of them 1½ hour in three towns 30 miles asunder! The distance however in time is only 1½ hour and I can read or even write on the Railway.
18th Feby
The inhabitants of Bolton have entered into a subscription to raise such a fund as would induce me to give half a dozen lectures there, and the first day above fifty leading names were put down. They have conveyed the invitation in a very handsome manner. When I found them so urgent I thought I would have a better grace to accede to their request without any stipulation whatever on the sum of remuneration and I have accordingly done so.
In Liverpool more than a hundred persons are excluded nightly for want of room and the crush and heat are so great (so all the windows are thrown open) there many (ladies especially) are deterred from attempting to obtain admission.
I intend this evening to enter upon the subject of the mechanical notation.
ever yours sincerely
Dion Lardner
I concluded the lectures on the machine yesterday at Manchester to a crowded theatre and excited evidently great attention notwithstanding the hurried view I am compelled to take.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f212
18th Feb 1834, Paris
H.I. Bowditch to Babbage
Dear Sir,
I was very sorry not to have seen you, on my return to London, in Sept. last, both for my own sake ; or I have never spent an hour in your company without improvement, but also for the sake of my father and of American Science. I had hoped to have made some arrangement with Mr Saxton for the constructing of a model of your interesting machine. You, unfortunately, were from town and your son Hershell was on the point of leaving it. Consequently I was disappointed.
But my dear Sir, am I to give up all hopes of presenting to fellow colleagues of Boston, a model of one of the most curious inventions of modern times? Is it utterly impossible to make one? I ask you these questions candidly and right happy shall I be if you will answer them in a like manner. Expense would be to me of little moment, could I hope to shew in America a work of art, which might excite in many a mind trains of thought, which might otherwise remain dormant. A glance, a hint sometimes makes a philosopher of one who previously has been unaware of his own powers. It is the hope of producing some such beautiful result that I wish to present to the scientific world of America, and the mechanics of Boston, a model of the calculating machine.
Can you spare five minutes of your valuable time to give me an explicit answer to the practicability of the plan I propose. I shall write to Mr Saxton, the mechanic who called with me one evening at your house, and shall request him to examine the machine to let me know whether he can make a model of at least a small portion of it.
With sentiments of the highest respect
I remain
H. I. Bowditch
PS Should you see Dr Somerville please give my respects to him and his lady. Will you tell him also that I was much displeased at finding that Madam S had left Paris, without my having visited her, more especially as I had called at the Rue de la Paix previously to her arrival from Switzerland, and left my card with this message. Probably neither one nor the other arrived at their proper destinations.
Please give my respects to Mr Bailey, Sir J. South. and in fact all those gentlemen, who for my father's [sake] received me with so much cordiality in England. Be assured that the reception I met with in England from the scientific men will never be forgotten by my father or myself. Should you be willing to favour me with an answer to this, please give the letter to Mr Rich, Red Lion Square.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f222
Tuesday 25th Feb 1834[?], Park Lane ( written on "Satin" paper)
Dule of Somerset to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
Reflecting on what you said to me on Sunday regarding the state of your engine, I have come to some conclusions which may be imparted to you without any harm, and perhaps with some advantage.
You are placed between two parties that are difficult to be dealt with, and into whose views I have been endeavouring to enter, as far as I could without conferring with either of them, and merely from the representations which you have made. One of these parties id the Secretary of State, and the other id your principal workman. From both these parties, I think you will perceive that you require a great deal of credit.
The Secretary of State can not see what the Engine will do, nor what use it will be of, when completed; he must take these things on report, which be but imperfectly understood, and on which he cannot implicitly rely. And yet he considers himself, responsible to the Government and to the Country for a large sum of money, which he is required to disburse. This induces caution and delay, in settling his accounts and making his payments.
Your principal workman must perceive that he is a man of extraordinary merits, and naturally looks to a large remuneration. And this too can not be honorary, but must be wholly pecuniary. To secure it must be the main object of a man in this line of life.
At the same time, the Secretary of State having already disbursed so much money, and the Workman having bestowed so much time and trouble in obtaining his instructions and forming his tools, the speedy completion of the work (as far as it is compatible with the security of the objects above mentioned) is the obvious interest of both.
The difficulty lies in giving both of them a well grounded assurance that their rational expectations shall be fulfilled. No vague promises will at all answer the purpose. There should be some such arrangement, that the disbursement of the one party and the remuneration of the otehr should be in some degree proportionate to the utility of the work and the rapidity of its completion.
To propose such an arrangement would require a good deal of thought and calculation; for want of which payments, that are to be made according to any rate, are apt to become either very exhorbitatnt, or very uncertain. But if a principle of this kind could be established, I think the work would proceed with a celerity as suprising as its present delay is disheartening and tedious.
I am not sure that such a principle can be established in the present case, but I could not avoid mentioning it for your consideration, as I am persuaded that there must be some great defect in the oeconomical arrangements, to produce such a complete stoppage as that of which you complain.
I remain
My Dear Sir
Yours very truly
Somerset
British Library Add Ms 37188 f229 [Misfiled]
n.d. [Nov/Dec 1833?] 30 Cambridge Terrace
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I have thrown together memoranda of points on which it would be desirable that I should have information. Whenever you can shortly and without trouble write down answers pray do so. In other cases you can give me even more informⁿ. I must be prepared not only for public engineers but also for innumerable enquiries in private society. No doubt the conductors of the press will likewise be at work at me.
I now leave the drawing for Herschel [ed:Babbage's son].
ever yours truly
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f230 [Misfiled]
n.d. [May/June 1834?] 36 Cambridge Terrace
Dion. Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
It seems to me that Charles Knight might be useful. I enclose a card for him.
Yesterday's lecture was a little short of an absolute breakdown. I was unwell in the morning and obliged to take medecine. I became quite nervous and hobbled thro' the lecture at a sad rate.
The audience was really splendid -both as to numbers and rank.
I want to see you if possible today. What time can I meet you. I shall be engaged from 4 till ½ past 5.
Yours Ever
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f234
n.d. Sunday
B.C. Brodie to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
I am quite as honored to give you so much trouble. My friend Mr Disney is under the necessity of going into his own county to attend some sessions of which he is chairman, and can not be here tomorrow. But he is anxious not to lose the opportunity of neing of a party to see your invention, and I have promised him to ask you to allow us to once more to post-pone our visit.
Can you allow us to wait on you on Saturday or Monday next at the same hour, or indent on any day in the following week? Saturday would be a very convenient day for me if it would happen to be convenient to you. Excuse my troubling you thus.
Yours Truly
B.C. Brodie
I will send for an answer tomorrow morning
British Library Add Ms 37188 f238
6th March 1834, 14 Saville Row
B.C. Brodie to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
Accept my thanks for your kindness.
Mr Disney is not returned to town, and I believe therefore it will be better for us to postpone our visit to you to some future opportunity.
Yrs very truly
B.C. Brodie
British Library Add Ms 37188 f257
Monday 17th March 1834, 14 Saville Row
Extract from a letter by Anne Brodie to Babbage
... Will you also my dear sir kindly grant me permission to bring a few friends and Relatives of Mr Brodie's who are now staying with us and who are to remain here a touch longer some day most convenient to you during that time to see your wonder working Calculating Machine.
The only apology I have to offer is that I fully believe from pract. experience that it is your pleasure to give pleasure, and that you cannot give a greater to many individuals than by granting their request. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f
20 March 1834, Berlin
Extract of a letter from A. L. Humboldt to Babbage [Letter practically unreadable]
... Votre ami Docteur Lardner dont les tresaire publicitique fort tres estimes parmi nous, par (foyez en sur) rece en Allemagne avec ca vite interet qu'inspire le but de les voyages. Il a noble desir de rendre plus accessible la comprehendre de vos decouverts mecaniques. Malheureusement le ministre ne peut lui offrir l'espoir d'eclair par des cours public; la classe manufacturiere de cw pays. J'ai du consulter a ce subjet une personne que vous [?] tres derouse, et que le trouve, comme Directeur, difficultement a la tete de la faction des Manufactures dans le Ministre de l'Interior. Il existe une telle ignorance de langues etrangeres et de connaissance preparatories meme chez nos proprietaires de manufactory et chapitre d'atelier, que Mr Deutsch croit qu'on aurat profiter de l'instruction de M. Docteur Lardner voudrait entendre dont a 'Allemagne d'une novice si noblement desir agres. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f279
24 March 1834
Babbage to the Duke of Somerset
My dear Lord Duke,
It will give me much pleasure to show the Calc. Eng. to any of the Prof^ss of the London University and if on examining it they should think it worthy of explanation at that Institution they shall have every opportunity to become acquainted with it. The part already finished is as you are aware prpoerty of government and [deleted: besides the expre ...] therefore [deleted: as it would not be ...] I should not be justified in removing it but any drawings which the professors may wish to make or any assistance which my son or myself can give them shall be [deleted: most] willingly at their service. I am most happy to hear of the advancing prosperity of the London Univ^ty. I have always been its warm supporter and have confidence enough in the religion I believe to expect that knowledge will increase its influence [deleted: although an alteration and I am confident].
I am my dear Lord Duke
Very faithfully yours
C.B.
24 March
I will immediately put myself in Comⁿ with the Professors of the L U^y through my friend Dr Turner.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f281
23 March 1834, Park Lane
Extract of a letter from Somerset to Babbage
... One of the Professors yesterday at the London University mentioned a wish that was entertained there, to see your Engine, and to have it explained publicly in their lecture room; but he thought that his colleagues hesitated about applying to you, till they should know how you were inclined, as they were afraid of creating any uneasiness or embarassment. I thought the circumstanes deserved to be mentioned to you, which is my reason for writing this. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f287
29 March 1834, Office of Woods etc.
Milne to Babbage
My dear Sir,
Having some dasy since seen Mr Stewart of the Treasury on the subject of the arrangements to be made for taking care of the Building appropriated for the purposes of your Calculating Mechanism I should be very glad to be able to talk the matter over with you any day you come this way, except on Thursday after 12 o'c when I propose to be absent.
I am
My dear Sir
Yours Very Truly
A. Milne

British Library Add Ms 37188 f288
29 March 1834, Sheffield
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I will send the tin case containing the notation either today or Monday from here. I hope you have not been delayed by the want of it. I have now lectured on it in Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton and Sheffield and in all excited the greatest attention. Since I left London above 5000 persons have attended the lectures. If I had no other satisfaction, the pleasure of being instrumental in the diffusion of knowledge to such an extent would in a great degree recompense me. My mind has been quite put at ease from the apprehension of being confounded with common lecturers. The manner in which I have been received every where is such as to put such apprehensions altogether aside.
It is finally arranged that my lectures on the machinery at the Roayl Institution are to be delivered on the 30th April and the 8th and 15th May and the friday evening's lecture is to be on the 2nd May. The evening for the notation has not yet been fixed. That however will be time enough. I find that I have too much disregarded and looked down upon the exhibition of the apparatus. Altho' I have certainly no reason for dissatisfaction as the result of my exertions yet there is no doubt that if I had recourse to a little of the trickery of the lecture table by the introduction of apparatus and experiment my [talk?] would have been more complete. I shall forward the boxes containing the models of the machinery immediately to the Royal Institution and if you can think of anything which can add to the efficiency or attractiveness it will not be amiss. You may possibly see Faraday who will cooperate with you heartily especially with a view to the friday evening meeting. I shall not arrive in London until about the 25th April. I leave this place for Leeds today.
... [Paragraph on London University degrees] ...
I have been so distracted by a multiplicity of engagements and invitations which it would not have been wise to decline that I regret to say I have not yet put pen to paer in the Review for the E.R. [Edinburgh Review] of the machinery. I am even pledged to furnish another article previously to that which I have not yet touched. I must however immediately begin and shall I hope despatch the latter before I go to London so as to attack with your aid the Review on the Machinery after my arrival. I am sadly bothered by Napier about these articles: he is as hungry as a Kite for them.
... [More on the degrees] ...
Ever truly yours
Dion Lardner
PS I have sent an outline of syllabus of the Lectures to Faraday and have told him to send the proof of it to you. Pray alter and correct it in whatever way you think fit.
On second thoughts I enclose to you the sketch of the syllabus. After you have altered it as you think fit pray forward it to Faraday.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f295
2nd April 1834, Berlin
Extract of a letter from A. Humboldt to Babbage
... Le porteur de ces lignes Comte Frederic de Thum ... C'est un jeune homme rempli d'excellente qualites et de desir d'entendre dans la satir et progres de l'industrie manufacturiere. Si vous etre preferte, mon respectable ami, vous monter quelque parties de cette admirable machine que etonne le monde. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f298
4th April 1834
Babbage to A. Mylne [Milne] Esq., Office of Woods etc.
Dear sir,
I have enquired respecting the person I mentioned as likely to take charge of the fireproof buildings in East Street. His name is W^m Creedy. he is willing to be employed at twelve shillings a week and will either sleep in the house or not as may be found convenient. From his acquaintance with figures I think he may ultimately be found useful [deleted: to the government] in attending the engine and the possibilty of this [deleted: rising] will secure [deleted: his] attention to his duties.
I am Sir,
Your Obedt Servt
Babbage
British Library Add Ms 37188 f311
Friday 18 April [1834]
Extract of a letter from Fitton to Babbage
... Let me know when the Lectures on the Engine at the R. Institution are to begin. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f317
29 April [1834], 36 Cam[bridge] Terr[ace]
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
Could you not get Barnes to get some one from the paper to attend on Friday evening. In case you should think it fit to do so I enclose a ticket.
ever truly yours
Dion Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f333
Tuesday n.d., Cambridge Terrace
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I kept the books for the lectures at the Lon: Inst last night. I lost no time now in reckoning them. Can you lend me the following for a few days (for the review):
Last nautical almanac
Requisite Tables
The volumes of the memoirs of Ast Socy which contain their reports on the naut^l almanack
Ditto Vol IV
Barlow's Tables
I am getting on eith the review and must have it completed by the end of the month.
If I can trust to my own impressions the lecture last night was the best I have ever given. Indeed whatever the merits or faults may have been I felt that it was the best I am capable of. The audience was not so numerous as on friday at the R.I. but was more numerous then than the meetings at 3 o'c.
I think you might well perhaps go either there or to the mechanics. Just where the same lectures will I believe shortly be delivered.
Pray send the books for heaven.
ever truly yours
Dion Lardner
I intend to go to the drawing room on thursday. I suppose I should meet you and your protege there.
Some things have reached me from quarters not contemptible touching the machine respecting which I should be glad to have some talk with you. There is a prevalent report that it is virtually abandoned and it is ascribed to the occurrence of some insurmountable difficulty in the printing machinery. This impression exists in quarters which raise it into higher consequence than mere gossip.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f335
Monday n.d., Cambridge Terrace
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My dear Babbage,
As I must instantly set about the review on the machinery, I am anxious to receive your advice and assistance on the following points which must be noticed at more or less length.
Other attempts at calculating mechanism.
How far general -where they failed.
A catalogue of tables if any such exist.
An approximate estimate of the labor and expense which have been already lavished on the calculation and printing of tables.
As [deleted: complete] extensive as possible set of examples of detected errors.

Stratford's address -I must have some occassional conferences with him as I proceed- (I shall also have some talk with Baily) - name any other person to whose aid and advice I may have recourse with advantage. I intend to give a steel plate engraving with the article- I want to consult you respecting this.
A gentleman [deleted: attached to service] from who I received much attention at Sheffield is desirous to see the machien and I would be glad to shew it to him -I need not trouble you on the occasion unless you wish to be present. It is Rev: J.B. Blackburn of Allercliffe with whom I believe you also spent a day or so. He will breakfast with me on Wednesday and I should be glad to be able to take him after breakfast to your house.
Have you prevailed on Dalton to go to the Levee? I shall entirely go to witness the phenomenon, if I am noticed as to Monday I will call at your house this evening before eight if you will be disengaged at that time, meanwhile turnover in your mind the above.
ever yours
D.L.
[Babbage's note: "Answer"]
British Library Add Ms 37188 f337
May 12th 1834, 3 Fernham Bgs
Capt W.S.Stratford to Babbage
My dear Sir,
Your note suprises me!
Last friday week I had a letter from you requesting certain information respecting my experience of the Errors committed by independent computers etc. I received it at Smith Square at 7^h25^m pm and the information was wanted at the Royal Institution at 8 pm: I therefore had very little time to answer you fully. I did however write briefly and sent you a parcel addressed to the care of Dr Lardner at the Institution, with positive instructions before 8 pm. The parcel contained Schumacher's Ephemeris for 1834, having the Moon's places deduced from Damoiseau's Tables and part 2 of Vol 4 of the memoir of the Ast[ronomical] Society; which has recorded a curious instance of Error in our Catalogue. There are the Books that I applied to you for.
Pray enquire for them, and forward them to me.
Yours Truly
W. S. Stratford
British Library Add Ms 37188 f350
n.d. Thursday, Cam. Terr.
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I send herewith a part of the Review which I beg you will read attentively and suggest corrections etc. you may think fit. The Mss is interleaved so that you may put your notes on the blank pages.
You will observe a long insertion at P.30. This insertion fills pp 30(A), 31(A), 32(A), 33(A). You will also see several hints in pencil which are included for your eye only.
As there is now only a week to finish it let me beg your attention to it without delay. I will send the remainder tomorrow or next day.
Faraday has requested me to lecture on the notation on Friday the 30th Inst which I have consented to do. Any further suggestions you may have to make on that topic will therefore be acceptable as soon as you can let me have them.
A fourth lecture is to be given at the London Inst. on Monday week.
ever yours truly
D.L.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f359
Saturday 31st May 1834, Park Lane
Somerset to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
When I wrote to you yesterday, I had not received your letter, but I will come to your party this evening with great pleasure. I do not doubt that they will be entertained with seeing the engine work, but if they understand the curious views which you mean to point out, I shall be much suprised.
I remain
My Dear Sir
Yours Very Truly
Somerset
British Library Add Ms 37188 f363
n.d.
Babbage to Lord L. [Probably Lord Lansdowne]
My Dear Lord,
I am aware that one who like yourself [deleted: knows] is acquainted with the value of time might feel some hesitation in asking me to [deleted: explain] show the Calc. Engine and I also apprehend that it may be a matter of interest to some branches of your family.
Dr L who is well acquainted with it and who possesses some models many drawings of it [deleted: and a great knowledge of it] has promised to send them to my house and to my request will give an explanation of them on any evening between the 27th May and the 8th June. I believe from 25 to 30 persons might well see the engine and without the form of a lecture any explanations might be asked and given [deleted: and as Dr L my son and myself all understand it perhaps that number of persons might have their enquiries satisfied.]
If Lady L [deleted: can fix] should like this plan and will fix any evening between those limits except Friday the 30th I shall be most happy to see her and any other member [deleted: branches] of your family.
If you should wish to bring any friends to whom such an evening might be [deleted: considered] one of real interest rather than a Fashionable Cowry I shall be most happy to see them. I shall probably invite Ld Chermanton Lord Selkirk and one or two others but if Lady L should like this plan I will arrange with you so as not to have more present than can conveniently see the engine.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f364
2 June 1834, Utrecht [Netherlands]
Extract of a letter from G. Moll to Babbage
... I long much to see the progress which the calculating engine must have made since I was in England, probably I may have that pleasure in the course of this summer. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f369
June 8 1834
J.W.W. Montgomery to Mrs Murchison
My Dear Mrs Murchison,
Will you tell Mr Babbage how much Lady N. Byron is obliged to him for his offer and how much she regretted not seeing him when he called at Fordhook.
Thursday is the earliest day she can appoint when if convenient to him and to you we shall have great pleasure in waiting upon the machine.
Lady B [word unreadable] desire[d] to be much kindly remembered.
Ever Yours Eff.
JWW Montgomery
British Library Add Ms 37188 f382
15th June [1834], Cam:Terr
Dionysius Lardner to Babbage
The Chancellor accompanied by Dussiu are to attend the first lecture on the machine at the Mechanics Institution on Thursday Evening. I wish you would get the models left there on or before Wednesday morning.
I called last week but did not meet you at home.
Yours truly
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f390
18 June 1834, No. 5 Little Lever St., Port St., Manchester
Letter written on 'Bath' paper
R. Wright to Babbage
Honou^d Sir,
I hope you will not be angry with me for sending you A short account from Manchester -after A short stay at Birmingham I came to Manchester and am imployed by A person named Whitworth who who was himself at work for Mr Clement at the time you stoped the work he has met with A gentleman who has taken him as partner and they are building a large Factory as any in Manchester We have too patent for Machinery in hand one is for Pin Making the other is Flat Machinery their is great speculation here in flat Machinery they are beginning to manufactor Linen as well as calico -I have entered the Mecanics Institution and also A a Drawing Academy and I beleave I shall be able to make my self acquainted with this kind of Machinery much sooner then I expected -I was supprised to find Steam Power so cheap we can get Power with Shaft and Drums for ten pounds per Year for each Lathe this is a great convenience to those who have but A small capital and I am not supprised to find that Roberts and most of the Manufactours of Machinery have worked their way from the vice.
Their is much talk about the Machine here so much so that A Man who has worked at it has a greater chance of the best work and I am proud to say I am getting more wages than any other workman in the Factory -I have thought much upon the conversation we had before I left London and feel more fully convinced that with the assistance of the Draughtsman you was speaking of I could complete the Machine with workmanship equal to that which is done and I thinck I shall not exagerate in saying with one half the trouble to yourself one third the time and one fourth the Expence I should be glad to convinc you that I am able to complete it by making either A Modal as we ware talking of or by making any part of the Machine either calculating or printing and fitting up A temporary Frame as you have done with that which you have at your home I can have the use of my Brother's Workshop and my Tools are pretty nearly calculated for the work so the difficulty would not be very great.
but their is one thing that would be of very essential service to me at this time and that is to know weather their is any proverbility of my service being wanted or not as in the too cases widely diferent I ought to act the man you select for the workshop aught to be a good general workman both at Vice and Lathe for such a man can see [deleted: when a] by the way a man begins a Job weather he will finish it in a workman like manner or not parraps you are not quite aware that at Mr Clements and most other Factorys the work is divided into too branches Vice and Lathe and in most cases the Man who works at the one is nearly ignorant of the other he aught also to be a midling Draughtsman and have a good knowledge of Pation-making and the Forge and he aught above all to have studied the dispositions of [deleted: the of] workmen so as to keep the workshop free from contention and disorder and the causes of the repeated failures of so much new Machinery for I am sure their is more failures through waste of Labour and other bad management then their is through bad skeams or any other cause the reason I consider myself compitant to undertake the work is because I have for some Years to become a Master and I have Paid a great deal of money and made great sacrifices in leveing good Jobs for bad ones ware their was something new to learn to obtain that knowledg which is requisite for A small Master.
from Your humble Servant
R. Wright
British Library Add Ms 37188 f396
Friday 20th June [1834], 23 Upper Thames Street
Extract of a letter from John Tucker to Babbage
... Mr John Tucker ... would have much pleasure in, with him [an American Gentleman] seeing Mr Babbage's Calculating Machine - Should this be agreable to Mr B -at any time either Wednesday or Thursday next week. Mr T will thank Mr B for a line and shd Mr B be engaged possibly with his sanction it may be seen without occupying his valuable time. ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f410
27 June [1834], Cam: Terr:
Dion. Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
by the note which you have appended to p. 279 it would appear that we have committed an error in the list of errata -you say in the note that the 6th erratum should be 14^o 18' 2" where as we have it 3" is this right or wrong?
De Morgan has suggested that I might preefix to the article the Report etc etc titles of the several short notices respecting it which you have published in the transactions. Can you furnish me with correct copies of these. I have one but as usual it does not say what Vol it belongs to.
Yrs ever
D.L.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f411
Wednesday n.d., Cambridge Terrace
D.L. to C.B.
My Dear Babbage
you forgot to send me the "requisite tables". Pray send them per bearer. Also let me know what catalogue that is of which you sent me the proof. is it of the R.S..
I wish I could find some short and forcible illustration of the quantity of labor mental and bodily which has been expended in computing and composing all the tables which have been heretofore computed. I mean of course a first approximation such as the probable number of square yards of paper they would cover - the number of computers working ten hours a day for a given time which they needed to employ. Other things appear puerile but I assure you they tell.
Napier is come to town and must have the review before the end of this month -I want to see you for half an hour on friday or tomorrow in order to collect all the remaining points necessary to be noticed as friday next will be the last lectures at the R.I.
ever yours truly
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f413
Saturday, n.d.
Dion. Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage
I have a dinner engagement tomorrow but as business must be done I must send an apology. I will therefore dine with you at six. Meanwhile I now send you the remainder of the article in the rough. It would be well that you should read it and -also as my time is rather precious let us settle tomorrow night all the material points for fridays lecture on the notation.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f415
Saturday, n.d.
Dion. Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I have now almost the whole in the rough at least and if you can devote a couple of hours this morning to go over it with me it would save time which now is very very material. Send me card per bearer. I can call on you whenever you think fit this evening.
ever yours
D.L.

British Library Add Ms 37188 f417
Monday, n.d.
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage
I enclose some queries in the review which I would be glad to have answered as soon as you can.
I will meet you if possible this evening.
ever yours truly
Dion Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f418
[deleted: Thursday] Wednesday, Cam: Terr:
My Dear Babbage,
Napier has left the Review with me till tomorrow and I have made very material additions to it which I wish to read to you before I despatch it. Will you come and breakfast as soon after nine as you can.
N. Has mentioned to S. and Leo his intention of placing it as the leading article in the number. This is very material and is I assure you a very gratifying compliment both to the subject and to the writer.
ever yours truly
D:L
I find that the article will extend to sixty pages.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f420
n.d.
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I have got the Proof of the Review and will be glad if you will come to breakfast as soon after 9 as you please in the morning to talk about it.
ever
D:L
British Library Add Ms 37188 f435
6 July 1834
Babbage to Bryan Donkin
My dear Sir,
The drawings and all the parts of the Engine are now in the fire-proof building and are only waiting for an opportunity when Mr Filed and yourself can see that they are correct according to the list in order that they may be delivered [deleted: to] inot my charge.
Youe are aware that the Engine has been now discontinued almost a year and a half and that during that time I have not had access to the drawings. It is of great importance that I should be able to show them and the rest of the apparatus [to] Lord Lansdowne and Lord Brougham the former of whom has promised to fix a time for [deleted: examining] seeing them.
I should therefore feel particularly obliged if you could arrange with Mr Field to [deleted: receive] meet Mr Clement and see that they are correct according to the list.
I am my dear sir
Yours Very Truly
CB
Dorset Pl.
6 July 1834
To B. Donkin Esq^re
British Library Add Ms 37188 f436
8 July 1834
Babbage to J.C. Field Esq.
My dear sir,
As Lord Lansdowne and the Chancellor wish to see the Calc Engine and as it is of the greatest consequence that they should also see the drawings and parts of it. I have written to Mr D to request him to oblige me by finding a day when it would be convenient for you[deleted:self] to meet him and see that the[deleted:y] parts are correct according to the list. He is about to leave town and says that Monday is the earliest day [deleted: and that if I will make arrangements at] on which he can attend. But Mr Donkin suggests [deleted: that] and I quite agree with him that it is not necessary for you both to be present and that you might appoint a day and meet Mr C to compare the list with the contents of the cases. I regret much the disagreeable nature of the task you have long and so kindly executed [deleted: undertaken] and hope that some new arrangements (which are now absolutely necessary) will result from the proposed visit [deleted: and relieve you from] which I am anxious for as soon as I have access to the cases now locked up in the Fireproof building.
I am My dear sir
Yours Very Sincerely
CB
Dorset Place
8 July 1834
British Library Add Ms 37188 f437
7th July 1834, 6 Paragon New Kent Road
Bryan Donkin to Babbage
My dear Sir,
I am exceedingly sorry that os much delay has been occasioned. Had it not been for the obstinacy of Clement the Acct and everything relating to the transfer of the Machine etc. might have been settled three months ago which will I will explain when I have the pleasure of seeing you.
It now unfortunately happens that I leave home tomorrow morning and cannot return before Friday next at soonest so that I can scarcely name an earlier day than Monday for looking at the contents of the cases. But as you are to receive them and as the interval may be of some consequence towards securing the attendance of their Lordships; it strikes me that if Mr Field could attend on an earlier day it would be quite sufficient. At all events you may make an appointment for Monday next at any hour convenient to yourself and Mr Field.
I am my dear sir
Yours faithfully
Bryan Donkin
British Library Add Ms 37188 f439
7 July 1834
Letter to Babbage from TS Sharks [or Sparks] of 10 Arundel Street asking him whether he has copies of Briggs or Wright's translation of Napier's works on Logarithms for a History of Logarithms.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f447
12 July [1834], 30 Cambridge Terrace
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
I enclose a copy of the uncorrected proof of the Review. I shall go to Paris on Wednesday next. I shall spend a day at Portsmouth to see the block machinery etc. Can you give me a few lines to any one either there or at PAris.
Whether I go on to Germany etc I am undecided.
ever yours truly
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f449
16th July 1834
Babbage to the Hon^ble J. Stewart
Sir,
In compliance with the instructions [deleted: from the] of the Lord Com of HM Treasury contained in your letter of the 17 Aug 1833 enclos[deleted:ed]ing a copy of the Treasury Min. relative to the Calc. Eng. of 13 Aug 1833. I wrote to Mr Clement to direct him to make preparations for the immediate removal of [deleted: certain parts of] the Drawings and of certain parts of the Calc Eng to the fireproof building in East St and I had a conference with Mr Clement on [deleted: the subject of the] mode of [deleted: arranging] accomplishing that object.
I have since applied to Mr Clement to urge him upon this subject and I have now to state for the information of their Lordships that the whole of the drawings and all the parts of the Cal Eng are deposited in the fire proof building in East St and that they were compared with the accounts by Messrs Donkin and Field and were yesterday delivered into my charge.
I beg to call the attention of their Lordships to the circumstance that no progress has been made in the execution of the engine since 25th March 1833. [deleted: and that not having possession of the drawings ...] a period of more than a year and a quarter and to request that their Lordships will be pleased to give me further instructions on the subject.
I am Sir
Your Obedt Hum^ble Servt
CB
British Library Add Ms 37188 f450
16th July 1834
Babbage to J. Stewart marked 'Private'
My dear Sir,
The drawings and parts of the Engine are at length in a place of safety. I am almost worn out with annoyance and disgust at the whole affair. I sned an offical letter to state the fact of the delivery [deleted: which] perhaps you will have the kindness to see whether it is properly expressed before you consider it as delivered. In the present state of public affairs I cannot expect any very early attention to the Engine.
I am My dear Sir,
very faithfully yours
C. Babbage
16 July 1834
British Library Add Ms 37188 f451
16th August 1834, Treasury Chambers
J. Stewart to Babbage
[Minute Nos.] 15159 13850 12/8
Sir,
Having laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury Mr Clement's Bill for Works performed to the Calculating Engine subsequently to the termination of the year 1832 and for the expense of its removal to East Street amounting together to £1200-13-6½d, I have it in command to acquaint you that My Lords have directed Mr Sargent to pay to Mr Clement the sum of £1200-13- 6 in discharge of his Accounts up to this period in respect of the Calculating Engine, and I am to convey to you their Lordships authority to proceed in completing the said Engine.
I am
Sir
Your Obedient Servt
J.Stewart
Treasury Chambers
16th August 1834
[to] Charles Babbage Esq.
Dorset Street Manchester Square
British Library Add Ms 37188 f454 [Misfiled]
24th July 1834, Treasury Chambers
J. Stewart to Babbage
[Minute No.] 13850 18/7
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 16th Inst. I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to state to you that they have much satisfaction in learning that the whole of the Drawings and all the Parts of the Calculating Engine, as far as the same are completed, are now deposited in the Fire Proof Building in East Street after having duly bee examined by Messrs Donkin and Field, and that the same are now in your Custody and I am to acquaint you that My Lords will have under their consideration what further proceedings may be requisite with a view to the completion of the Engine as soon as they shall have received from Mr Clement his Account for Works performed for the Engine subsequent to the termination of the year 1832, certified as heretofore by Messrs Donkin and Field.
I am
Sir
Your Obedient Servt
J. Stewart
Treasury Chambers
24th July 1834
British Library Add Ms 37188 f461
n.d. [August 1834]
Babbage to J. Clement
Sir,
I have just Recd a note from the Treasury by which I am informed that Mr Sargent (of the Tr) has directions to pay you £1200-13-6½. I thought it best to inform you of this fact in case no direct communication shall have reached you.
I am Sir
Your Obedt Servt
CB
British Library Add Ms 37188 f474
Sept 8 1834, 10 Arundel Street
J S Sharks[Sparks?] to Babbage
Dear Sir,
If you should have again a party of friends to show the Calculating Machine either this week or any other time except the next week (Sept 14-20); I should feel much obliged if you would give me permission by a note to be present with a friend who is neither mathematician nor a mechanician by profession. Of course an exhibition by your son would do quite as well but I wish not to take up your time or purpose for us.
I hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken in making this request and remain
dear sir
ever Truly yours
J.S. Sharks[?]
Perhaps it will not be disagreeable to you to have a small misprint in you Loagrithms pointed out
No 135 Proportional Part 315
Part 9 for 224 read 284
British Library Add Ms 37188 f480
25th Sept 1834
Babbage to Viscount Melbourne
My Lord,
The circumstances in which the Calculating Engine whose construction I have been for many years superintending for the Government is placed, are such that it is essentila that you should be informed respecting them. As it is impossible by any written communication to explain them may I request the honor of an interview for that purpose at anytime which may be convenient to your Lordship.
I ought perhaps here to close my application but as the subject is one to which the attention of a first Ld of the T can rarely be called I feel confident I shall be excused [deleted: from] for offering a suggestion [deleted: which will [be] calculated] intended to place before him information which may assist in enabling him to [deleted word?] decide on the subject.
I would suggest that [deleted: if you] L M could find time to read the article on the Engine in the last N. of the E.R. [Edinburgh Review] and if he would then do me the honor of examining the actual engine the drawings of and parts already executed of the larger one he would be better enabled to decide on a difficult question.
I propose this my lord simply because I think it would be unfair not to point out to you the best means of [deleted: judging] aiding your judgement on a subject which the most instructed find difficult -but I am too deeply sensible of the treatment I have experienced from the country to ask for any favor and I am prepared for any result.
The only request I make is that you will decide.
I am My Lord
Your Lordships Very Obedt Svt
CB
British Library Add Ms 37188 f482
25th Sept 1834, 10 Grosvenor Street, Millbank
Extract from a letter by Anthony Peacock to Babbage
... Having a few days ago had the pleasure of reading an account of your admirable invention of a Calculating Machine ... [remainder of letter is about an obscure arithmetical method which the author of the letter called 'decimal circulates' which, he claimed, enabled him to calculate the decimal equivalent of any simple fraction more easily than any previously published method. I feel sure Babbage would have ignored the content of this letter.]
British Library Add Ms 37188 f484
26th September 1834
Babbage to Viscount Melbourne, First Lord of the Treasury [Prime Minister]
My Lord,
I thank you for [deleted: your] the immediate attention you gave to the suggestion I ventured to make. I need scarcely observe that it is [deleted: to] the general views [deleted: that] which I wished to call to you [deleted: attention] notice. The small Calg. Engine is at present at my own house and the drawings and parts already executed of the larger one are placed in buildings belonging to the Government immediately adjacent to my residence. I think it is important that you[deleted:r Lordship] should see them and I will have every thing prepared so as to [deleted: detain your Lo..] occupy as little possible of you Lps time [deleted: as possible. I would suggest that they would be bes ...] whenever [deleted: it may be convenient/suit] you may find an opportunity if you will [deleted: oblige me by] do me the favor of informing me of your intention on the previous day I shall be [deleted: most] happy to [deleted:give you] have the honor of receiving you and will give [deleted:you] every information upon the subject which I may possess and which you may deem [deleted: important] requisite.
I am My Lord
Your Obliged and Obedient Servt
C.B.
British Library Add Ms 37188 f485
25th September [written 1832 but 1834], Downing Street
Viscount Melbourne to Babbage
Sir,
I have the honour of acknowledging your letter of the date of this morning -I will lose no time in reading the review which you are good enough to point out to me, and I shall be happy to have the pleasure of an interview with you upon the subject at any time that may be convenient. I have the honour to remain Sir
Your faithful and Obedient Servant
Melbourne

British Library Add Ms 37188 f488
6th Oct 1834
Babbage to Viscount Melbourne
My Lord,
My return to London enables me again to state that I am anxious and shall be most ready to show you the Calc^g Engine as well as the Apparatus and buildings connected with it. I may however add that I am equally anxious not to intrude unnecessarily upon your Lordship's time and that the ready attention you gave to my first suggestion assures me of your wish to be fully informed upon the case.
I [deleted: need] can only say that at whatever time you may find leisure for the examination I shall be most happy to attend you.
I am My Lord
You Obliged and Obedient Servt
CB
1 Dorset Street
[deleted:6] 7 Oct 1834
To Lord Melbourne
British Library Add Ms 37188 f489
9th October 1834, Downing Street
Melbourne to Babbage
Sir
I am extremely sorry that being obliged to go out of town, I cannot at present wait upon you as I should much desire to do. I will appoint an early day, when I return and remain Sir
Your faithful and Obedient Servt
Melbourne
British Library Add Ms 37188 f494
16 Oct 1834, Liverpool
Dr Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage
The incessant hustle of the Edinburgh meeting following by the not less incessant hustle of locomotion thro' Scotland from South to North and from North to South and subsequently of a tour through the district of the English lakes have prevented me from writing to you on this. I am even now hurried being now on the wing to Dublin where I have been invited to attend the ceremony of opening the Dublin and Kingstown railway.
The circumstance of lecturing before the British association was as you are aware wholly unexpected by me. When applied to some subject connected with the progress of locomotion was mentioned I hesitated about reproducing what I had so recently stated on the Calcul^g machine in the Review. However on consulting Brewster I waived this objection. I was however under great disadvantages. I had literally not a single model of any part of the apparatus. Added to which the drawings were on quite too small a scale for so numerous an assemblage. The room could not have had less than 1500 persons in it -the greater part obliged to stand wedged together. The diagrams not being visible except to a very small proportion of the audience I was obliged to confine the lecture principally to the subject of the tables, their error[s] etc. On the whole considering how much interest must have been lost by the publication of the review the thing went off uncommonly well.
[deleted: I got] You will have seen of course various notices of the proceedings of the Association in the newspapers. The best I have seen is in the Printing Machine where I got some castigation for too indiscriminate emphasis. I am conscious of the fault. It proceeds from over anxiety to be understood. I must endeavour to correct it.
I shall be here during Nov^r and a part of december delivering lectures. I find your book of great aid in my mechanical lectures.
I received your letter for which I am much obliged.
Remember me kindly to Herschel
and believe me
ever yours sincerely
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37188 f506 [Misfiled]
21st Nov [n.y. but probably 1842], Malvern
W.W. Whitmore to Babbage on the Decision of the Government
Dear Babbage
Had I not been convinced that the decision the Government have come to of abandoning the old machine was the only one to which under the circumstances they could come, I should have been sadly disappointed by your letter. That you have occupied so much time and expended so large an amount of talent and ingenuity on a machine now superseded and rendered comparatively of smaller moment - is much to be lamented - but you are your own rival and exercise too much ingenuity for the age in which you live and you are peculiarly a temporary. That posterity will render justice to your talents i do not doubt but unfortunately such considerations do not add either to one's wealth or consideration in the present age. I scarcely know what to say on this perplexing subject that you should continue all your life to expend so much talent and money on an undertaking which however ingenious is never in your lifetime likely to be brought practically to a conclusion seems unfortunate but you are and must be as the best as in truth the only judge in the matter.
I am glad you are going out of Town it will I hope benefit your health. I am here for the restoration of mine thro the means of the water here but at present I do not seem to make much progress and I fear like other things it will fail in restoring me to the health I once had. My plans are uncertain depending upon doctors and health. I shall probably stay here about 3 weeks longer and then return to Dudmaston for Xmas at least. by this time I must have ascertained whether the water system will suit me or not. Should you feel disposed to bend your steps towards Shropshire I need not say how happy I should be to see you.
Believe me
Affect. Yours
W.W. Whitmore
British Library Add Ms 37188 f512
29th November 1834, Office of Woods etc.
Henry Hake Seward to Babbage
Sir,
With reference to the subject of the arrangements which it may be proper to make in regard to Warming, Airing and Care etc. of the premises in East Street Manchester Square Erected for the Calculating Engine I have to state that a communication has been very recently made by the Treasury to the Commissioners of Woods etc. informing them that the plan is changed in regard to the Engineer who is not to reside upon the premises and referring to you for further information I am therefore directed by the Commissioners of Woods etc. to request that you will furnish them with the particulars of the arrangements you have now to propose in regard to the subject above referred to, that they may be enabled to report to their Lordships upon the same.
I am Sir,
Your Most Obedient Servant
Henry Hake Seward
British Library Add Ms 37188 f514
30 November 1834
Babbage to Seward, Secretary of Woods and Forests
Sir,
In reference to your letter of the 29 Nov respecting the warming and taking care of the buildings in East Street erected for the Calculating Engine I beg to state that an arrangement was made and approved by the Comm of W & F so[me] months ago that a person named Creedy should take care of them under my direction at 12^sh a week. This arrangement continued for several months when [deleted:untill an offerer kindly offered/ of occurred] Creedy was offered the situation [deleted: of the math..] of mathematical teacher at a highly respectable school and [deleted: I could not object to his ...] he left [deleted: the situ..] me.
I was then in daily expectation of some decision respecting the engine by the late administration and after Creedy departed I employed my own servants [deleted: and fuel] to [deleted: clean and] clean the rooms and light the fires and [deleted: I used] using my own fuel. Finding this inconvenient I have these few days engaged a person at two shillings a week to come daily to light the fire [deleted: and] my own servants attending to [deleted: them] it afterwards.
As soon as a new administration [deleted: is formed] exists it will be necessary to make new arrangements respecting the Engine. In the mean time I propose as the most economical plan to purchase [deleted: some] fuel and continue the same [deleted: plan] system untill some decision is made. I have kept a small book in accordance with the views of the Com of W & F of the expenses which consist cheifly of the wages (12^sh per week) of Creedy and of a few pounds for necessaries this book is at present mislaid but when found I will transmit it to you.
I am sir your obt [deleted: Honble] Servt
CB
30 Nov 1834
as there are in the fire proof building above ten thousand pieces of the Engine many of which are of steel it is necessary to keep it free from damp and ...
British Library Add Ms 37188 f517
4th Dec 1834
Babbage to [Office of Woods etc.]
Sir,
The proprietor of the House No. 4 Dorset St which abuts at the back on the [deleted: premises of] boundary wall of the premises built for the Cal. Engine in East St has raised that wall a few feet and made some alterations to which I understand from [?] that the district surveyor does not object - I think it however right as the premises are in my care to mention this circumstance in order that the Com of H M W & F may if they think fit send some person to examine those alterations.
I am Sir
Your Obedt Servt
CB
British Library Add Ms 37188 f520
17 Dec 1834
[List of Prime Ministers in Pencil. Added later?]
Ld Liverpool Ld Grey
Canning Ld Melbourne
Ld Goderich Sir R Peel
Ld Grey Ld John Russel
Duke of Wellington
Sir R. Peel
Babbage to the Duke of Wellington
My Lord Duke
Since I first undertook the construction of the Calculating Engine Seven (Six?) prime ministers have been in office. [deleted: One] You only [deleted: of] amongst these have seen that Engine. [deleted: and] You [deleted: have] not merely visited it in your own public capacity but subsequently when it was more advanced you honored me with an unofficial visit.
You have done great service to your country and that country has rightly [deleted: repaid] rewarded those services -I too in a very different degree claim to have done some service to my country's fame and I feel deeply injured by that country's treatment. Is it then unnatural that I should apply to the Duke of Wellington.
The circumstances in which [deleted: that] the calc^ing Engine is placed are such that it [is] absolutely necessary that those who are at the head of the government should be made aquainted with them [deleted: no written communication can make them fairly informed upon the subject] A personal communication can alone enable them fairly to judge of the case.
Sir R. Ps known opinion upon sciences render me unwilling to apply to him in the first instance and my object in applying to your Grace is to entreat you to procure for me a decision after the delay and neglect I have experienced the nature of [deleted: that] the decision is comparatively of [deleted: little] minor importance.
[deleted: I will not propose to occupy your time in examinign the numerous drawings, the more than ten thousand parts of the engine [deleted: and ] as well as the fire proof buildings and workshops which are erected for it. You have already given many hours to the examination of the small portion which is put together but I am sincerely anxious that a government with which your name is connected should not act without a full knowledge of every circumstance in my power to communicate and these I shall be most ready to give whenever you may find circum ...]
The numerous drawings of the engine -the more than ten thousand parts [deleted: which are] already executed [deleted: and] as well as the fire proof building and workshops [deleted: form] which have been erected are all [deleted: part of the] element of the approaching decision
[On reverse side of the above letter are a number of sketches of Snails, carry fingers(?) etc. (for the Analytical Engine?). Also included is the formula F(x)=Ak(x)+Bkk'(x)+Ckk'k"(x) (presumably one which Babbage expected the Analytical Engine to calculate and perhaps tabulate); and the sum of £3-10-0 and £8-0-0 totalling £11-10-0 from which has been deducted £5 leaving £6-10-0.]
British Library Add Ms 37188 f522
18th Dec 1834, London
Duke of Wellington to Babbage
Dear Sir. I have received your Letter. Much time would be saved if you would write me a line and tell me precisely what you wish I should do.
When I shall have that knowledge I can either request from you to have further explanation or Information, or I can make known your Wishes and objects to the Minister.
I have the Honor to be Dear Sir your most Obedient Servant
Wellington
[to] Charles Babbage
British Library Add Ms 37188 f525
23rd Dec 1834
[Top Copy of the] Statement Addressed to the Duke of Wellington KG etc respecting the Calculating Engine [by Charles Babbage]
About 13 years ago I undertook to superintend the construction of the Calculating Engine at the wish of the then Administration. The Grounds on which they took it up, were, that it was not in its nature capable of becoming an object of pecuniary profit, that it was of the highest importance to a country, possessing an extensive marine to add to its security by the construction of an Engine capable of producing Astronomical and Nautical Tables with unerring precision. I thought and still think those were statesmanlike reasons.
At all events it could not have been taken up by that Administration as a personal favour to one, who was always of liberal tho' not radical principles; It was taken up for the interest of the country not of the individual, and to suppose the reverse is to maintain the existence of a wrong motive, when the existence of a right one is obvious.
I thought at that time that two or at the utmost that three years would suffice for its construction, and with this impression, I made no stipulation for any remuneration for my services, either pecuniary or honorary.
I continued for above ten years to work amidst the greatest difficulties, at the completion of that engine. I had to communicate with six administrations. I repeatedly and almost continually advanced considerable sums of money from my own private funds, to prevent the delays, which would have arisen, had I waited for the issues from the Treasury.
The best proof that these advances were necessary arises from the fact that since the time at which I resolved to abstain from making any further advances from my private [deleted: resources] funds a period of nearly two years, the further construction of the Calculating Engine has totally ceased -During the previous ten years I spared no expence in travelling both at home, and on the Continent for the purpose of examining all the machinery whether employed in manufacturing or otherwise to which I could get access. The great improvements I have made in the Calculating Engine, far beyond what I had at first proposed were one of the consequences of this examination.
The publication of the results of my reflections in the "Economy of Machinery and Manufactures" was another consequence, that work has been translated into most European languages, and has not been entirely unnoticed by the Governments of other countries.
Of the annoyances and difficulties I have experienced during this period, I shall not speak, they are painful to remember, and their relation is useless for the future. Their effect may be seen perhaps in the composition of this paper, and will be more evident in the decision with which I shall act.
Finally during my superintendance of the Engine I have several[deleted:ly] times declined situations of considerable pecuniary advantage, in order that my time might be devoted to the completion of that work. This was more particularly the case in 1824 when a highly advantageous situation was offered to me, which would have produced an income of above 2000£ per annum.
About two years ago I had completed the invention of the Engine, the various contrivances were nearly all drawn, a large part of the machinery executed, and I had caused to be put together a certain portion of it forming a small engine. This the first Engine that ever calculated mathematical tables performed its work with perfect precision, and is in my opinion a complete demonstration of the possibility of executing mechanically more than I had promised.
The period had then arrived, when I had surmounted all the great difficulties of the question, and it was not unreasonable [deleted: to] even without having made any such stipulation to suppose that these services would have been met with some acknowledgement, at the least that I should have received sometestimony of the approbation of my country.
It was not unreasonable to expect that an administration which {in letter to Peel} prided boasted itself of/on its desire for the extension of knowledge, should have been happy in an opportunity of distinguishing the first conversion of mental into mechanical processes.
It was certain that any advice addressed to the king in favour of one whose inventions [deleted:had] contributed to give increased security to the sailor, would have found a ready attention.
Some public Expression of opinion from the Government became of more importance to me from the circumstances that I was continually attacked by both tories and radicals through the press and at public meetings for having received money for my services a circumstance which would not I apprehend have been disgraceful if true, but being utterly false was disgraceful to those who employed it, and did give me some claim to assistance in refuting it, from the country for which I had worked.
I received no such assistance and the Engine itself [deleted: was made unnoticed ...] was less noticed by the Government of the greatest naval power in the world, than it would have been in any even of the smallest states in Europe. I mention this as an opinion resulting from my own experience. In Countries which I have visited without any introduction but those afforded by my printed works and before any portion of the Calculating Engine was actually completed, I have met with attentions, which stand in striking contrast to the neglect I have experienced in my own. I am however bound in justice to you Grace to state that of the seven prime ministers who have successively held office during the progress of the Calculating Engine, you alone seem to have appreciated the nature of the invention, for you alone have personally inspected its progress, and execution.
I shall now proceed to describe the present condition of the Calc^g Engine. A small portion has already been put together and wroks perfectly. About twelve thousand parts in more or less advanced state, together with all the numerous drawings are at present deposited in a fireproof building which together with workshops and a residence for the Superintending Engineer have been built for them in East Street Manchester Square. These have only been in my custody, during the last four months.
There appears to me to be but four ways in which the question relative to this Engine can be disposed of.
1st The Government may desire me to continue its construction in the hands of the same person who has hitherto been employed in making it. this is the utmost extent which in my opinion the most adverse interpretation of any implied understanding at the commencement of the undertaking could claim from me, and although I should probably accede to it, other Considerations under my decision upon that point at present unnecessary.
Circumstances have arisen over which neither the Government nor myself have any contro[del:u]l, which render that course not only highly inexpedient, but I may also say even practically impossible, I shall therefore for the present dismiss it.
2ndly The Government may enquire whether it is not possible to find some other person than the one to whom I have alluded, competent to complete the work. this is a question on which I have for sometime bestowed considerable attention. The result of my enquiry is that it is [deleted: perfectly] possible; that it might be finished in much shorter time and at considerably less expence; but that this course would be attended by great personal sacrifices on my part, and after my experience of the past I do not feel myself bound to make any further sacrifices. I am ready to point out both the reasons [deleted: that] which lead me to the former conclusion, and [deleted: of] the means which can be commanded for the completion of the Engine, and to consider any proposition which may be made. but I will/can make none.
A third course is possible. The Government may find some person to supply my place, who may from my designs and drawings, undertake to finish the Engine. I mention this as a possible case, but I do not [deleted: consider] imagine the present administration would pursue a course of such doubtful expediency if however I am mistaken -I am [ready] at a moments notice to transfer the Engine to any one whom they may appoint.
The last and apparently the only remaining course is to give up the undertaking entirely. I am not unaware of the consequences of such a step. Some Economist may get up in the House of Commons and enquire why 20,000£ has been spent on what he may be pleased to term a useless and an absurd speculation [deleted: the responsibility] both parties will be glad to get rid of their portion of the responsibility, and may unite in throwing the blame entirely on me, and that worst of all possible modes of enquiry into such a subject a Committee of the H. of Com^s may report that I am wholly wrong.
I have experienced the injustice of my countrymen and if need be, I shall not quail before a greater [deleted: instance] exercise of it.
I come now to a subject of great difficulty, one which I feel that I ought to communicate in order that you may have fairly before you the whole circumstances of the case. The difficulty consists in this that in pointing out [deleted: the] remote tho' possible consequences I may be accused of using a tone, which is quite foreign to my intention, and which any reasonable being must know would be the least likely to influence the Duke of Wellington. If any one should judge thus harshly of me, I must be content to bear it, knowing that it is a tax I must pay to avoid the harsher judgement I should form of myself [deleted: to avoid] if I unfairly with held information from another.
During nearly two years I was deprived entirely of the possession of the whole of the drawings of the Calculating Engine. About four months since they were delivered up to me; and I immediately began a re-examination and criticism of every part. The result of this and [deleted: my previous] of my increased knowledge has been the contrivance of a totally new engine possessing much more extensive powers, and capable of calculations of a nature far more complicated. It is singular that amongst the numerous contrivances, which it comprises, no one has yet been adopted, which has been employed in the former one. Much as it exceeds that Engine in power, it is not intended to supersede it, on the contrary it will greatly extend its power/range and add to its utility.
[deleted: All other pursuits] I have for [deleted: the] a time laid aside all other pursuits, and have advanced considerably with the drawings on which I keep an able draftsman [deleted: continually] constantly employed. The great mechanical principles and contrivances which regulate its action are already decided upon, and it is my intention to proceed to finish the drawings in such a manner that the whole invention of the new Engine shall be complete and susceptible of being executed from them at any future period.
Whether I shall ever be able to afford to construct such an Engine from my own private resources, injured as they have been by the sacrifices I have made in carrying on the former one is [deleted: as] yet uncertain. but it has been suggested to me from several quarters, and has occurred to my own mind that it is not impossible that the Government of some other country forming a different estimate both of the utility of such undertakings, and of the value of the reputation that attends them, might make [deleted: some] propositions [deleted: that] which I [deleted: might] should be disposed to entertain.
My right to dispose [deleted: of] as I will of such inventions cannot be contested, it is more sacred in its nature than any hereditary or acquired property, for they are the absolute creations of my own mind. The Consequences of such an arrangement might be that it would become necessary for me to collect together, all that is most excellent in our own workshops -that methods and processes, which are equally essential to the perfection of machinery, but which are far less easily transmitted from country to country, would be at once brought into successful practice under the eyes and by the hands of foreign workmen -That I should contrive as I have contrived before, new modes of executing work, and that a school of mechanical engineers^* might arise whose influence would give a lasting impulse to hte whole of the manufactures of that country, and that the secondary consequences of the acquisition of that Calculating Engine might become [deleted: far] more valuable that the primary object for which is was sought.
---
^* Footnote: I have been informed by men who formerly worked at the calculating Engine, but who are now scattered about in our manufacturing districts, that they all get higher wages than their fellow workmen in consequence of having worked at that machine.
---
I have now [deleted: stated] detailed the circumstances attending the present state of the Calculating Engine. I can make no claim upon the Government because when I undertook it for them, I made no stipulation for any remuneration either for the invention or for my services in constructing it.
If it has cost the country 20,000£ it has been the source of expence to me, which although not of the same extent is yet considerable compared with my means, and I have made sacrifices to meet that expenditure. it has also prevented me from engaging in [deleted: speculations] occupations by which far more than that sum would have accrued to me.
If it has consumed 13 years of my life instead of two or three it will be said that I must suffer the inconvenience arising from my own ignorance. I was ignorant of that which no human being could foresee. I have suffered the consequences.
I feel however that these are not the pleas which it is worthy of a great nation to set up when treating with an individual on such a question. If they are maintained I ask no favour of that country. New circumstances have now arisen over which neither party have any controul and a new arrangement must now be made. All I ask is that I may have as early a decision of this question respecting the Calculating Engine as a due consideration of the circumstances of the case connected with it will admit.
Dorset Street
Manchester Square
23rd Dec^ber 1834
British Library Add Ms 37188 f530
23 Dec 1834
Babbage to the Duke of Wellington
My Lord Duke
I refrained from thanking you as I had wished for your immediate answer to [deleted:your] my letter solely from my desire not to occupy more of your time than is necessary.
The same motive led me to think that a fuller statement than that which your Grace contemplated might be still further conducive to [deleted: your] the same end end, by enabling you to place it in the hands of any other member of the Government.
The precise object for which I wish to ask your assistance is to procure [deleted: from] for me with as little delay as a due examination of the question will admit, the decision of the Government. I am ready at any time to wait upon you to give any further information or explanation respecting the Calculating Engine which may be necessary. I have addressed myself to you because you are one of the few who see beyond the politics of the day, and I hope that in the accompanying statement written under the impression of deep and painful feelings, you will find no expression at variance with those sentiments of sincere respect and admiration which I entertain for your character.
I am My Lord Duke
Your Grace's Very Obedt Servt
Babbage
23rd Dec 1834
Dorset Street
To his Grace the Duke of Wellington
British Library Add Ms 37188 f531-538
Rough draft of Babbage's Statement to the Duke of Wellington
Substantially the same with a few minor differences from the top copy.
Note made by Henry Prevost Babbage on this copy of the Statement: See Page 86 of Passages and 128 of My Book. HPB
British Library Add Ms 37188 f558
Sunday Night n.d., 19 Upper Grosvenor Street
F.O. Martin to Babbage
Dear Babbage,
I am going to bother you again. Some friends of mine are desirous of seeing the machine and I have promised to beg for a card for them for Saturday next: the master of thehouse has already seen it but nevertheless the female part of the family could hardly venture without him: I hope you will grant my request when I tell you that I admire the mother as much as you did Mr Ramsden: I have found the magnaminous desire of reconstructing my own wooden engine for her edification: If you will send me a card for Sir Robert Lady and Miss Stopford you will very much delight them and very possibly oblige me. I went last night to Mr Warrens and was very glad to find Maulevieu there. If you can comply with my request send me the card by the 2nd post. If you cannot do not hesitate to say no. but at all events I will promise not to bother you for a long time to come.
Ever truly yours
F.O. Martin
19 Upper Grosvenor St Sunday night
In bed where I have been all day.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f17
16th February 1835, North End House Hampstead
Extract of Letter from George Sam Evans to Babbage
... Dr. Ure would be gratified by having your opinion upon the drawings [of some cotton manufacturing machinery] and by seeing your calculating machine, -also by making your acquaintance. I need not tell you he is one of the most eminent men of the age. If agreeable to you, I will call with him on Wednesday morning next, at 3 o'clock. If that is inconvenient pray have the goodness to appoint some other day and hour. A line by return of post will oblige. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f18
23rd February 1835
Babbage to Geo. Sam Evans
My dear Sir,
I have just returned from Devonshire and find your note which I understand my son answered at the time. I regret you should have [del: made any offer of] held out to your friend any hope of an introduction to the Calc. Engine. If I were obliged to admit the numerous claimants I should not have one [del: single] moment left [del: for making] in which to finish it. I must therefore with great reluctance resolutely decline all such visits.
Yours Truly
CB
British Library Add Ms 37189 f28
21st February 1835
Extract of a letter from HJ Bowditch to Babbage
... This letter will be handed to you by one of our most talented men, an engineer; a professor at our Cambridge University. I am very glad that one of my countrymen, so well able to appreciate, at least, in certain respects, the qualities of your machine is about to visit London. I confidently anticipate great pleasure for him in company of yourself, and in the examination of your invention. I know, from your unlooked for kindness to me, all ignorant as I was, of everything relating to mechanics and mathematics, that you will allow Mr Treadwell to have an opportunity of examining the fruits of your labours. I have tried to explain to him something in relation to these, but I make a very sorry hand at anything beyond my own profession. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f47
10th March 1835
Extract of a letter from Benjamin Hawes to Babbage
... In the present new reforming character of the Government surely the machine is worthy of being brought under the notice of the new chancellor of the Exchequer.
I wish anything a very humble individual like myself could do -or be told to do- could in any way contribute toward the final settlement of this Question and the completion of that important work. I will be your slave in any way you please. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f63
27th March 1835, Treasury
G. Clerk to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
I beg to return you my best thanks for your kind permission to allow me to see your calculating machine & it will give Mr Barlow & myself great pleasure to wait on you for that purpose between 2 & 3 o'clock on Sunday next.
I remain
Yours Truly
G. Clerk
British Library Add Ms 37189 f74
7th April 1835
Draft of a letter from Babbage to Sir Robert Peel
[Top Copy in Peel Collection]
Sir,
I transmit [del: to you] a copy of a statement respecting the Calc^g Engine addressed by me to the Duke of Wellington which I had hoped would have been placed in your hands by his Grace who on several occasions has expressed an interest in the subject. [Del: whatever may be the decision of the Government] In that paper I have stated the only courses which it appears to me the government can take [del: in order to form a judgement/ good for several of/ There it is in/ of the expedientcy of some of these it is necessary that you should see the Calc. Engine and that you] and it seems [del: it appears to me] scarcely possible that you should be able without seeing the Engine [del: and hearing/ receiving from me the reasons for which are there only alluded/ referred to and probably without enquiring/making many enquiries] and without hearing and asking explanations about it to come to a decision on the subject. If [del: this should be your opinion] you should take the same view I shall be [del: most] happy to show it to you at any time you may [del: name] fix and I will then give [del: you] the fullest information I possess on any part of the subject respecting which you may wish to [del: you may] enquire. The delays and difficulties of years will I hope excuse my expressing a wish that I may at length be relieved from them by an early decision of the Government upon the question.
I am Sir
your very Obed^t Serv^t
C. Babbage
Dorset St
Manch Sqre
27 April 1835
To the R^t Hon^ble Sir R. Peel Bart. &c.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f78
26th April 1835
Some unlabelled sketches
British Library Add Ms 37189 f88
4th May 1835, Downing Street
Lord Melbourne to Babbage
Sir,
I have the honour of acknowledging your letter, & I can do no more at present, but I will seize the earliest opportunity of leisure, which I can, to attend to the important subject of your communication. I have the honour to remain
Sir
Your faithful and obedient servant
Melbourne
British Library Add Ms 37189 f
4th May 1835
Babbage to Lord Melbourne
My Lord,
On the 27th Dec^ber 1835 [CB means 1834] I addressed to the Duke of Wellington a Statement respecting the Calculating Engine which I subsequently placed in the hands of Sir Robert Peel. That statement will I understand in the usual course be transferred to your Lordship. In requesting the decision, the Government [del: with] respecting the Engine allow me to add to what I have already stated that besides the uncertainity of human life other circumstances might occur which would render its completion ([del: if that] should that be the wish of the government) [del: more] very difficult if not quite impossible.
Whenever the pressure of [del: your] Public [del: affairs] business shall allow your Lordship an opportunity of attending to this subject I shall be ready at any moment to show you the Machinery already executed and to communicate to you unreservedly [del:any] all the information I possess on the [del: subject] question.
I am [del: My]
Your Lordship's
Very obed^t servt
CB
4 May 1835
Dorset St
Manch Sqre
To the Rt Hon the Viscount Melbourne &c.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f100
20th May 1835
Spring Rice to Babbage
My dear Sir,
Sir Rob^t Peel on resigning office transferred to me a letter addressed by you to the Duke of Wellington on the subject of your views &c. of the prospects of the Calculating Machine. Sir Rob^t Peel expressed an opinion that the letter might be made and considered as a public document. Since that period a discussion has taken place in the House of Commons and the Govt has been called on to furnish the House with information respecting the present state of the engine and the progress made towards its completion. The course naturally to be taken is by reference to the Royal Society between which body and the Treasury important correspondence took place on former occasions. But it has occurred to me that you might not wish your letter to the D of Wⁿ to be made the matter of official reference, and yet the substance of your views and intentions ought not to be with held from the Royal Society. Let me know what is your wish on this subject, as I would very much desire as far as is [word unreadable: respectable?] to be guided by your inclination.
Believe me my dear Sir
Your very ob^t Humble Servt
Spring Rice
[Note added by CB: This was received after 8 o'clock Thursday evening 21st.]
British Library Add Ms 37189 f101
22nd May 1835
Babbage to Spring Rice
My dear sir,
It appears to me that there are several [del: weighty] reasons which it is not at present necessary to state why the Royal Soc^ty should not be applied to respecting the Calc. Engine.
They have already pronounced an opinion on the question that it is [del: highly] of 'great "public utility" that the mathematical principles on which it is founded are correct -and also [del: that it] their opinion of its practicability has been confirmed by the actual existence and working of a portion of the engine. I enclose a copy of their Report.
The present state and the progress made toward the completion of the Calc Eng can only be judged of by professional engineers [del: and] A very small committee [del: of] (two or three) [del: of such] would be much more competent to understand its present state and advice about [del: the/its present state and] its future [del: progress] completion. The Statement addressed by me to the Duke of Wⁿ although a public [del: letter] one relates to a view of the question which I should presume the R.S. were quite disqualified from entering upon and the desire [del: expressed] manifested by the H of C to be informed [del: on the subject] of the state of the Engine and the progress made towards its completion seems to me the most natural cause for refering that subject to such a Committee.
It is impossible to put you fully in possession [del: with] of my views without an interview and I shall be most ready to wait on you for [del: that] the purpose of giving you the fullest information on the subject whenever you can find a[del:n] convenient opportunity.
I am My dear Sir
Your Obd^t H^ble Serv^t
CB
Dorset St
22 May 1835
To the R^t Hon^ble Spring Rice
British Library Add Ms 37189 f103
24th May 1835
Babbage to Francis Place who had requested a £20 subscription for the Museum of National Manufacturing and Mechanical Arts in Leicester Square to enable them to hire a technical expert.
My dear Sir
It is with much regret that I am obliged to decline acceding to your proposition respecting Mr Toplis whose skill and knowledge I fully admit. The circumstances of my having expended large sums of money as well as much time in advancing the mechanical arts renders me less able to contribute towards them in the way which you point out.
I am My dear Sir
Yours very truly
CB
British Library Add Ms 37189 f104
22nd May 1835, Home Office
Charles Gore, private secretary of Lord John Russell to Babbage
Sir,
Lord John Russell being extremely desirous of seeing your Calculating Engine, and not being aware of the best mode to set about attaining this object he has desired me to write to you and request that you will be so good as to inform him, what he should do.
Pray forgive this trouble
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your Ob^t humb S^t
Charles Gore
Priv^e Sec^y
British Library Add Ms 37189 f105
22 May 1835
Babbage to Lord John Russell
Mr Babbage presents his compliments to L^d John Russell and will be most happy to show him the Calc. Engine any morning (Sunday included) which may suit his convenience.
Should Lord John wish any friends to accompany him it will give Mr Babbage much pleasure to receive them.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f106
23 May 1835, Home Office
Charles Gore to Babbage
Mr Charles Gore presents his Compliments to Mr Babbage, and is directed by Lord John Russell to acquaint him, that Lord John Russell proposes to himself the pleasure of availing himself of Mr Babbage's very kind offer to shew him his Calculating Engine on Sunday the 31st Instant at 3 o'clock should that Day and Time be perfectly agreable to Mr Babbage.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f110
25 May 1835
Spring Rice to Babbage
Mr Spring Rice presents his compt to Mr Babbage and will be most happy to receive him in Downing St Tomorrow at 2 o'clock.
[Note added by CB: Saw Mr Sp Rice his impressed explained to him the present state of the Engine advised not to consult the R.S.. Staid 1¼ hour.]
British Library Add Ms 37189 f112
26 May 1835
Notes made by Babbage of his interview with Spring Rice
{Not workmen
R.S. unfit {Cause delay 3 months lost time
{Hostile
{Jealous
Cause of delay {Clement slow
{ " interest to cause delay
{ " obstinacy and refusal to allow me to have the drawings
{Excessive demands in order to retain work at his own place
{Everybody in Comⁿ with him discontented
{Engine unlike all former ones
Means of completing
Tools at home
Jarvis superintend
make it his int^r to finish
Com^tte of Engineer
Rennie
Brunell
Cubit
British Library Add Ms 37189 f119
31st May 1835, Willow Crescent
Lord John Russell to Babbage
Lord John Russell presents his compliments to Mr Babbage, & is extremely sorry that he is so busily engaged on the Corporation Bill, that it will be impossible for him to call on Mr Babbage at 3 o'clock to see his Calculating Engine.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f120
31st May 1835
Mr Babbage presents his comps to Lord John Russell and will be happy to show him the calc^g Engine at any other opportunity when Lord John Russell is less occupied by public business.
Dorset st Manch Sq.
31 May
British Library Add Ms 37189 f125
8th June 1835, London
Charles Holtzapffel to Babbage
Sir
May I presume to trouble you with the request that, you will shew M. de Schérer, the Gentleman who will hand you this letter, your beautiful Calculating Engine. I am aware that I am rather exceeding proper bounds in troubling you with this request, but as this Gentleman is visiting our country in common, with other parts of Europe, for the acquisition of Knowledge connected with Education & Scientific acquirement I thought you would excuse the freedom.
Your most obedient & obliged servant
Charles Holtzapffel
This Gentleman is personally known to M le chev^r Backhausen the Prussian consul in London.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f150
13th July 1835, 49 York Terrace
Vail to Babbage
Mr Vail, american chargé d'affaires presents his compliments to Mr Babbage and would take it as a favor if Mr Babbage would allow Gen^l Fullmudge, a distinguished citizen of New York, and his family, to view his calculating machine, and to name the time when it would be convenient for him to permit Gen Fullmudge to call for that purpose at his house.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f151
Babbage to Vail
Mr B presents his compliments to Mr V and regrets that his time is so occupied that he can scarcely hope to have the pleasure of himself showing the Calc Engine to Gen. F.
If Gen F can conveniently call in Dorset Street 2 o'clock on Thursday next Mr B will endeavour to be at home to receive him and if he should be prevented his son Mr Herschel Babbage will be his father's substitute.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f163
2nd September 1835, Bruxelles
Extract of a letter from Quetelet to Babbage
... Preveni avec bien de plaisir la description de votre nouvelle machine; il a servi charme de pouvoir contribuer à la faim [word unreadable: ornnali?] mieux des personnes qui ne lisent pas l'anglais. Si vous fais mes compliments sur votre genéreuime et pour les heureux résultats qui vous en obtenez. ...
[Translation: ... It has been a great pleasure to receive the description of your new machine; it has served well to enhance the knowledge better of those persons who cannot read English. Please accept my compliments for your generous gift and for the happy results which you have obtained. ...]
British Library Add Ms 37189 f164
12th September 1835, 1004 Carinthie Street, Vienna
Extract of a letter from Karoly C. Nagy to Babbage
... My manuscript on the calculating engine is quite ready for the press. I am sure you make some astonishing progress, considerable alterations, and extensive additions to the power of your admirable work. If you will honour me with some of your own remarques and the most recent accounts of the engine, I shall be most happy. Mr Hudson R.S. or Mr Blacks Bookseller will surely have the kindness to and forward anything you should find to communicate to me. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f169
29 September 1835, Royal Institution
M. Faraday to Babbage
My dear sir,
Let me introduce M Scharling of Copenhagen to you. He has just left Magnus and will tell you all about his movements. If you can favour me by showing him your calculating machine.
Ever Truly Yours
M. Faraday
British Library Add Ms 37189 f173
3rd October 1835, Turin
Extract of a letter from Plana to Babbage
... S'il était possible de saisir la constitution d'une machine par une single déscription; certes les détails exposés dans votre lettre, dans le rapport du Comité de la Societé Royale, et dans les ouvrages pèriodiques, devraient une suffire. Mais en fait, le machine, il faut la vue, le fait, et le examinait, pour imprimer dans l'imagination une peinture fidèle. Je conçois fort bien, que denué de ces moyens efficaux, je ne suis pas former des idées justes sur les artifices imaginés par vous, Monsieur, pour atteindre un but qui purait inamicable, même après y avoir long- temps rèflechi. Pourvu qu'il ensat, je sens que la machine est inventée, en grande partie dessiné, et prête à être livrée à la postérité.
Si des obstacles en empêchent l'execution dans la course de votre vie, par le rapport, fait en 1829, sur votre première machine, je vois avec plaisir, que nos illustrés collegues de la Societé Royale ont parlé de votre découverte d'après les sentiments qui âyent de la contemplation d'une grande difficulté vaincue. Toute fois, je fus saisi par un profond sentiment de regret en lisant dans votre lettre, que vous n'avez encore reçu aucun encouragement! Il est éttonant, que les hommes de l'Angleterre, qui ont le pouvoir d'offrir au génie les récompenses qu'il mérite, n'aient pas encore saisi l'honorable occasion que vous leur offrez, de signaler et de recommander leur vous à postérité. J'ose cependant espèrer qu'une apathie aussi comparable va être vaincue par votre persèvérance, et que vous aurez la satisfaction de voir vos efforts couronnés pa le succès, et du moins en partie, recompensées.
Comment peut-on demeurer insensible, à l'aspect d'une machine capable de calculer le rapport de la circonférence au diametre, la base de logarithmes de Napier, et les nombres de Bernouilli, avec 30 figures. Sans doute vous pouver de même calculer les tables sur les transcendents elliptiques que vous voyez dans l'ouvrage de Legendre, et les coefficiens numériques qu'on obtient par le retour d'une suite donnée. Or tout cela est éttonnant, pour quiconque est au fait de force du pouvoir législatif et de la faiblesse du pouvoir exécutif de l'analyse algébrique. Sans doute, les tables pour résoudre les problèmes de la balistique sont, par votre machine, facilitées au dela de ce qu'on pouvait espèrer. Sur vérité je vous en fais sincerement mes compliments. Je regrette profondement d'être retenu par des considérations de famille autrement je viendrais à Londres d'bord pour procurer le plaisir de faire votre connaîssance personelle et ensuite pour conférer avec vous sur votre machine et sur une toute d'autre objets qui exigent [words unreadable: des discussions orales?]. J'aime avoir faire illusion et avire que je pourrai une autre année faire ce voyage. Maintenant je me console de cette privation en pensant que je remplis de ce devoir d'observer ici la Comète de Halley: je suis souvent contrarie par l'état du Ciel, qui [word unreadable arédrolu?] la vue de cet astre. Mais c'est un perpetuel individuel: l'ensemble des astronomes de l'Europe lequera à lu postérité une suite d'observations capables de perfectionner la théorie de cette comète. ...
[Translation: If it were possible to grasp the constitution of a machine from a single description, from the details contained in your letter, from that in the report of the Committee of the Royal Society, and those in the periodicals, then these must satisfy one. But in faith, in the case of the Machine, one must see it, make it, examine it to imprint on the imagination a faithful picture. I conceive quite well that being denied these efficacious means, I am not really able to form a just opinion on the contrivances that you have invented, Sir, for I have tried to reach this goal, but it has proved impossible even after reflecting on it for a long time. From that which it has been possible to understand, I see that the machine has been in large part invented, and is ready to be launched into posterity.
If obstacles, in the course of your life, delay its execution, from the report made in 1829, of your first machine, I note with pleasure that our illustrious colleagues of the Royal Society have spoken of your discovery in terms that suggest of a great difficulty overcome. Above all though, I have been seized by a deep sense of regret that you have still not received any encouragement! It is amazing, that the people of England, who have the means to offer to engineering the rewards which it merits, have not yet taken up the honorable opportunity that you present them, with of indicating and on their recommendation promoting you to posterity. In the meantime I am in hopes that through your perseverance you will manage to overcome the equal difficulty of apathy, and that you will have the satisfaction of seeing your efforts crowned by success, and not least, rewarded.
How can one remain insensible to the vision of a machine capable of calculating the ratio of the circumference [of a circle] to its diameter, the base of Naperian logarithms, and the Bernouilli numbers, all to 30 places of figures. Without a doubt you could even calculate tables of the elliptic transcendants that are found in the work of Legendre, and also the coefficients that one gets by expanding a given series. All this is astonishing, for whomsoever is fully aware of the strength of legislative power [we possess] over Analysis, is also aware of the weakness of power we have over its executive. Without doubt [the production of] tables to solve ballistic problems has been by your machine simplified far beyond that which one could have hoped for. In truth I sincerely congratulate you. I very much regret for family reasons being detained here, otherwise I would come immediately to London to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance personally, and subsequently to confer with you on your machine and all other matters which can be debated. I like to imagine that some other year I shall be able to make this trip. For the time being I console myself with the thought that I must observe here Halley's Comet. I am frequently annoyed at the state of the sky which obscures the view of this star. But it is a perpetual individual, and it will be the collection of astronomers throughout Europe who will present to posterity a series of observations which will enable the theory of the comet to be perfected. ...]
British Library Add Ms 37189 f201
20th November 1835
Babbage to Spring Rice
My dear Sir
The long delay in deciding respecting the Cal Eng has now produced another serious impediment to its completion.
The person whom I have employed in making the drawings of the new Engine and who thoroughly understands the old Engine and made many of its drawings has just been offered a permanent and much more valuable situation provided he goes abroad and enters into an [del: contract] engagement under a heavy penalty to remain with his new employers for seven years. He has just informed me that he is to make his final decision tomorrow morning and I think it Important that you should be made acquainted with the circumstance.
I am My dear sir
Yours Truly
CB
British Library Add Ms 37189 f202
20th November 1835
A note written by Babbage
Memdum Friday afternoon at 4 Jarvis told me he was to decide about accepting the foreign engagement early next morning.
I wrote the note to the Ch of Ex and another to his sec to inform him. I carried them myself at 7 o'clock to Mansfield St and finding the Ch of Ex at Brighton and his Pr Sec at Dulwich left them to be forwarded. Next day at 2 I called in Downing St and found neither the Chr Ex nor his pr sec in town. I then went home and made [del: the] my private agreement with Jarvis.
2. [Not finished]
British Library Add Ms 37189 f203
24th November 1835
Contract of Employment between Charles Babbage and Charles Godfrey Jarvis
Articles of Agreement entered into this Twenty-fourth day of November, One Thousand eight hundred and Thirty five, Between Charles Babbage Esquire of Dorset Street, Manchester Square of the one part and Charles G Jarvis of No. 17 Lambeth Terrace, Mechanical Draughtsman of the other part.
It is agreed between the above named parties that the said Charles G. Jarvis shall continue in the employment of the said Charles Babbage at any place not exceeding Ten miles from London for the space of Twelve calendar months from the first day of December next ensuing, and that the said Charles G. Jarvis shall be paid by the said Charles Babbage after the rate of one pound and one shilling sterling for every day of Eight working hours on which the said Charles G. Jarvis shall be actually employed or shall be ready and prepared to be employed whether employment be provided by the said Charles Babbage or not, and the said Charles G. Jarvis shall not undertake any employment from any other person or persons during the continuance of this engagement. And it is further agreed that if the said Charles Babbage shall at any time before the first day of November One thousand eight hundred and thirty six give to the said Charles G. Jarvis notice of his wish that the said Charles G. Jarvis should continue in the employment of the said Charles Babbage on the same terms for the space of Six Calendar months from the first day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirty six.
And whereas the said Charles Babbage has explained to the said Charles G. Jarvis certain inventions which could not without much trouble and loss of time be communicated to another person. It is further agreed between the above parties that if either of the said parties shall neglect or refuse to fulfil and perform the agreement on his part herein contained, the party so neglecting or refusing shall pay to the other party, the sum of Five hundred Pounds Sterling by way of liquidated damages. Provided always that the Agreement herein contained shall be considered completely determined by the death of either party and the representative of neither party shall be in any-wise affected by any matter or thing herein contained, except for money becoming due previous to such death as aforesaid.
In Witness whereof, we the undersigned parties have set our hands this Twenty-fourth day of November. One thousand eight hundred and thirty five.
(signed) Charles Babbage
C.G. Jarvis
Witnessed Charlotte Mathers [CB's Housekeeper]
British Library Add Ms 37189 f207
2nd December 1835, Observatory Dublin
Extract of a letter from William Rowan Hamilton to Babbage
... It was a real annoyance to me that during the extreme hurry of the British week in Dublin I could see so little of you. And though the opportunity of conversing with yourself was what I most desired, yet I was much concerned that I could not get away from my multifarious occupations of the time, to visit the model of your machine which I understand you had in Dublin. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f211
Saturday 5th December [1835]
Extract of a letter from the Duke of Somerset to Babbage
... Your new engine will indeed be a wonder, if it fulfill your intentions. But I am impatient to see something of the kind brought into use. The Public seem entirely to have adopted the maxim that Works and the Proof of Philosophy and to give all those who reduce a principle to practice. The power of steam was discovered by Lord Worcester, or by some German who preceeded him. And the great improvement of the steam-engine was suggested by Dr Koch Coch. But Watt applied the whole to practice, and he has therefore almost the whole of the credit of the invention. Montgolfier invented the Balloon, but he only known to men of science, while Blanchard and Lanardi were the talk of the world. Some men (I think his name was Peal) suggested the improvements of the Cotton Mill. But Arkwright put them in practice, and realised both fame and fortune.
Few men can comprehend a principle, while it remains in books and diagrams. But most men can copy what they see. The turn for imitation is as strong in the man as in the monkey. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f215
14th December 1835, Headingly Durham
Extract of a letter from J.G. Marshall to Babbage
... Allow me to introduce to you Mr Peter Fairbairn of this place, machinist, who would esteem it a great favour to be allowed to see your Calculating Machine. I think you visited Mr Fairbairn's workshop among other places, when we had the pleasure of seeing you here. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f217
16th December 1835, Stover
Extract of a letter from the Duke of Somerset to Babbage
... Your success inventing your new engine, gives me great satisfaction on all accounts, and I can agree with you as the happiness produced by the exertion of intellectual power. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f220
20th December [1835?], Armagh Observatory
T.R. Robinson to Babbage
My dear Babbage,
The opinion which I (and Beaufort simultaneously) formed respecting Airy's being privy to some plan of attacking you, arose from manner and look than anything which he actually said. Indeed of the conversation I distinctly remember but two points, one his saying "that the persons who had recommended the construction of the machine would shortly find themselves in a very unpleasant predicament" the other "that in his opinion the machine was useless, for that if the money spent on it had been applied to pay computers, we could have had all that is wanting in the way of tables.["]
Airy I do not think is likely to have been the mover of this, but wherever it comes from, let me entreat you not to despise the attack as unimportant because it is contemptible. It is not I assure you mere Tory feeling that makes me believe the present Government incapable of looking beyond the shifts of the present minute, and there is not one among them who has elevation of mind enough to appreciate either you or your invention. You must therefore make preparation for defense and don't let yourself be trifled with. Is not Whitmore your friend and a man of practical habits. Lord Ashley Tory tho' he be is warmly attached to you. Furnish them with clear statements of the original arrangements, of your entanglements with Clements and of what is yet wanting to complete the Instrument; do this early, that if any fellow should leap up in the house like Cobbet (for that I suppose is the way that they will lay the train) an answer may be given at once. If they go into the merits or use of the invention itself I cannot suppose they will find a man in Europe but Airy to gainsay it. I am only afraid that in the conscious pride of integrity and talents you may trust solely to those merits and forget that the public know nothing but what is forced into their understanding so mind what I say for it comes from
Yours most truly
T.R.Robinson
British Library Add Ms 37189 f222
21st December 1835, Trinity College Dublin
Extract of a letter from Chas Wm Wall to Babbage
... My object in writing to you now is as follows. Last summer during the meeting here of the British Association, I heard it stated that your Calculating engine had enabled you to discover errors in the common tables of logarithms and, what is very curious if it be fact, the same errors of calculation made by different persons; but errors in the Chinese tables the same as in ours to such extent as clearly marks their European origin. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f237
n.d., 15 Leicester Street, Leicester Square
Extract of a letter from Cappoci to Babbage
... Je suis, Monsieur avec la plus profonde estime et la plus vive reconnaissance pour les choses admirables que vous m'avez montrées dans vos machines. ...
[Translation: I am Sir, most grateful to have made your acquaintance and for all the admirable things which have shown me in your machines. ...]
British Library Add Ms 37189 f249
1st December 1835, 2 Mitre Court, Temple
Woronzow Greig to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
Will it be taking too great a liberty to request you if you can spare time to allow a couple of lady friends of mine to see the Machine. One is Miss Parker a cousin of Macauleys and the other Miss Sandbath from Liverpool very young and very pretty. If you can do me this favor either this week or the next will you have the kindness to drop me a 2d poster? fixing the day and time.
Yours Most Truly
Woronzow Greig
British Library Add Ms 37189 f267
11th January 1836, Berlin
Extract from a letter from H. Spinks, The King of Prussia's Librarian, to Babbage
... Allow me to introduce to you, by the present, its bearer, Mr Thiede, one of our cleverest workmen in point of astronomical clockwork and whose Regulators and Chronometers have met with the most decided approbation by our most famous astronomers and mathematicians. ... Mr Th will take a very lively interest in your stupendous calculating machine. You will easily suppose and you will, therefore, much gratify him, by admitting him to a sight of it. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f273
14th January 1836, Downing Street
Private Secretary of Spring Rice to Babbage
My dear Sir,
I was out of town and confined to the house by illness when you addressed a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer under cover to me. I did not therefore receive it till after the period at which you stated an answer was necessary to effect its object.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is now anxious to come to some definite result with you on the subject of the Calculating Machine but in the first place allow me to recall to your attention what has occurred in reference to the statement addressed by you to His [Grace the] Duke of Wellington in Dec 1834.
You will recollect that on receiving the above paper he communicated with you requesting you to inform him whether you wished to make it official or whether you wished to substitute any other for it, as he is unwilling that the paper which was placed in his hands by Sir R. Peel should be registered and made official without your entire connivance.
The conclusion to be drawn from the statement alluded to is that you have invented a machine of much more extensive powers and capable of calculations of a nature far more complicated than those to be performed by the machine at present in progress: and you request to be informed whether Gov^t would undertake to defray the expense of this new machine.
[Note added here by CB in pencil: I never did make this request nor ever thought of doing so. CB]
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is most sensible of the authority of any recommendation of yours. But considering that the first machine has been now nearly 13 years in progress, that during that time a very considerable amount of public money has been spent on it, that the attention of Parl^t has been drawn to the subject and public expectation and justly excited and as the second machine, so far from being calculated to supersede the first, promises to extend its range and utility, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would feel himself bound to look to the completion of the first machine before he could propose to Parliament or the Treasury to enter on the consideration of a second one.
During the last session of Parliament it was asked in the House of Commons what progress has been made in the construction of the machine, and when the completion of the work might be expected. This enquiry will probably be expected in the approaching Session and in order to give him the means of [del: asking] answering it, he proposes to follow the same course which has been taken throughout the conduct of this transaction and to obtain a further Report from the Royal Society with respect to the present state of the machine and the period at which its completion may be looked for. The Royal Society will be authorized to employ any practical mechanist or engineer, if they think fit so to do, to assist their enquiries and shew their report before him; the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be most ready to communicate with you respecting the best mode of attaining this result.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer desires me not to conclude without expressing to you his great anxiety that this matter may be brought to a final settlement at once satisfactory to yourself and to the public. No one is more alive than he is to the importance of the object sought and to the genius displayed in seeking it but these considerations make it most necessary to take care that the just hopes and expectations of the public may not be disappointed by inadvertant steps on his part
Believe me, my Dear Sir
very faithfully yours
(signed) Spring Rice
British Library Add Ms 37189 f291
1st February 1836, Trinity College Cambridge
Babbage to Private Secretary of Spring Rice
My dear Sir,
The conversation we had at Cambridge will have explained my feelings relative to the Engine: Although neither the public character of the R.S. nor its conduct towards myself afford me the least ground of confidence in its decision yet I am so perfectly confident in the merits of the Calc. Engine that I shall make no objection to the reference to that body. [del: However highly skilled the individuals may be who examine it.]
With respect to the Statement addressed to the Duke of Wellington in Dec 1834 I always considered it official and I think it would have been unfair in me not to have informed the gov^t of the new Engine. I do not on [del: looking through] examining this paper see that it [del: leads to / can be considered as] contains any application [del: to the Gov^t] to take up the new engine and I certainly never intended to apply for what might be considered a favor when I have been treated [del: which] with what I [del: consider] look upon as injustice.
It will be desireable to state distinctly the points on which the opinion of the R.S. [del: are] is required and perhaps to point out the necessity of consulting machine makers on the practical part of the subject.
[Insert from another page: The enclosed report contain[del:s]ing information which I ought to communicate may be of some use but I shall] [del: I shall be in town on Thursday night and] will call in Downing St on Friday morning and shall be happy to give you any information you may require in order to enable the Chan^r of the Ex to [del: put] shape the reference [del: in the] as he may think best.
I am My dear Sir
Yours very truly
C. Babbage
Trinity College
Cambridge
1.Feb.1836 To Sec Spring Rice Esq^re
British Library Add Ms 37189 f292
2 February 1836
Report to the R^t Hon^ble the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Calculating Machine by Babbage
In a Statement addressed to the Duke of Wellington in Dec^ber [del:1835] 1834 I thought it my duty to inform the government of the invention of a new Calculating Engine altogether differing from that whose construction [del: I have] I had for many years been superintending.
The general conception of that engine having been imagined, [del: many] most of the greatest difficulties overcome and many sketches and drawings having been made, I at the time stated that the new Engine did not supersede the old but on the contrary that it would add to its value.
Since that period I have given unremitting attention to the plans and designs of that new engine and have had numerous drawings both of its elementary parts and of their modes of combination executed. [Del: The result is that of] This more advanced state of the drawings of the new Engine has now proved that it is capable not only of accomplishing all those other complicated calculations which I had intended but that it performs all those calculations which were peculiar to the old Engine both in less time and to a greater extent -in [del: short] fact that it completely supersedes the old Engine. Nor is this the only conclusion to which the present state of the drawings leads. I had in my former statement mentioned the fact that it differs essentially in all its elements from the first engine: the mechanical simplicity [del: of] to which those elements have been reduced is such that I am led to this [del: conclusion] opinion.
If it were desired to construct an engine merely possessing the powers [del: of] intended for that which is already partly made I believe any practical makers of machinery who could bestow sufficient time on the enquiry would [deleted: to] arrive at the conclusion that it would be more economical to construct such an engine on the new principles than to finish the one already partly executed and I am quite sure that one so constructed would be a much better instrument.
The fact of a new [del: engine] machine superseding an old one in a very few years is one of constant occurrence in our manufacturing and instances might be pointed out in which the advance of invention has become so rapid and the demand for machinery so great that half finished machines have been thrown aside as useless before their completion.
It is now nearly fourteen years since I undertook for the government to superintend the making of the first Calculating Engine. During nearly four years its [del: progress ...] its construction [del: was] has been absolutely stopped and instead of being employed in overcoming the physical I have been harassed by the impediments of what might be called the moral difficulties of the question. It is painful to reflect [del: that] that in the time so employed the first Engine might, under more favorable circumstances have been completed.
In making this report I wish distinctly to state that I do not entertain the slightest doubt of the success of the first Engine nor do I intend it as any application to finish the one or [del: make] to construct the other: bit I make it from a conviction that the information it contains ought to communicated to those who must decide the question relative to the Calculating Machine.
C. Babbage
Dorset Pl. Manch^r Sq.
2 Feb 1836
British Library Add Ms 37189 f296
8th February 1836, [?] St, Cav. Sq.
Lady M. Sheppard to Babbage
Diff
49 --7
240
289 --17
1st +200 440
729 --27
2nd +200 640
1369 --37
3rd +200 840
2209 --47
4th +200 1040
3249 --57
5th +200 1240
4489 --67
6th +200 1440
5929 --77
7th +200 1640
7569 --87
8th +200 1840
9409 --97
9th +200 2040
11449 --107
Dear Mr Babbage
I want to know if your machine could work out the sums of the square following the law as given above. Viz. Every square number ending after the square of 7 in the units is = +240 + 200 for every additional ten in the root, +49, ad infinitum. I am very desirous to know, because I think it has by the knowledge of this law mixed with the observation that every square obeys a corresponding large regular order in the place of the tens, as 4, 8, 2, 0 with analogous laws in every other square number which as the letter/lesson[?] of the American Bradly Airy[?] said, to know roots by inspection.
Yours always
M. Sheppard
With Lady Mary Sheppard's Compliments
British Library Add Ms 37189 f305
19th February 1836, 44 Hart Street, Bloomsbury Square
Extract of a letter from Samuel Lewis to Babbage
Sir,
Signor Ribus and Hollier lately arrived from Spain to examine whatever is most worthy of attention in this country, have requested ... the favor of inspecting your celebrated Calculating Machine ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f306
21st February 1836
Babbage to Samuel Lewis
Mr Babbage presents his compts to Mr Lewis and regrets that his time is so much occupied that he is under the necessity of declining all applications to see the Cal. Engine.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f315
Wednesday 23rd March 1836, Bruce Castle
A letter from Thomas Hill to Babbage on logarithms and their history
British Library Add Ms 37189 f319
27th M[arch? 1836?], Ockham
Extract of a letter from Lord King to Babbage
... Could you let the machine keep the passover, and come yourself and keep yours here on the day before Good Friday. ...

British Library Add Ms 37189 f371
20th June 1836, Dulwich Road
H. Grote to Babbage thanking him for obliging with a note about the machine.
British Library Add Ms 37189 f407
19th August 1836, Chesham
Extract of a letter from Joseph Heath to Babbage
Sir Charles
You were sometime ago so kind to a friend of mine (W. Lewis) who applied on my behalf for some papers of the Royal Society on your System of Mechanical Notation. I take this opportunity of returning you my thanks. I was so fortunate as afterwards to obtain from Mr Donkin the Loan of your treatise on the subject, hoping it would throw light on a somewhat visionary scheme of my own from reducing abstract legal terms into signs and the more easy calculation of contingencies. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f409
25th August 1836, Carinthie Street 1004, Vienna
Extract of a letter from Chas. Nagy to Babbage
... I prai let me know the progress of your engine. ...
British Library Add Ms 37189 f424
13th October 1836, Hamburg
A Greig to Babbage
My dear Sir
I beg you will accept my varmest thanks for the two copies of your valuable logarithms which you were so kind as to send me as well as for your delightful and highly interesting work on manufacture and your Geological treatise, all of which I had pleasure of receiving before my departure.
Permit me at the same time to express my grateful view of the patient and obliging manner in which you explained to me the principle of the construction of your astonishing Calculating Machine and likewise its mode of operation. Sincerely I congratulate you on the discovery of such a wonderful fein of mechanics and heartily do I wish that for your own hands it may receive its ultimate completion for I despair of natures producing a second mind competent for such a task.
I arrived here after a pleasant voyage of only sixty hours and the weather still continues fine.
I am with great esteem
My dear sir
very truly yours
A. Greig
British Library Add Ms 37189 f439
31 October 1836
Babbage to Basil Montague
Dear Sir,
I have not time nor any inclination to become a public lecturer. The Calculating engine occupies every moment I can spare.
Your faithful servt
C. Babbage
British Library Add Ms 37189 f462
17th Dec [1836?], Hull
Dionysius Lardner to Babbage
My dear Babbage,
I did not retain the drawing you mentioned. In fact I have none except those of the notation made on Canvass for the lectures.
I shall be in London next saturday and shall have the pleasure of seeing you.
ever yours truly
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37189 f491
Monday n.d., White Cottage, North Terrace, Camberwell
Extract of a letter from F.O. Ward to Babbage
... I read your paper last night and have been thinking over the applicability of your system of notation to physiological subjects. I think that the complexity and irregularity of animal motions and physiological phenomena in general would render a few slight additions and modifications of your system necessary in order to keep the tables from being so crowded with arrowheads as to be tedious, and if not unintelligible yet practically useless. If you like I will write you a letter in the course of the week pointing out those sources of complexity which have already occurred to me, together with the means I have thought of for preserving the simplicity of the tables.
I have formed in my head the design of a table to embrace all the possible relations of the muscles and bones in Man.
By changing the arrowhead -the sign of motion- into some device expressive of chemical action (the action of the bile upon food, for instance) I think many processes might be shortly and simultaneously brought before the eye (as for instance the whole process of digestion -not simply the path as delineated in one of your written tables).
If you gave me leave I think I could in the course of the Summer produce a paper entitled "On the application of Mr. Babbage's System of Notation to the representation of physiological phenomena" and accompanied by extensive tables.
But perhaps you wish to make the new application of your system, yourself, or would at any rate rather that some older and safer hand than I should take up the subject. In that case I shall still be extremely happy to mention any hints that my physiological studies suggest to me -or to supply with any anatomical sketches you may want. Your kindness to me compels me to be as serviceable to you as I can.
I remain Sir
very truly yours
F.O. Ward
British Library Add Ms 37190 f
16th January [1837], White Cottage, North Terrace, Camberwell
Extract of a letter from F.O. Ward to Babbage
... I have been endeavouring, at intervals to apply your system of Mechanical Notation to the human skeleton and muscles -but hitherto the extreme complexity and variety of the motions have baffled my attempts -A wheel in a machine has one or two determinate motions [deleted: but a bone in the body has and] derived from 1 or two sources but a bone in the body has a hundred motions -variously modified and compounded at different times with those of other parts and with each other and dependent on the contraction -simultaneous, successive, or alternate, - partial or complete, -of a great many muscles. I [deleted: should] think it would take full a sheet of paper to state the combination of forces by which the arm is swung over the head -and of course the numerous other motions possessed by the arm (all equally or nearly equally complex) would have to be included in a complete analysis of the motions of the body. Tables of such extent as to express all them would be rendered useless by their bulk; every fact would be buried and consealed by the multitude of others. Tables to express only the principle -or the simple motions would be meagre and useless for it is seldom we perform a simple motion.
If any plan for simplifying the matter -and overcoming these obstacles should strike you perhaps you will communicate it to me -at present I do not see my way at all clearly. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f21
26th January [1837], Admiralty
T. Beaufort to Babbage
My dear sir
We have just had a letter from a M. Bagay (at L'Orient) who says he has six time gone through Taylor's Tables (I suppose he means his Logarithms) and has discovered 73 errors "dont une partie sont graves, et qui ne font pas partie de l'errata".
Do you know anything of [deleted: them] him? Do you not think it would be wise to procure them from him?
Yours Very Truly
T. Beaufort
British Library Add Ms 37190 f27 and f28
29th January [1837], Admiralty
T. Beaufort to Babbage
Dear Sir,
Mr Cooper requests me to communicate the enclosed information to you.
Yours Truly
T. Beaufort
On a letter he has received from M. Lamont at the Munich Observatory on Calculating Machines as published in the Jahrbuch to "Execute all astronomical calculations by machines."
British Library Add Ms 37190 f41
23rd February 1837, 54 South Bridge, Edinburgh
William Galbraith to Babbage
Dear Sir
When employing your logarithmic tables this evening in some calculation I had occasion to look out for the logarithm of 106614. I found that I had committed an error some where, and on examination, discovered that it arose from the circumstance that a change which takes place at this part of the table was not indicated by the small figure as usual throughout the other parts of the Table.
Presuming that you would be desirous of receiving intimation of such omissions though not errors, I have presumed to take the liberty of transmitting it to you, and thus causing you to pay the postage of this, as a small fine for the fault.
I am Dear Sir
Your obt srt
William Galbraith
British Library Add Ms 37190 f43
24th Feby 1837
W.J. Broderick to Babbage
Dear Babbage
I had always a very high notion of your invention but the following list from the Morning Herald of to-day leaves me far behind
"Jonathaniana
... On a machine (american) which converted wheat on straw into baked bread inside 10 minutes. ..."
"It is hardly a match for Dr. Babbage's accountant machine, into one end of which if you tumble all a bankrupt's books, in five minutes thereafter a clean balance sheet will come out at the other." ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f56
15th Mar [1837], No. 2 Portland Place
W. Baring Gould to Babbage
My Dear Sir
Altho our acquaintance has experienced some stagnation for many years past, I hope you will excuse my taking the liberty of asking the favor of you provided it is not inconvenient to see your Calculating machine in company with my friend Mr Dennys and his son. Any hour you may be good enough to appoint will oblige.
My D Sir
Yours faithfully
W. Baring Gould
British Library Add Ms 37190 f
23rd March 1837, 99 Queen Street West London
Dion Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage
I called yesterday but at such an hour that I did not hope to meet you and I am so much occupied in the early part of the day that I cannot expect to be able to call in the forenoon. There is a young lad about whom I am interested who is preparing to be an engineer and he wants to get some lessons in Mechanical drawing. It has occurred to me that your draftsman may have an occasional hour in the evening disposable and if so I should be glad to know whether he would appropriate it in this way and on what terms. I am generally at my chambers here Daily from 11 to 2 o'c -generally later and earlier but always between these hours. If he could favour me with a visit I should be glad to talk to him on the subjects.
Believe me
ever yours truly
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37190 f84
1st April 1837, Bryanston Square
Joseph Hume to Babbage
Dear Sir
Understanding that you take the trouble occasionally of explaining the operating of your Calculating Machine I wish to know whether tomorrow will be one of your days, as in that Case I would accompany my Brother in cab to your house to see it, as he will soon [be] bound to the Ud States.
Any hour after 2 o'clock will be convenient for us, if you can oblige.
Yours sincerely
Joseph Hume
British Library Add Ms 37190 f85
1 April 1837
Babbage to Joseph Hume
My dear Sir
You have been quite misinformed about the Calculating Engine. I am not in the habit of showing it and indeed have for several years declined doing so.
If I were not to make that general rule I sh^d have my whole time taken up with it, and after spending a dozen years of my life in working for an ungrateful country I feel that it has no further claim on me. You and your brother-in-law come within those exceptions which I can reasonably make and I shal[l] have much pleasure in seeing you tomorrow at 2 o'clock which is almost the only day at my disposal.
I am My dear Sir
Sincerely Yours
C. Babbage
British Library Add Ms 37190 f115
25th April 1837, Edinburgh
Extract of a letter from William Galbraith to Babbage
... I received your letter of 11th March containing a few additional insights to those I had myself detected for which I am obliged to you as I have been enabled by that means to correct my own copy of the second edition of your tables. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f159
28th May 1837, Park Lane
My Dear Sir
The perusal of your book has given me great pleasure, and I should think it could not fail to interest a large class of readers though the speculations are too lofty to be very popular. I can not put it upon the shelf without thanking you for the very curious information it contains, and the profound calculations which are so conclusive.
I remain
My dear sir
Your obliged and faithful servant
Somerset
British Library Add Ms 37190 f185
May? 1837
Extract of a letter from C. Lyell to Babbage
... I have read the "fragment" with great interest and think very favorably of it and its originality. As the machine must come in ... so much unavoidably I think an apology at the beginning would do, or rather an explanation. The whole work is founded on it. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f245
4th July [1837]
Extract of a letter from F. Lunn to Babbage
... It is an odd thing to be said by one who has seen even as much as I have of the machine that nothing has given me such a notion of the extraordinary power of the machine as the description you have given in the Book for a different purpose of illustration. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f254
18 July 1837, Paris de la Sorbonne
Extract of a letter from G. Libriez to Babbage
... Mr Michaelis desire beaucoup que vous lui permettiez, Monsieur, de pouvoir admirer votre belle machine dont il a tout [le monde] entendu parler en Allemagne. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f266
Saturday pm 7th August 1837, Gallery of Practical Science
Extract of a letter from Thomas Bradley to Babbage
... In consequence of your suggestions and observations the Council have procured a Jacquard Loom which will be at work by the end of next week. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f276
18th August 1837, Bristol
Thomas Exley to Babbage
... With great pleasure I have read your Nineth Bridgewater Treatise: some of the sections appeared to me remarkable for deep thought, and important views. That the Creator has constructed the Universe both of matter and spirit in every way infinitely perfect, cannot be doubted: I infer that you do not exclude the Author from a continued interference in all parts of His great work, directing the movements of the wheels, levers, pullies, &c. which can be, of course, without altering the original laws: so much as this it is presumed will apply even to your astonishing engine: I certainly wonder much that in such an Empire as the British any delay should, on account of expense, occur in the execution of a project, which promises so much benefit to Science. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f279
Saturday 26th August 1837, Norwood
Extract of a letter from W.H. Fitton to Babbage
... A thing -(on the Thing)- about which I am most anxious - for your sake is the preparation of the/a memoir on the Engines - (Meaning both the first and the new one) -It is, in every view of the subject- greatly to be wished for, your own account of the objects and your modes of attaining them, should be published without delay. I think I have heard you express this opinion yourself. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f285 [Misfiled, should be placed 20 years later]
18th September 1857, Parkley
Extract of a letter from J. Maclean to Babbage
... I am glad you feel sufficient health and spirits to begin so arduous a task as the construction of the Analytical Engine. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f339
6 Jany 1838, Mortlake
B. Hawes to Babbage
My dear Sir,
I hope you do not think that I have forgotten ny intentions respecting the Calculating Engine.
I have had a conversation with W. Maule who is considering my scheme I hope.
Since I spoke to him I have not met him.
I have been so occupied that I could not do what I wanted and must do call upon you for a little assistance in a way which will take me too long to write.
Are you in Dorset Street and when are your most leisure moments -for see you I must. The next few days I am I think wholey engaged.
If I have however the best times to see you I can take my chance of doing so in Dorset Street.
I am My Dear Sir
Most sincerely yours
B. Hawes M.P.
British Library Add Ms 37190 f357
7th February 1838, Mr Wyld's Charing X
J. Herapath to Babbage
Sir,
A gentleman of Cirencester (Mr Merrick) wrote to me a few days since, that "you once shewed him a system of your invention for displaying every part of a complicated machine in a tabular form", and wishes me to give an account of it in the Railway Magazine; could you therefore favour me with the place where it is published?
Your obedt Servt
J. Herapath
British Library Add Ms 37190 f488
4th July 1838, Bank of England
John Oldham to Babbage
My dear Sir,
Allow me to inform you I am now executing the Machinery in my office for registering the number of Notes printed at each of my presses throughout the day. The figures are engraved upon the peripheries of Brass Wheels similar in size to those of your Magical Work. The object of my writing to you is to enquire where you got them silvered that I may have the same done to my work. Please at your convenience drop me a line giving me this information and you will oblige.
Yours faithfully
John Oldham
British Library Add Ms 37190 f496
n.d. but apparently 26th July 1838 [this is written in red ink on the letter]
Babbage to Viscount Melbourne
My Lord,
Seventeen years have elapsed since I first undertook to superintend for the government the construction of an engine which I had invented for the calculation and printing of [deleted: mathematical] astronomical and analytical tables.
In return for the sacrifices of time and fortune which that invention has cost me I have as yet received [deleted: from my country] nothing but [deleted: unmerited reproaches and unmerited] neglect.
During the last five years the construction of that machine has been suspended and I have repeatedly urged upon the government both by [deleted: formal] direct application and through my friends the necessity of some final decision on the subject. If the question has now become more difficult because I have invented superior mechanism which supersedes that already partly executed this consequence has arisen from that very delay against which I have repeatedly remonstrated.
I now appeal to your Lordship for the last time to ask for no favor but to ask for that which it is an injustice to withhold from me -a decision.
I am your Ld^s
Obd Sert
CB
British Library Add Ms 37190 f497
30th July 1838, Gallery of Practical Science, Adelaide Street
Thomas Bradley to Babbage
My dear Sir,
A person of the name of Berry has made a proposal to the Council of the Institution to exhibit here on certain conditions a calculating machine, alledged by him to be founded on the same general principles as yours, ie on the doctrine of finite differences, I have seen the machine in its unfinished state, and immediately perceived that it must in some measure resemble yours, but it [deleted: is] can be made much cheaper.
I am directed by the Council to obtain permission from you to see your machine; to ask whether you know anything of Mr Berry of his invention, and if so, whether you conceive that he has copied your machine either in principle or application for if not and you do not feel aggrieved the Council would possibly resolve on meeting Mr Berry's wishes.
I am My dear Sir
Yours faithfully
Thomas Bradley
British Library Add Ms 37190 f498
Babbage to Bradley
My dear Sir,
I beg you will express to the Council of the Adelaide Gallery my pleasure[?] of their attention in making the communication respecting Mr Berry's calculating engine [deleted: with which you favoured me and I hope to be able to give you all the information I at present possess]
Amongst the hundreds of I might say thousands of persons who have seen the old [deleted: calcu...] Engine for calculating by differences it is impossible for me to [deleted: recollect] remember many individuals and I do not [deleted: remember] recollect that name of Mr Berry's.
Most of the contrivances of that engine have been long superseded and I have had drawings made of a variety of others acting on different principles. [deleted: These as well as the engine I shall be happy to show you.]
In the absence of all knowledge of [deleted: Mr Berry and his] Mr Berry's Machine I cannot do him the injustice of supposing that he has copied mine. He seems to have adopted the principle of differences. I proposed that method and executed a model of the application [deleted: of the] about seventeen years ago. But this circumstance ought not to preclude the exhibition of his work. As the Council have done me the favor of [deleted: asking] consulting me on the subject I will observe that I have not the least objection to the Exhibition and explanation of any machinery for calculating and printing of tables: I presume it would be far from their wish to pronounce any opinion upon the originality of various [deleted: individuals who may have promoted] contrivances which may have been proposed by different individuals.
I shall be happy to comply with the wishes of the Council in showing you My Calcg Engine or in giving you further information. ...
British Library Add Ms 37190 f499
30th July 1838, Arlington Street
Edward Codrington to Babbage
My dear Sir,
The Marquis de Fayal son of the Duke of Palmella is very anxious to see the calculating machine. I have been much gratified just now by seeing a rival to it in the young Basslé, who I think would be glad to accompany him, as well as one or two friends of the Duke whom I have met here at his home at a very agreable dinner. I therefore [word unreadable] to ask you to name a time when you can permit them to have the proposed gratification: and if this wonderful Boy should be of the party. I am sure you will be repaid for your kindness.
Very Sin^c yours
Edwd Codrington
Pray send your answer to the Marquis or the Duke de Palmella
British Library Add Ms 37190 f518
16 Aug 1838, Downing Street
Spring Rice to Babbage
My dear Sir
Lord Melbourne has placed your letter of the 26th July in my hands. You ask for a decision on the part of the Government but I do not see very clearly what is the precise question you wish us to decide.
When I came into office in 1835 Sir Robt Peel put into my hands your letter to the Duke of Wellington from which as well as from subsequent communication I collected that you were desirous of undertaking an entirely new machine, in supercession of the one which you had been so long engaged. The power of your new invention being still more exclusive than even your first most wonderful discovery.
I understand you wish to stop the work then in progress and to commence afresh on a new principle.
This I could not undertake on my own responsibility and I considered that the House of Commons would feel some natural objection if a work so long in progress and towards which no inconsiderable sum of public money had been appropriated were set aside, and a new undertaking undefined in respect to time labor and expense were commenced.
I did not like to use your authority to undervalue that very beautiful machine the invention of which had added so much to your great scientific reputation. So the matter has rested in suspense.
Now if you desire a decision pray let me know [definitely?] whether you are solicitous that steps should be taken for the completion of the old, or for the commencement of a new machine, and what you consider would be the cost of the one proceeding or the other.
Believe me my dear Sir
with regard and esteem
Yours faithfully
J Spring Rice
British Library Add Ms 37191 f14
21 October 1838
Draft of a letter from Babbage to the Rt. Hon. Spring-Rice, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
My dear Sir,
[Del: I was] Your letter [del: arrived] reached my house a few days after I had set out on a tour to the Highlands and I have therefore but just received it on my return; this will I hope excuse the delay in answering it.
I think we differ as to the [del:interpretation] meaning of my report [del: letter] on the state of the Calc Eng addressed to the Duke of Wⁿ (dated 23rd Dec 1834). I did not mean it [del: as an application] to [del: express] state "that I was desirous of undertaking an entirely new engine" [del: nor do] and I now think [del: it] on referring to it you will see that it does not admit of that interpreta[tion].
The further consequence [del: of the progress of] of the same train of enquiries [del: and views there stated] led me to the conclusion that [del: if a decision it would be less expensive to ...] if it were still considered desirable to have an engine possessing the same powers as that already partly made [del: then that] it would [del: be] cost less money to throw aside the old work and to adopt [del: only] the new principles as the basis of the engine [del: and that]. This I communicated to you in a Rep^t dated 2 Feb 1836 but I expressly stated that [word deleted] I did not intend [word deleted] it as an application to construct such an engine.
In fact [del: all] these communications both to the Duke of Wⁿ and to yourself were made simply because I thought it would be unfair to conceal [del: those] such circumstances from those who were called upon to decide on the continuance or discontinuance of the first Cal^g Engine.
With respect to any estimate of the probable expence of constructing the Cal Eng according to one or other of these plans I feel that any opinion from a non-professional man would not be entitled to much weight and having myself experienced the inconvenience of arising from such estimates I should be reluctant to offer even an opinion. It is however, not necessary at present because I can without it I can answer the main point of your letter as to what is the precise object on which I wish to have the decision of government.
The question which I wish to have settled is whether the government require me to superintend the completion of the [del: original] calculating Engine which has been suspended during the last five years according to the original plan and principles, or whether they intend to discontinue it altogether.
I am
My dear Sir
Very faithfully Yours
CB
to Rt Hon Spring Rice
[Note by CB: No. 1 27/6]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f23
November 5th 1838, Yale College, United States
Extract of letter from B. Sullivan to Babbage
... I am glad to observe the notices in your late Treatise [Ninth Bridgewater] of that Wonder of Wonders -the calculating machine and sincerely hope that your government will not on account of money permit such a grand machine to stumble over during the shortest of the periods it is capable of calculating. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f67
26 December 1838
Babbage to the Reverend Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
Sir,
I request you will communicate to the Trustees of the Lucasian Professorship my resignation of that chair.
I am chiefly induced to take this step from a desire to have my attention undisturbed by any duties which may distract it from the completion of the designs and descriptions of the Calculating Engine. I hope you will assure the electors that I highly appreciate the honor of having occupied the Lucasian chair and that whilst I shall always regret the [del: official] separation I feel that it is a necessary sacrifice to enable me more effectively to advance those sciences to which I have devoted myself.
I am Sir
Your very obd^t
Hum^ble Servant
CB
[Note added by CB: I received no answer to this letter. About a month afterwards I observed in a newspaper the election of my successor. I wrote to him to mention the circumstance and to request he would ask the Vice Chancellor for my letter and preserve it amongst the documents belonging to the Chair. CB]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f76
n.d. Milano, Italy
Note from B. Castigliani to Babbage
Epreuve galvanoplastique
à
le célèbre Professeur Mr Charles Babbage
En temoignage d'estime Brige Castigliani Contable et Chef de la Municipalitée de Milan, à 16e 1738, qui priit Mr le professeur de lui vouloir bien être d'une déscription étendue de la petite machine à calculer et de la manière de s'en servie, et s'il est possible d'un modèle de chaque des pieces qui la composant soit en metal soit en bois, soit en tout autre, prompte a en remboursée la dépense Mr le Professeur obligera amor filias le priant en lui disant aussi brièvement en que consiste la difference de la petite et la grande machine.
[Translation: [enclosing] Trial galvanoplastic (type of electroplating) for the celebrated Professor Charles Babbage.
As a mark of esteem Brige Castigliani Constable and Chief of the Municipality of Milan, of the 16th district no. 1738, begs the professor that he would very much like to have an extended description of the small calculating machine and the manner in which it is used, and if possible a model of each of the pieces from which it is made, either in metal or even wood or in any thing else, and will promptly reimburse the expense. The professor will greatly (amor filias [with the love of a son]) oblige if, at the same time as fulfilling this request, he could also explain what the difference between the small and the large machine is.]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f72
Wed 8th n.y.
Extract of letter from Edward[?] Codrington to Babbage
... My Father desires me to write and ask you to set the Calculating Machine to work, to find out when you will be inclined to come down to Portsmouth and pay us a visit? And we know that if it were by chance to make the mistake of saying you did not intend to come, it would correct itself! ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f79
Monday night n.y., Broom House
Extract of letter from Damer to Babbage
... I wonder if without magical aid (your Machine) you will decipher my scrawl and its meaning ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f99
13th Jan 1839, Manchester
Extract of letter from R. Wright to Babbage
... I am preparing patrons [patterns] of Lathes Planing Machines and Drilling machines &c. upon the most simple and improved principals and intend to employ nothing but the best workmen and material. I have just finished an improved Dyestocks that are very muck approoved of by those who has seen them and have several orders thoe I have not sent any of them out. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f134
24 March [1839?]
Augusta Ada Lovelace to Babbage
Dear Mr Babbage
Sat^dy next will suit us perfectly, but we hope you will stay on as far into the following week as possible. Surely the machine allows you a holiday sometimes.
Lady N. Byron will be here.
Believe me
Yours sincerely
Augusta Ada Lovelace
British Library Add Ms 37191 f143
10 o'clock 11th April n.y., Park Lane
Duke of Somerset to Babbage
My dear Mr Babbage,
Pray come and see me directly. [del:about] don't send your letter to L^d Melbourne till you see me!
In haste
Y^r Sincere Friend
Somerset
British Library Add Ms 37191 f201
16 July 1839
Extract of a note from Dr Martins to Babbage
... The bearer of these lines is His Exc. Count Colloredo Mansfield, Minister of the Emperor of Austria at this Court of Munich ... You shall particularly oblige His Excellency, if you will kindly shew him your counting engine ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f222
Monday 12th August [1839?], Park Lane
Duke of Somerset to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
The two ladies, who asked to see your calculating engine, and so little calculated to appreciate it, that I have advised them not to attempt it, and therefore you will not have today the party you expected at three o'clock.
I am sorry they did not know better for what they were asking, and that I did not sooner let you know that they were not to come.
Lord Marcus Hill is not, as far as I know, a man of any science, although excellent in his way, and I do not imagine that he will much feel the present disappointment.
I remain
My Dear Sir
Yours most truly
Somerset
British Library Add Ms 37191 f224
13th August [1839?]
Draft of letter Babbage to Duke of Somerset re the above visit
[See the Bulstrode Correspondence for complete and actual letter which was sent to the Duke]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f246
August 1839
Extract of letter from Babbage to Chevalier Antinori
My dear sir,
I have delayed answering you very kind invitation to be present at the scientific meeting at Pisa in the hopes that it might be possible for me to have had that pleasure.
I now find that it is quite out of my power to leave England without delaying the progress of that Calculating Engine in the drawings of which I have been occupied during the last five years. [Del: I have several people constantly employed at considerable cost and they ...]
I the more regret this because I [del: might] should then have been able to have paid my personal respects to your most excellent sovereign whom I have every reason to admire both for his general encouragement of Science and for personal attentions to myself [del: indiv...] which I remember [del: both] with pleasure and gratitude. Let me entreat you to convey to His Imp. Highness [del: the Grand Duke my ...] the most respectful expression of my regret [del: which I] and I am confident the Grand Duke will see that I am in truth giving up the pleasure I should have greatly enjoyed for the sake of advancing one of those sciences which he so well knows how to appreciate.
I have also other friends to whose recollection I hope you will recall me. M. Amici M. Gazzeri Olinte Paoli of Pesaro whose very interesting work on Geology I have recently received.
I remain
My dear Sir
with great Esteem and regard
very sincerely yours
CB
British Library Add Ms 37191 f247
Aug 1839
Extract of a letter from Babbage to the Sons of Dr. Bowditch
[on Dr Bowditch's translation of Laplace's Celestial Mechanics]
... [I cannot state better] In addressing the children who have well profited by the example and instructions of one of whom their country is so justly proud than by informing them that I have by its assitance been relieved from many an hour of weary labour which I have thus been enabled to devote to my own undertaking. I have in all my enquiries for the purpose of pointing out in what manner the Calculating Engine can be applied to the problem of the three bodies uniformly availed myself of the translation of the Mec. Coeleste and I need scarcely say how much this has facilitated my objects. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f279
14th December 1839, César Daly Paris
Cotte, Capitaine du Genie, to Babbage
Monsieur
Nour regrettons vivement de quitter l'Angleterre sans vous avoir revu, vous avoir remercié de votre aimable accueil et exprimé notre respect pour votre grand courage et perserverance.
Nous souhaitons bien sincerement que quelque gouvernement liberal et éclairé se charge promptement de l'execution de votre étonnante invention et si passe ainsi un titre au respect du savant tout en rendant justice au Genie.
Agreez
Monsieur
Nous vous en prions l'expression de
notre respect et de notre trés haute
consideration
V^r[?] Cotte
Cap^e du Genie
[Translation: A letter from V. Cotte, Captain of Engineers, to CB
Sir,
We deeply regret leaving England without having seen you again, without having thanked you for your friendly reception and expressing our respect for your great courage and perserverance.
We desire very sincerely that some liberal and enlightened government will promptly undertake the execution of your estonishing invention thereby bringing a title of respect to the scientist and rendering justice to Engineering.
With greatest respect
V. Cotte
Captain of Engineers
British Library Add Ms 37191 f287
December 1839
Draft of letter from Babbage to Arago
My dear Sir
[Del: I am going to ask you to do me a favor and I am sure you will interpret my application as a mark of my personal regard for yourself as well as of my high estimation of your public character.]
There has arrived lately in London as a present one single copy of a work which does the highest credit to the arts of your country -It is a piece of Silk in which is woven by means of the Jacard loom a portrait of M. Jacard sitting in his workshop- It was execut^d at Lyons [del: and] as a tribute to the memory of the [del: adm...] discoverer of a most admirable contrivance which at once gave an almost boundless extent to the art of weaving patterns. [Del: That copy is not ...] It is not probable that that copy will be seen [del: and] as much as it deserves [del: to] and my first request is [del: that] if it can be purchased that you will do me the favor to procure for me two copies and send them to M^r Henry Bulwer at the English Embassy who will forward them.
If as I fear this beautiful production [del: has been woven only to give away as presents to those who can appreciate its value and are deserving of the gift,] it is not sold then I rely on your friendship to [del: repres...] procure for me one copy by representing in the proper quarter [del: that I come within the class] the circumstances which makes me anxious to possess it.
[Del: Independently of my admiration both of the mechnical and the fine arts I will mention to you another reason which makes me very desirous of possessing the likeness of Jacard produced by his own machinery.] You are aware that the system of Cards which [del: he] Jacard invented are the means by which we can communicate to a very ordinary loom [del: his] orders to weave any pattern that [del: we] may be desired. Availing myself of the same beatiful invention I have by similar means communicated to my Calculating engine orders to [del:execute] calculate any formula however complicated. But I have [del:however] also advanced one stage further and without making all the cards I have communicated through the same means orders to follow certain laws in the use of these cards and thus the Calc^g Engine can [del: elimin...] solves any eq^ns eliminate between any number of variables and perform the highest operations of Analysis. Imagine then that I am anxious to possess so singular a portrait of your distinguished countryman. As I am giving you this trouble perhaps you will allow me to request you at the same time to add any memoir which may be published of M. Jacard and that you would also do me the favor to [del: procure] purchase from M. Daguerre one of the best specimens of his beautiful invention. Whatever these things may cost if you will mention the name of your banker in Paris I will gladly pay the amount into his hands and shall still hold myself much indebted to you for procuring for me objects of very great interest.
I am contriving uninterruptedly the Drawings of the [del: great calculating Engine] machinery on which I was engaged upon when you last visited London. [Del: when you have more leisure to examine them] and I hope at my own expense and by my own efforts to leave behind me the drawing and full description of an engine [ which will] have the power of solving by mere mechanical means [word unreadable: numerically?] the great problems of analysis [del: but it is very improbable that I shall ever possess the pecuniary means for undertaking its execution.] [del: I have [del: sacrificed] spent many thousands of my private fortune in this [word deleted] pursuit, and [del: if I leave those ...] when the drawings are completed the invention can never be lost.]
I ...
To Arago
Dec 1839
British Library Add Ms 37191 f316
24 January 1840, postmarked PARIS: B^au de la C^bre Des Pairs
F. Arago to Babbage
Mon cher confrère,
Je craine que la personne de Lyon à qui je m'était adressé pour lui demander quelque renseignements sur le portrait de Jacquard doit fait en voyage, car je n'ai pas reçu de réponse. Je l'ait écrire au directeur de L'École de la Martinière. Soyez assuré que je remplirai toujours, con amore, les commissions dont vous voudrez bien me charger. Je ne veux pas que vous ayez le plus léger pretexte, pour douter de la haute estime que m'ont inspiré vos talents, votre caractère, et dutif désir que j'ai demériter votre amitié.
Votre tout dévoué
F. Arago
[Translation:
My dear colleague,
I am afraid that the person from Lyons to whom I had addressed your enquiry regarding certain information about the portrait of Jacquard must be on a journey, for I have not received a reply. I had written about it to the director of the School of Weaving. Rest assured that I always fulfill the commissions con amore you wish me to undertake. I do not wish you to have the least pretext to doubt the high esteem that I have of your talents, your character, and do desire that I merit your friendship.
Yours Devotedly
F. Arago]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f354
25th March 1840, Philadelphia
Extract of a letter from A.D. Bache to Babbage
... Why have you not published on the subject of the new Calculating Machine? Henry and I have been looking with impatience for the appearance of he sketch which was begun and partly in shape when you were at Newcastle. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f356
6th April 1840, Corfu
Extract of a letter from Mossotti to Babbage
... I congratulate also with you for the success in bringing to perfection and in extending the use of the Calculating Engine. When it shall be at work. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f379
20th May 1840, Florence
Extract of a letter from Mary Sommerville to Babbage
... I am very desirous of introducing Mon^r de Susi, a young Greek from Cephalonia ... He is not in the least scientific ... so I should think he would prefer your parties to your Machine. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f383
Friday 22nd May [1840?], No. 1 Upper Seymour Street, Portman Sq.
Extract of a letter from Miss J. Porter to Babbage
... Mrs and Miss Hill ... the latter lady being devoted to Science, and who would therefore be much gratified in being made known to Mr Babbage and seeing his celebrated machine ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f387
23 May [1840]
Extract of a note from d'Oliveira to Babbage
... Mr d'Oliveira présente ses respects à Mr Babbage et lui remercie infinitement son invitation pour voir son interessante Machine à Calculer de laquelle il se fait depuis longtemps une ideé très avantageuse ... il regrette bien ne pouvoir pas accepter celle pour le 6 juin. ...
[Translation: Mr d'Oliveira presents his respects to Mr Babbage and thanks him very much for his invitation to see his interesting Calculating Machine on which he has had for a long time a very advantageous idea. ... he regrets, however, that he is not able to accept it for the 6th of June.]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f405
21 June 1840
Extract of a letter from W. Breyton to Babbage
... The Rev^d Mr Pyne of our university ... wishes to see the Calculating Engine but fears you would be too much occupied to show it. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f408
Sunday June 21st [1840], Eaton Place
Extract of a letter from Denbigh to Babbage
... I am anxious that a German friend of mine, the Baron de Bodelschwingh, should make your acquaintance and be allowed to see your Calculating Engine. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f410
25th June 1840, Ordnance Map Office, Tower
Thos Colby to Babbage
My dear sir,
Since I had the pleasure of seeing you, I have made some further enquirires about Bagay's Sines and Tangents. Can you now let me know at what price you can supply 250 copies of your logarithms of numbers printed on tough white paper on quarto size fit to bind up with Bagay's sines and tangents.
And secondly at what price you can supply 100 copies of sheets B, C, D, E, F and G of your logarithms on tough white paper on the octavo size.
Have the kindness to let me have an early reply, because I have promised an early answer about Bagay.
Yours very faithfully
Thos Colby
British Library Add Ms 37191 f412
1 July 1840
Babbage to Col Colby
My dear Sir,
I enclose a strong demi paper marked (A) for the quarto edⁿ of the Log^ms to bind up with those of Baguay. I can supply you with 250 copies on that paper in sheets cold pressed having the letter press in the middle of the sheet at eight shillings and six pence each.
I enclose also a strong Royal paper marked (B) for the six sheeets of the 800 copies required to repair the former edⁿ. I can supply 1000 set[s] of these six sheets at four shillings a set.
I am
My dear Sir
Very truly yours
C.B.
[verso of above letter]
S[hillings]
4 sheets of Royal Printing 12
cold pressing 2
14
1 Ream= 500 sheets at 34
48 per sheet pr 500 copies
14
192
48
500|6.72
1.34 per copy
2|672
20|336 for 250
16-16
Royal
28 sheet Demi 12
1- 6
13- 6
24
37- 6
28
296
74
14
20|1050
52-10
250 [copies]
5 |1050
5 |21
4s 4d per copy
250 at 4 sh. = £50
British Library Add Ms 37191 f413
2nd July 1840, Ordnance Map Office, Tower
Thos Colby to Babbage
My dear Babbage,
I have written to the Board of Ordnance to permit me to order the Logarithms as specified in your letter and will write to you the moment I receive their authority. The paper seems very good, and I feel much obliged by the trouble you have taken.
Very truly yours
Thos Colby
British Library Add Ms 37191 f417
10 July 1840, Ordnance Map Office
Thos Colby to Babbage
My dear Babbage,
I have obtained the authority of the Board of Ordnance for ordering the logarithms according to your proposal of the 1st July. Will you therefore have the goodness to get them printed and sent here, with three Bills - One of the 100 copies of the B, C, D, E, F and G sheets. Another of 50 copies of the quarto And the third for the remaining 200 copies of the Quarto.
I am sorry to give you this extra trouble, but as they are to be charged to three separate accounts, I cannot help it. The Three bills will of course be paid at the same time, so as to cause no further inconvenience.
Yours very truly
Thos Colby
British Library Add Ms 37191 f424
30 July 1840, Turin
J. Plana to Babbage
Mon cher Ami,
Je viens de recevoir votre letter du 23 de Juillet qui m'annonce que vous avez le projet de venir à Turin pour le commencement de Sept^b prochain. Le motif de votre voyage est trés honorable pour moi, et me regarde si directement que je ne dois rien vous cacher. Savez donc, mon cher ami, que je viens d'etre frappé d'un si grand malheur domestique, que j'ignore si je serai capable de m'occuper. Même alors, d'objets scientifiques d'état d'affablement ou je suis ne pourrait pas de bien prévoir les résolutions que je pourrai prendre. Ce qu'il y a de plus probable est que je serai à Turin; mais Dieu sait quels seront les progrès et les consequences de mes souffrances morales. Plaigner le sort d'un ami aussi malhereux, et croyer toujours aux sentiments inalterable d'infinite estime et d'amitié qu'il vous a souès.
J. Plana
[Translation:
My dear Friend,
I have just received your letter of the 23rd July which announces to me that you intend coming to Turin at the beginning of September. The purpose for your journey appears very noble to me and I see directly that I must not hide anything from you. Know then, my dear friend, that I have just been badly upset by a very unhappy domestic crisis, which I would ignore if I could keep myself busy. Even then, scientific endeavours require a state of affability, which I do not know whether I shall be able to cope with. It is very likely that I will be at Turin; but God knows what will be the progress and consequences of my moral sufferings. Bemoan the fate of an equally unhappy friend and believe me always of the unalterable and infinite esteem and friendship with which I regard you.
J. Plana]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f438
26 August 1840, Paris
Charles Vernes to Arlès re Babbage
Mon cher Arlès,
Mr Babbage de Londres, célèbre auteur de la Machine à calculer que vous connaîssez de réputation desirerait entr'autre choses à Lyon, étudier sous le rapport scientifique et point industriel les procédés par lesquels on a fabriqué le métier à la Jacquard le Portrait de Jacquard lui-même. Nous avons vu içi cet étonnant Portrait à l'Exposition, mais je ne me rapelle pas le nom du fabricant, que vous connaîtrez bien. Je me répéte que n'est point comme fabricant, mais comme savant Monsieur Babbage desire faire cette étude, et que d'ailleurs son caractère honorable mérité toute confiance. Je viens vous prier, à la demande de mes excellent amis Morris et Prévost de Londres d'aider de tout appui Monsieur Babbage pendant son passage à Lyon, et a lui montrer ce qui pourra lui paraître interessant dans notre ville.
Recevez avec mes remercions l'assurance de tout mon dévouement
Charles Vernes
[Translation:
My dear Arlès,
Mr Babbage from London, celebrated author of the calculating machine whom you know by reputation desires among other things when he is at Lyons to study in the names of Science and Industry the processes by which, using the method of Jacquard, the portrait of Jacquard himself has been manufactured. We have seen here this estonishing portrait at the Exhibition, but I cannot recall the name of its maker, whom you must know well. I repeat that it is as a scientist and not as an industrialist that Mr Babbage wishes to make this study, and moreover that his honorable character merits all confidence. I am making this request on the demand of my excellent friends, Morris and Prévost from London, who have asked that we give Mr Babbage all possible help during his visit to Lyons, and to show him anything which could be of interest in our city.
Receive with my thanks the assurance of my devotion.
Charles Vernes]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f440
29 August 1840
F. Arago to Cabareau, doyen de la faculté de Science à Lyon
Mon cher Monsieur Cabareau,
Je ne vous ferai pas l'injure de supposer que vous ne connaîssez pas M^r Babbage, l'illustre inventeur de l'admirable machine à calculer. Je me contenterai de vous dire que je serai heureux et reconnaîssant de tout ce que vous ferez pour lui être agréable.
Je vous remercions bientot de vive voir
F. Arago
Compliments et recommandations vivons d'Arles - Dufors
[Translation:
My dear Mr Cabareau,
I hope I will not cause you any offence by supposing that you have not heard of Mr Babbage, the illustrious inventor of the admirable calculating machine. I will content myself by telling you that I would be very happy and obliged to you if you would befriend him [during his vist to Lyons].
I thank you for this and hope to see you soon.
F. Arago
Greetings to Arles-Dufors]

British Library Add Ms 37191 f446
A Bill to Babbage for the Portrait of Jacquard
Manufacture d'Étoffes pour Ameublemens & Ornemens d'Églises
Quai de Retz, No. 34
Lyon, le 8 Septembre 1840
Monsieur Babbage Dois à Didier Petit & C^ie pour payer dans Lyon
---Savoir---
1 Tableau de Jacquard 200 [francs]
[Ce quitté pl. le Ditty (signed)]
[Translation:
Manufactory of Materials for the Furnishing and Ornamentation of Churches
Quai de Retz, No. 34
Lyons, 8th September 1840
Mr Babbage must pay Didier Petit & Co. in Lyons
---Items---
1 Picture of Jacquard 200 [francs]
[Paid at Place le Ditty (signed]]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f447
9th Sept 1840, Lyon
Arlai-Dufors to Babbage
My dear Sir,
The parcel [presumably containing the prints of CB's Analytical Engine prepared in Paris] leaves tomorrow by the mail for Turin and you will find it at the bureau de la douanier. It came free from Paris.
I have taken the liberty to take one copy for myself and I will send one in your name to the Academy and one to M^r Didier- Petit.
I hope to have the pleasure of seing you here or to call for you at my first visit to London.
Wishing you an intersting journey.
I am Dear Sir
Yours faithfully
Arlai-Dufors
British Library Add Ms 37191 f456
n.d.
Babbage to Lord Northampton to apply for the Mastership of the Mint
My dear Lord,
In your situation as PRS renders it natural that I should apply to you as the representative of the interests of Science in any Communication with the Government.
It is now about 18 years since [del: I commenced] at the desire of the government I began to superintend the construction of an engine I had invented for the Calⁿ and printing of Astronomical [del: and nautical] tables [del: that]. During 12 years I [del: worked at that] gave my whole time and undivided attention to that work. [Del: That] I have refused during that [del: time] period several situations of considerable pecuniary profit one of which would have produced an income of at least £2000 a year. [Del: That] I declined these [del: pos...] offers because I was unwilling to delay for even a few months the completion of that engine. [Del: I have carried] The enquiries which enabled me to make these mechanical inventions could only be carried on at great expense [del: and]. I have made and am making great personal sacrifices [del: for that/ complete them] to meet that expenditure. The construction of the [del: machine] engine for the government has now discontinued [del: but not from any fault of mine]. I am unable to obtain any decision [del: as to its ultimate destination] I have been frequently and publickly reproached with having myself rec^d for my own use that money which had been paid by government to the operatives who constructed the engine and I have rec^d no assistance in refuting that [del: representation] statement [del: and] but on the contrary the circumstances of my being totally omitted in the list of those who have received the few rewards [del: pensions and honors bestowed] which have been bestowed on Science [del: confirmed] added credit to the misstatement and it received [del: still further] full confirmation from a printed report of [del: a statement which appears in ...] a report of a Com of the H of C.
I do feel deeply the injustice I have suffered and I now apply to the R.S. to assist in refuting them.
The Mastership of the M[int] is [del: now] vacant; it is a situation [del: for] which [del: my pursuits] it will be admitted that my pursuits [del: have] qualified me to [del: fill] occupy. It was formerly filled by a predescessor in the chair which for ten years I held. I was filled by Sir Isaac Newton and although he was in Parliament during a small portion of the time he occupied it yet he did not hold it as a political appointment. Neither do I wish you to apply for it to Lord M. as a political appointment but as one for which my knowledge qualifies me and which my services deserve.
Should it be objected to you application that it is an office whose occupant is changed with every administration I answer that if it were distinctly stated that the appointment was made for the reason assigned I do not believe that any succeeding administration would withdraw one given to Science.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f489
15 November 184[0], London
Extract of letter from Babbage to Chevalier Antinori
... I have found my presence here very necessary for the progress of the Engine and am now working hard at the descriptions which Mossotti is to translate. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f499 [in English] f501 [in French]
Post 6 Dec 1840
Extract of a letter from Babbage to Chevalier Antinori in response to an invitation to attend the 3rd Congress of Italian Scientists at Florence the following year where the Grand Duke of Tuscany had promised to honour Babbage publicly.
... I am already taking such measues respecting the progress of the drawings of the Calculating Engine as may, I hope without doubt enable me to comply with the wishes of the Grand Duke and i trust you will convey to his Majesty my most grateful acknowledgements for the honor he has done me assure him that nothing but unforeseen circumstances of the most urgent necessity shall prevent my visiting his capital on the approaching meeting of the learned of Italy. ...
[Babbage goes on to state that he believed that commercial and manufacturing countries ought to have honors of high rank with which to reward Civil services and Scientists who contribute to the advancement of Science should share in such honors.]
... It was perhaps unfortunate that H. Majesty continued to remember me with kindness long after my departure for I have within these few days received the decoration of Chevalier of the Order of St Maurice and St Lazare accompanied by a most gratifying letter written by his command. If the King of Sardinia had conferred upon me a decoration of a higher class it would have undoubtably have had great weight in my own country and might perhaps have opened a path to the construction of that engine which as Plana has written comprises within itself "the whole of the executive of modern analysis"; it would also have tended to raise the character of Science in England, and I hope I may add that the King of Sardinia would have derived some additional glory from having been the first sovereign to appretiate and reward a discovery which must ultimately change the face of [del: civilized society] Mathematical Science. But this was perhaps more than the forms and customs of Sardinia would allow to be done to a private individual like myself, and I fear that similar obstacles may exist in Tuscany. As it is I cannot apply to my government for permission to wear a decoration inferior to one I have declined accepting from them. I have therefore to regret not only that I can derive no benefit from this new mark of favor but that I am thus forced to appear to treat with disrepect a Sovereign to whom I am particularly grateful. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f525 [Misfiled]
n.d. but ca 1843
Chas. Lyell to Babbage
My dear Babbage
I signed the deed this morning and the Attorney assures me that all the interest shall be paid to you.
I went over the whole Art[icle] with Wheatstone and am decidedly of opinion "pace tuâ" that the publication as it now stands will do more to set the public right than before the omission of the part which was objected to by the publisher of the Transl^t.
The Engine looks well in the New Museum where I saw it for the first time; and the separate work on it with the art. from the review will be useful.
Hoping to see you again in Nov^r
believe me
sincerely
Cha. Lyell
I wish I was not at such an unsociable distance from you as I have missed you twice, and having had Darwin here this morn^g and written 4 or 5 letters with a view of getting a good zoologist an appointment in the Brit Mus I have been quite unable to reach you. Perhaps Mary may still see you.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f532
Tuesday 5th January 1841, Ockham
Extract from letter by Augusta Ada Lovelace to Babbage
[Note in red: Copy made for book H.P.B. Mar 1899]
... Some day or other, you will have to put me in possession of the main points relating to your engine. -I have more reasons than one for desiring this. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f551
1st February 1841, Whitehall Place
George Rennie to Babbage
My Dear Sir
I return you Whitworth's pamphlet on plane surfaces and quite agree with him on the superiority of scraping to grinding. I find that I have a copy of Whitworth's paper in the Mechanics Magazine.
I remain
very truly yours
George Rennie
British Library Add Ms 37191 f566
Monday 22 February [1841]
Extract of letter from Augusta Ada Lovelace to Babbage
... I am now studying attentively the Finite Differences
Du,D²u, D³u, ... Dⁿu &c. &c.
And in this I have more particular interest, because I know it bears directly on some of your business. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f574
1st March 1841, Fore Street
John Dillon to Babbage
Dear Sir,
In a series of autographed letters which has passed into my hands, I find a letter from Leibnitz chiefly on the Binary Arithmetic, but which also notices the imperfect attempts made by himself and others to form a "Machine Arithmétique". I know not if this letter has been published, or not. it is written in French, dated Hanover 1705, and addressed to M. Caré.
If a sight of this letter, or a copy of it, would be acceptable to you, it would give me great pleasure to be allowed to forward it to you.
I remain, Dear Sir
Very truly and respectfully yours
John Dillon
British Library Add Ms 37191 f582
16th March 1841
Babbage to Angelo Sismonda
Dear Sismonda,
I felt much gratified by your congratulations on the honour which the king of Sardinia has been pleased to confer upon me and still more for the warm interest you have taken in all that interests me. [del: the plate of colors on porcelain which you have procured will ...] The great object of my visit to Turin was to convey to Plana and to some of the Analysts of Italy the principles on which I had contrived an engine to perform as he has beautifully ex[ressed it "the whole Executive of Analysis". The discovery is so much in advance of my own country and I fear even of the age that it is very important for its success that the fact should not rest on my own unsupported authority. I therefore selected the meeting at Turin as the time of publication partly from the celebrity of the Academy and partly from my high estimation of Plana and I had hoped that a report on the principles on which it is founded would have been already made to the Royal Academy. I am aware of the difficulty of the subject and of Plana's ill health but you have amongst you [del: Mosotti, Julio, Menabrea ...] several others who favored me with their attention who are quite able and I hope not unwilling to assist him. If you could in any way accelerate this report it would be of great importance. I have already troubled you too much with my affairs but I must rely once more on your kindness.
When the collection of portraits is published will you have the kindness to send with my copy a dozen impressions of my own which I had ordered when at Turin. The cost of these as well as of the porcelain colors you so kindly procured for me and of any fees due by me to the Chancellery of the Order of St Maurice and Lazare you will much oblige me by defraying and I will remit the amount through a banker. I beg you to present my best respects to my valued friend the Count De Salluce and his brother. Assure them and my many friends that I look back upon the period which made me personally acquainted with them as one of the happiest of my life. Accept my warmest thanks for all the good offices you have done me and believe me with the greatest regard.
Dear Sismonda
Ever very sincerely yours
C Babbage
Dorset Street
16 March 1841
PS I have just rec^d a letter from Plana but I fear no Report has been made to the Academy.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f583
17 March 1841, Turin
J. Plana to Babbage
Mon cher et trés honorable ami,
Depuis votre départ de Turin j'ai souvent pensé à vous et au système de vos idées qu' vous m'avez développée. Sur tout je suis sincerement touché des temoignages d'amitié que vous m'avez donnés, et je suis incapable d'oublier ce que je vous dois sur ce point. J'admire en vous les qualités du coeur autant que celles de l'esprit. D'après le récit que je vous ai fait de mes peines domestiques causées par le malhereux mariage de ma fille, vous devez comprendre que le temps seul peut me ramener à cet état normal on il y a du moins équilibre autre le mal et le bien. J'approche de ce terme sans me trouver, ni heureux ni malheureux. J'ai pris le parti de me livrer à l'étude avec cette perserverance qui peut render utile les efforts soutenus. Mais l'immensité de la Science et la courte durée de la vie d'un individu augmentent la difficulté pour bien diriger l'emploi de nos facultés intellectuelles. Je dois vous me borner à des recherches speciales qui me sont suggeres par mes études auténèmes: et des lors je dois ignorer une foule d'autre vérités comprises dans l'interieur d'une sphère immense dont je [mot illègible: suis?] à peine la surface. Je regrette de ne pas à Londres auprès de vous et de vos amis, soit pour y goûter les douleurs de l'amitié, soit pour pouvoir jouïr du spectacle d'une foule de découvertes qui augmentant la puissance et le bonheur d'une masses d'hommes. Mais celle est ma position, et je dois m'y conformer.
Il y a plusieurs mois que j'ai deposé dans les Archives de cette Académie des Sciènces le modèle de votre machine à calculer avec les Dessins et papiers que vous m'avez confiés pour une telle destination. Depuis [rien n'a au lien?] qui ait rapport avec cette communication. Vous seul avez une connaîssance intime de cette invention, et de ses details. Tout autre recule devant les les difficultés d'execution. Espèrons qu'une heureuse combinaison mettrer vous même en état de surmonter tous les obstacles. De plus j'espère qu'il vous sera rendre une justice complète, et que vou n'aurez pas à déclarer des actes d'ingratitude comparables à celui que je lis dans la page 188 de votre ouvrage 'The Ninth Bridgewater Treatise'. Ma femme et ma fille me chargent de il me faire aggréer leurs complimens: elles me urgient de rappeler avec eux le plaisir les moments passiés avec vous. Adieu mon cher cher Babbage, donner moi de vos nouvelles, et croyez aux sentimens inalterables d'amitié et de haute estime avec lesquels j'ai l'honneur d'etre
Votre trés Devoué Collègue et Ami
Jean Plana
Bien vu choses de ma part à M. Prandi.
[Translation:
My dear and very honorable friend,
Since your departure from Turin I have often thought of you and on the system of your ideas which you outlined for me. Above all I am sincerely touched by the signs of friendship which you have shown to me and I am incapable of forgetting what I owe to you in this matter. I admire in you the qualities of the heart as well as those of the spirit. After the report which I made to you about my pangs at home caused by the unhappy marriage of my daughter, you must understand that time alone can bring me back to a normal state where there is more or less equilibrium between the bad and the good. I am approaching a point without looking for it where I am neither happy nor unhappy. I have taken the path of devoting myself to research which through perserverance can render useful the sustained efforts. But the immensity of Science and the short duration of the life of an individual increases the difficulty of directing the use of our intellectual faculties. I must tell you that I must limit my investigations to those special researches which are suggested to me by my own studies, and I must ignore a host of other truths compacted inside a huge sphere of which I am confined as a punishment to its surface. I regret that I am not in London close to you or your friends able there to taste the sorrow of the friendship for a chance to be able to enjoy the spectacle of a crowd of discoveries which increase the power and well-being of a mass of men. But such is my position, and I must accept it.
It has been several months since I deposited in the Archives of the Academy of Science the model of your calculating machine with the drawings and papers which you had entrusted me with for such a destination. Since then I have nothing further of any relevance to report in this letter. [Really] you alone have an intimate knowledge of this invention, and of its details. Every one else draws back in the face of difficulties of carrying it out. Let us hope that a happy combination will put you yourself into such a state as to be able to overcome all the obstacles. Moreover I hope that it will render to you a complete justice, and that you will have no need to publish declarations of acts of ingratitude comparable to those which I read on page 188 of your work 'The Ninth Bridgewater Treatise'. My wife and daughter command me to send their regards and urge me to recall on their behalf the pleasure of the moments spent in company with you. Farewell for now, my dear Babbage; send me your news, and believe in the inalterable sentiments of friendship and of the high esteem with which I have the honour of being
Your very devoted colleague and friend
J. Plana
Greetings from me to M. Prandi.]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f609
Sunday May 2nd [1841], Mortlake
B. Hawes to Babbage
Dear Babbage,
I only got your note late yesterday -too late to call on you.
I tried finding one of our common friends to tell me whether last E^g was one of your reception Evenings, or dining in Town. I should have tried to see you and fix a meeting.
I will now go to Town earlier on Monday and call on you before noon.
Anything that I can do in way, in any way to accomplish these great objects which I apreciate with the completion and use of yr Engine, that I will do with all my heart and soul.
Most Sincerely Yours
B. Hawes
British Library Add Ms 37191 f625
8th June 1841, Turin
Angelo Sismonda to Babbage
Mon cher Monsieur Babbage,
Votre lettre du 24 Mars m'a rempli le coeur et l'âme de plus grand et du plus [mot illisible] plaisir, je me sais empresser d'en donner connaîssance à notre Plana, ainsi qu'au mathématiciens qui ont eu l'honneur de vous connaître pendant votre court sejour dans notre ville. Le petit modèle de votre trés ingénieuse et trés surprenante machine calculatrice est déposé à l'académie depuis qu'elle a [mot illisible: depu..se?] ses séances. Plana qui en a fait la présentation l'a accompagnée de paroles trés flatteureuse pour l'auteur. Relativement puis il est dresser un support pour etre imprimé, il m'a dit qui vous écriver à cet égard sur quoi je n'ai pas insisté d'avantage, sachant que M. Menabrea s'occupait d'en faire une rélation laquelle étant [mot illisible: fiaise?] il va la soûmettre à votre jugement et si obtient votre approbation, il veut l'imprimer dans la bibliothèque de Génève.
...
Ange Sismonda
[Translation:
My dear Mr Babbage,
Your letter of 24th March has filled my heart and soul very greatly and with much pleasure, I have hurriedly given acknowledgements to our Plana, and also to those mathematicians who had the honour of knowing you during your short stay here in our city. The small model of your very ingenious and very suprising calculating machine has been deposited at the Academy since when it has been shown at the meetings. Plana who made the presentation spoke in very flattering terms about its inventor. In relation to this then he has arranged for a report to be published. He has told me what you have written in this respect but I have not insisted in knowing what that was realising that M. Menabrea is busy preparing a report which when it is finished he will submit for your evaluation and thus obtain your approval, [following which] he wants to have it published in the Library of Geneva series.
...
Ange Sismonda]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f629
Thursday, June or July 1841, Treasury Chambers
W. Gordon to Babbage
W. Gordon presents his Compliments to Mr Babbage - Notice has been given to W. Gordon that the rent of £160 paid by the Commiss^rs of Woods and Forests for the house in Dorset Street will be commented on in the House of Commons. W. Gordon will further feel much obliged if Mr Babbage would call on him either this day before five or tomorrow between 12 to ½ past four.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f635
27th July 1841, Aberdeen
P. Gray to Babbage
Sir,
A copy of your logs of numbers (fourth impression) has just fallen under my notice; and I believe I shall require to make no apology for pointing out an error in it which I had previously observed in Hutton's Tables.
In Log 103000 to eight places 01283723 the last figure should be 2, the 9th and 10th being 47 as appears from Hutton's Tables to 20 places. Perhaps this may show the propiety of extending to the parts of the tables which the error occurs the [word unreadable] card to secure the truth of the last figure which does not appear to have been extended beyond 100000.
Also on p. vi line 14 from bottom, for logarithms read logarithm.
I subjoin my address in case you should think it worth while to acknowledge my present communication.
I am sir,
Yours very respectfully
P. Gray.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f637
31 July 1841, Paris
Extract of a letter from A. Humboldt to Babbage
... Mon sejour à Paris, le désir de terminer le second volume de mon Asie Centrale me otisait la plaisir que j'aurais de vous voir, de jouïr de vos succès. Il est bien cruel que vous travaillez toujours rien de [mot illisible: entrases?] vous acheter cette admirable machine à calculer. Ça n'est cependant qu'en Angleterre seule que vous pourrez trouver de secours. Tous les autre Gouvernements sont sourds: ils ne déspensent de larges Sommes que pour la Sculpture et les Tableaux. Tel est l'esprit du cours et ce que l'on appele leurs civilisations. ...
[Translation: ... My stay in Paris, the desire to finish the second volume of my Central Asia, prevents me having the pleasure that I would have had in seeing you, and celebrating your success. It is extremely cruel that you are constantly working and can find no one to buy your admirable calculating machine. It is only in England alone that you can try to find help, [but you will find also] that all the other governments are deaf. They only dispense large sums of money for sculture and paintings. Such is the spirit of the present age and which one could call their civilisation ...]
British Library Add Ms 37191 f638
31 July 1841
Babbage to Alexander Humboldt
My dear Sir,
It is now a very long time since we met and it has been a frequent subject of regret. The drawings [del: and experiments] of the great analytical engine have so occupied me during the last eight years that I have been unable to leave England untill last autumn/year. On talking over that engine with the Prussian Minister at Berne, M. Bunsen, he much wished me to meet you at Paris but I found afterwards that your visit was postponed.
I am very desirous to make you acquainted with the objects which I have proposed to accomplish and [del: without entering into details further that you may like/wish] to convince you that the means exist of constructing an engine which as Plana has [del: written to me ..] described it gives us as complete a power over the executive of analysis as we have hitherto possessed over the legislative portion. The greater part of the drawings exist by which an engine might be made which shall reduce to numbers any explicit function whose law of formation can be assigned. For instance the eqⁿ of finite differneces expressing the law of formation of the numbers of Bernouilli being given to it it will work out and print the successive numbers.
This engine is unfortunately far too much in advance of my own country to meet with the least support. I have at an expense of many thousands of pounds caused the drawings to be executed and I have carried on exp^s for its perfection [del: the former engine for constructing tables by the method of differences they will not finish] and unless however some country more enlightened [del: government] than my own should take up the subject, there is no chance of that machine ever being executed during my own life and I am doubtful how to dispose of those drawings after its termination. The respect in which Science is held in your country together with the [del: personal regard] support afforded to it by your King to whom I had the honor of being introduced by yourself in 1828, induce me to wish strongly to talk over with you the whole question. I would willingly meet you at Paris but as it is impossible to transport all the drawings and apparatus this would not put you fully in possession of the subject.
I will therefore propose to you a plan which even without any reference to the Calc^g Engine would give me the greatest pleasure. If you could conveniently spare a week or two [del: in London] for England, I shall be most happy to meet you on the arrival of the steamboat and convey you to my own house where we can in the mornings discuss the whole question with all the advantage which the machinery and drawings will supply. The society of London will I know interest you in the evenings and perhaps the excitement of our elections may amuse you; but whether you may prefer the repose of philosophy or the society of London or a mixture of both I shall be equally happy to receive you as a valued guest and as far as your time admits to [del: partake] share them with you. My present intentions are to remain in London untill about the 12 of Augt.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f641
26th August 1841, 46 Berness Street London
F. Prandi to Babbage staying at Hotel de l'Europe, Rue Rivoli, Paris
My Dear Babbage,
Thankyou for your letter of last Sunday. I am delighted to hear that you have had a good journey, and have found Humboldt well disposed to aid you in your important object. A few hours before the arrival of your welcome letter, your mother had sent me a parcel, by which I had, with great pleasure, perceived that, in spite of Plana's inactivity, Menabrea had not been idle. As I feel convinced that you will not regret the expence, having at present no private opportunity, I send you that parcel by post herewith. You will see that it contains the Sketch of an account of the Calculating Engine, by Menabrea, dated May 22nd. How Sir Augustus Foster has contrived to detain the paper so long, I am quite at a loss to conceive; but I am vexed at the delay, because I think that if [you] had received it in due time, you might have turned it to account. I hope you w[ill] meet Menabrea either at Florence or Turin. In the mean time, you might write to him, in order to explain the cause of your long silence and ask him to inform you of his plans, addressing his answer either to Toulon or Nice. ...
British Library Add Ms 37191 f642
18th September 1841, Chambéry, Savoie
L.F. Menabrea to Babbage poste restante Florence
Monsieur,
Votre lettre datée de Nice le 8 courant était parvenue à Chambéry où une grave indisposition de mon père m'a obligé de me rendre. Le rétard qu'a éprouvé la mienne qui contenait l'ingestion de l'idée que je m'étais fait de votre étonnante machine, ne m'a pas étonné car M^r Foster ayant dû défferer son départ pour l'angleterre elle n'a pas vous être remise à l'époque où je l'aurais desiré. Je suis heureux de voir, Monsieur, que je suis parvenu à saisir le principe de votre admirable invention; certes je suis bien loin de prétendre d'en avoir compris tout les secrets et même depuis que j'ai lu votre lettre elle m'apparait encore plus grande quanqueravant[?]. En effet si vous avez réalisé mecaniquement la conception qui pouvait [mot illisible: posui?] comme une des plus metaphysique de l'analyse, je veut dire l'idée qui doit se former du passage d'une quantité par zéro et l'infini. Cela tient à la simplicité et à l'exactitude du principe sur lequel est fondé votre machine, et qui comme vous le pensez semble être le plus général du langage mathematique et même celui qui peut être fera sortir l'analyse de l'éspece d'impropre dans lequel elle le trouve actuellement.
J'approuve fort votre intention d'appeler votre machine machine analytique; le nom de machine à calculer n'était pas de nature à emprimer toute l'[mot illisible: enteumou?] que vous lui avez derivée. Cette dénomination servira au yeux de vulgaire à mettre une différence entr'elle et celles qui peuvent avant déja existé sous le nom de machine à calculer.
Mon intention était d'aller cette année au congrès de Florence où j'espèrerais vous remontrer; mais les circonstances eu ont décidé autrement. J'aurais encore eventuellement besoin de conférer avec vous pour la rédaction de l'article que je désire vous [mot illisible consulter/concurrer?]; ceque j'avais écrit n'était qu'une première enquire que je me proposais de modifier d'après nos discussions.
Si vous préferez la voie de [Turin/Milan?] pour retourner en Angleterre je serai dans cette capitale vers le 23 du mois prochain. Dans tout les cas je pourrais vous voir à votre passage par Chambéry. Si cette combinaison n'était point possible, je vous prièrais de vouloir bien m'écrire avec quelque détails quel sont les points de vue sous lequel vous désirez que votre invention soit exposée et quelles sont les remarques que vous considerez comme plus essentielles. Sur les indications je redigerai l'article en question, et avant de la livré à la publicité je vous le ferai parvenir en Angleterre par la voie de la Légation Sardes. Veuillez M^r croire au sincère dévouement de votre trés obeissant serviteur.
L. F. Menabrea
[Translation:
Sir,
Your letter dated Nice the 8th instant has arrived at Chambery where the serious condition of my father has obliged me to be. The lateness of my letter which contained a summary of the idea that I was working on on your estonishing machine does not suprise me, as Mr Foster had to defer his departure to England, and it was thus not possible to send it to you at the time which I had hoped for. I am happy to see, Sir, that I have come to grasp the principle of your admirable invention; though it is certain I am far from pretending to have understood all its secrets and even since I have read your letter it still appears most perplexing[?]. In effect you have realised mechanically a conception which could be likened to one of the more metaphysical [propositions] of analysis; I mean the idea by which it has to pass through zero to infinity; that is in keeping with the simplicity and exactness of the principle on which your engine is founded, and which is, as you think it seems to be, the most general of mathematical languages, and even that which will perhaps change the evaluation from the incorrect form it is in at present.
I strongly approve of your intention of calling your machine the Analytical Engine; the name, Calculating Machine, was not of a nature to encompass all the powers with which you have vested it. This new name will serve, in the eyes of the masses, to place it into a different category from all previous machines which have existed under the title, Calculating Machines.
My intention was to go this year to the Congress at Florence where I had hoped to see you again, but circumstances have decided otherwise. I still will eventually need to confer with you on the editing of the article in question which I would want you to approve. That which I sent you in my [first] letter was only the first matter which I was proposing to modify following our discussions.
If you prefer to pass through [Turin/Milan?] on your return to England I will be in that capital towards the 23rd of next month. In any case I shall be able to see you when you pass by way of Chambery. If this combination is not possible, I beg you please write to me enclosing the details of any points of view under which you wish your invention should be presented, and state which remarks you think are the more essential. On receiving these I will adapt the article in question accordingly, and, before submitting it for publication, I will have it brought to you in England by way of the Sardinian Legation.
Please believe me, Sir, with sincere devotion
from your very obedient servant
L.F. Menabrea
British Library Add Ms 37191 f645
3rd October 1841, Florence
Draft of a letter from Babbage to Plana
My dear Plana,
I have much regretted [del: not] that we could not meet at Florence, [del: and] as I had hoped we should have had more leisure than at Turin to discuss the principles of the Analytical Engine. [Del: Had I been enabled to] If you had made a report on the subject to the Academy of Turin during last year it might have been of essential service to me in the discussion of the question with my own Government. As it is I must be content with the [del: rep...] description drawn up by M. Menabrea with which I am well satisfied [del: very content] because he seems to have penetrated completely the principles on which it rests.
With my best compliments to Madame Plana and your daughter.
I am with great regard
Ever very sincerely yours
CB
3 Oct 1841
Florence
British Library Add Ms 37191 f652
20 October 1841, Colla
Babbage to Chev Antinori about Diploma
My dear Sir
I gathered from the few short words I caught in your passing from the antichamber of the G.D. that his R. Highness had acceded to my wishes and this was fully confirmed by the manner of my reception.
The three hours which elapsed in that interview seemed to me to have passed almost unperceived and certainly amongst a wide circle of my acquaintances I could have found very few as capable as your excellent sovereign of sustaining with such just and profound observations the various subjects discussed at that remarkable interview. On taking my leave the G.D. expressed his wish to gratify me with anything his country produced.
Perhaps I ought then to have asked that favor the importance of which you had already so well stated to his Highness but I thought it more respectfull to make a written application and immediately on my return I wrote a letter which I carried myself to the Palace. As I left Florence in the middle of the next day for Certoli I could not receive an answer and my present object is to urge you to avail yourself of some opportunity of getting the official notice and if possible the decoration itself conveyed to me before I leave Milan.
One of the first consequences of this would be my passing through Turin. It would also enable me to inform my mother of the facts of my having received an honour which is not only the first public mark of estimation of my labors but which from many circumstances will ever remain the most cherished.
My letter or packet addressed to me Poste Restante sent before or by post of next Sunday will reach me at Livorno- on the following Wednesday I hope to leave Milan.
I shall spend a short time on my way to Livorno with Prof. Mossotti in order to arrange the translation of the work on the Analytical Engine.
With many thanks for your kindnesses, time and unvaried friendship
believe me My dear Sir
With Greatest Regard
Ever Most Sincerely Yours
CB
Colla
20 Oct 1841
British Library Add Ms 37191 f656
Saturday, 30 October 1841
Babbage's notes
32| 1824
3 turn
5 1
3
2 1
Saturday 30 Oct^ber 1841
32| 7824
3
4
Mr Castiglione explained his method of division (Mr Brusquetti present) it is not a self-acting method but requires the interference of the operator. I explained mine and showed them the Mss of the description commenced at Florence. They seemed to apprehend it.
CB
Milan
I saw the machine a wooden model at the academy.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f658 [misdated? and Misfiled should read perhaps 18th October 1841]
18th November 1841, Florence
Draft of a letter from Babbage to the Grand Duke of Tuscany
Sire,
It is difficult to express even in my native language those feelings of gratification which were excited by the interview with which you honored me this morning. Perhaps the excess of them prevented me from seizing as I might have done the opportunity of asking a favor when your R^y Highness so graciously expressed at parting those feelings of kindness to wards me whcih can never be effaced from my memory
There is Sir, one object in your power to bestow of higher importance to me than any other -The Grand Cross of your Order of Merit given to me by that Sovereign of Tuscany who has offered so enlightened an example of the encouragement of all that adorns and improves the highest faculties of man would be alone invaluable.
But Sire, I trust you have penetrated sufficiently into my heart to acquit me of any personal vanity and you will believe that I make this request in order to procure a public and most powerful add^t in overcoming those moral difficulties which impede the practical execution of the Analytical Engine whose general outline and bearing upon the future progress of science you have so well seized.
But Sir, whilst I am asking one favor the magnitude of which I fully appretiate I have to thank your kind consideration I am to have the pleasure of making my proposed tour to the Borax Lakes with a most agreable companion M. Politi who has been so considerate as to relieve me from all the details and with whom I propose starting to morrow at midday.
Accept Sir, my most respectfull and most grateful thanks
I am
Sir
With sentiments of the most profound respect
and Gratitude
Your R H Most Obed^t and devoted Servant
Florence 18 Nov 1841 CB
British Library Add Ms 37191 f679
24 December 1841
Babbage to Fitton
My dear Fitton
I have spent nearly the whole of this morning in hunting for the copy of my letter (the unanswered one) to the Vice Chancellor of Camb. resigning the Lucasian chair. I am much vexed at not having succeded. I wrote to my successor to desire him to procure the original from the V.C. and keep it with the documents of the office.
I remember that its substance was after thanking the Univ^ty for having given it to me to say that the duties attached to it, small as they were, yet occupied more of my time than I thought it right to withdraw from the contrivance of the Analytical Engine and that I hoped that in sacrificing this connection they would feel that I did so in order still further to promote those sciences for which such institutions were founded.
I am sure there was no one expression in it which any candid person could have misinterpreted. If I had given the Econ^my of Man^s in lectures instead of publishing I should not have done as much real good and I certainly must have lost much time taken from the Difference Engine. That I had that intention you will see by looking at the first page of the preface which I have marked and sent (as your books are at present packed up). When you have read it give the volume with my regards to one of your children.
Here was clearly a case of conflicting duties I had undertaken to superintend the construction of the Engine for the government. The time taken for lectures would have impeded its progress. I sacrified the minor to the more important duty as I had before sacrificed a place of 2000-a-year to that same duty. You will say I had no right to become professor without fulfilling its duties to the letter I thought otherwise and I still think when the jealousies of the present day have passed away it will be admitted that few of my predescessors in that chair have added as much to mathematical science.
I certainly regret I ever encumbered myself with that chair not only from the loss of time it then occasioned by its duties, but even now occasions in defending myself from unmerited reproach by those who are unacquainted with the circumstances.
I send you a paper drawn up about last July respecting the Fire proof building &c.. I have either copies or originals of all the documents referred to any of which I will show you.
----
I now add in a very imperfect state the commencement of the Description of the Mechanical Principles and the Mathematical demonstrations of its power.
I wish you would at any point you propose an alteration put a red ink Great letter in the Mss and a similar one with your remark on the sheet prepared for your notes. I am very curious to see how much of it you will understand. I think, when we talk it over after you have read it you will return to it with much greater force. The other statement for Peel will not be ready for some time.
Ever very sincerely yours
C. Babbage
24 Dec 1841
Dorset St
Pray preserve my Mss from fire as I have no copy.
British Library Add Ms 37191 f688
n.d.
Babbage to Alexander Humboldt
My dear Sir,
I am glad to find your King is visiting my country has brought with him his most learned subjects and amongst the foremost so good a friend of mine. I am of course aware how very much the short time the King can spare for this visit will be occupied, but as I likewise know that he has not only an hereditary but also a personal love of Science I think I may venture [del: to] most respectfully to suggest [del: offer that if] to his Majesty that if he should be disposal [del: inclined] to see that portion of the Engine for Calculating and Printing Astronomical and Nautical Tables which has been completed [del: put together] I should feel very highly honored by his inspecting it. [del: If you wish to have further information.]
The Engine itself with all the drawings is in a Fireproof Building adjacent to my residence which I would have properly prepared for the King's reception. [Del: If you] Should you previously wish [words unreadable: ? for this ?] to his Majesty any further information [del: it will give me much pleasure to visit you at Windsor at any time you might indicate]. The rail road will in less than an hour convey me to Windsor at any time you may appoint and I shall then have the additional of again meeting a most valued friend.
I am My dear Sir
with great regard
Ever most sincerely Yours
C. Babbage
British Library Add Ms 37192 f1
1 January 1842, 11 Via di Condotti, Rome
Extract of a letter from Dr W. Somerville to Babbage
... Mrs S continues [to] lament that the fortnight you remained in Florence had not been spent to her profitably here. Have the new rulers behaved better than their ten sets of predescessors, to the Engine [?] My original opinion remains unchanged that the blighting side winds of ignorance and of jealousy have injured it from the beginning ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f4
4th January 1842, Hotel Bonne Femme, Turin
Extract of a letter from Prandi to Babbage
... Menabrea is absent on account of his father's death which happened about a fortnight ago at Chambéry. Plana will not write anything about the Engine. He seems to think that you illude yourself, that the engine, if ever executed, will be a great curiosity, but perfectly useless. He told me that you are wrong in complaining of the Report of the Committee of the Royal Society, it being as favourable as it could be expected, and that he is quite [word unreadable: sure?/certain?] that neither Gauss, nor Herschel, nor Airy, nor Hamilton could event consent in your views. He expressed great friendship and regard for you, but this is in substance what he told me concerning the engine. I suspect that the report made of it by Menabrea has disgusted him. He says he will write to you if you write to him. Pray say nothing of this. I tell you all I hear without restraint, but you must take care that you do not compromise me. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f7
5th January 1842, Munich
Extract of a letter from Dr Martins to Babbage
... Especially I am warmly interested to know how far You are proceeded with the highly admirable task of your reckoning engine. Public papers have spoken about it with great [word unreadable: encoiuiance?], but I do not know whether it is yet absolutely conducted as far as you wishes. ...

British Library Add Ms 37192 f13
17 January 1842
Babbage to Lord Ashley
My dear Lord Ashley,
In preparing a statement respecting the Cal^g for Sir Robert Peel I find the only document I have respecting the terms of the arrangement you so kindly [del: made] accomplished for me with Mr Goulburn and the Duke of Wellington is a note I made on my return home after I had seen you on that subject; it runs thus
1st Although the Government would not pledge themselves to complete the Machine they were willing to declare it their property.
2nd That Professional Engineers should be appointed to examine the bills.
3rd That the Government were willing to advance £3000 more than the sum (£6000) already granted.
4th That when the Machine was completed the Government would be willing to attend to any claim of Mr Babbage for remuneration either by bringing it before the Treasury or the House of Commons.
The three first propositions [del: were] had been suggested by myself: [del: and] they were fully acted upon and I have official documents from the Treasury proving them to be correct. I will not therefore trouble you on that part of the question.
With respect to the fourth it was entirely unexpected on my part and was proposed as I understood by the Duke of Wⁿ. It was not merely gratifying to me at the time [del: moment] but [del: it] from the [del: peculiar] nature of the discussion in which I had been engaged it greatly increased my respect for the character of the Duke [del: of Wellington]. I am unwilling to [del: use my] state that fourth proposition to Sir R. Peel on my own memory unless it is confirmed by your recollection.
An early answer to this enquiry will greatly oblige.
My dear Lord Ashley
Yours very sincerely
CB
Dorset St
17 Jan 1842
To the R^t Hon^b Lord Ashley
British Library Add Ms 37192 f18
21 January 1842, St Giles House
Lord Ashley to Babbage
Dear Mr Babbage,
I have a distinct recollection of the three first propositions. I am not quite so clear about the fourth. I have, however, a deep impression that such an understanding was to exist between you and the Treasury.
Yours faithfully
Ashley
British Library Add Ms 37192 f19
22nd January 1842
Draft of a letter from Babbage to Sir Robert Peel
[See also Peel Collection]
Statement of the facts re Mr B's Calculating Engine
Dear Sir,
I do myself the honor [of] sending you a statement respecting the Calculating Engine which I have had put into type [del: in order] that you may be saved the inconvenience of reading Ms. Of course when I undertook to [del: sup...] give that invention to the Government and superintend [del: its] the construction of the machine there must have been an implied understanding that I should carry it on to its termination.
I entered upon that understanding believing that two [del: or that three years would [del: terminate it] [del: cont...] finish [it]. The better part of my life has now been spent on that machine and no progress whatever having been made since 1834 the understanding may perhaps be considered by the government as still subsisting.
I am therefore naturally very anxious that this state of uncertainity should be put an end to as soon as possible. I shall be most ready to give [del: you] any further information on the subject which [del: you may wish for] and will [del: call] wait on you for that purpose if you should wish it at any time you may find it convenient to see me.
I am Dear Sir
Your Obd^t Serv^t
CB
[On reverse: Sent this with 3rd Revise of Statement at 10 am 22 Jan 1842.]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f22
27 January 1842, Turin
L.F. Menabrea to Babbage
Monsieur,
M^r Piolti architecte du Gouvernement se rendant à Londres, je profite de sa complaisance pour vous adresser ma reponse à votre lettre du 24 novembre passé. Depuis cette époque j'ai beaucoup medité sur la machine analytique, et le éclairissements que vous avez eu la bonté de me donner ont de beaucoup elargi le champs de mes idées à cet égard. Aussi ai-je cru devoir entierement resoudre l'article que j'avais écrit, et dont je vous avais déja donné communications. Cet le principal motif pour lequel il n'a pas encore été publié. D'autre circonstances sont également viennes ininterrompre; ayant eu le malheur de pedre mon père depuis peu de temps, ce triste événement a porté le trouble dans mes occupations. Maintenant que je me trouve un peu reunis, je donnerai la dernière main à l'écrit qui vous concerne et j'espère dans quelques jours pouvoir l'envoyer à Génève au bureau de la bibliothèque universelle.
Lorsqu'il serai imprimié je tâcherai de vous en faire parvenir quelques exemplaires par la voie de M^r Prandi qui m'a donné de vos nouvelles, oubien par la voie de notre ministre près de votre Gouvernement. J'étudie encore une question, qui est celle d'expliquée d'une manière claire (pour les intelligences vulgaires) la solution des equations numériques; je crois que c'est un point capital persuader de l'utilité de votre invention, et convaincre de la rationalité du principe sur lequel elle est fondée. Je desirerais encore savoir d'une manière precise si vous avez arrêté quelquechose grand aux moyens d'introduire le calcul du logarithmes dans votre machine ou tout ou moins d'y substituer quelque chose d'equivalent pour la promptitude des opèrations; car je conçois que les logarithmes se sont eux-mêmes [mot illisible: quins] des rouages de nos méthodes de calcul actuel, au moyen desquel les opèrations tout abregés et que dans une autre ordre de procèdes il est possible de trouver un moyen de calcul différent mais que conduirait au même but. Je m'essayerai principalement de faire comprendre que votre machine a son langage à elle et deuxième que nous adaptons nos formules habituelles qui nous semblent les plus simples pour les calculs; il faudra transformer les expressions analytiques selon la manière d'agir de la machine. Il y a une autre observation sur laquelle je reclame votre attention: comme votre machine est destinée a executer principalement les grand calculs numériques, cels que les constructions de tables, la rapidité des opèrations exigera necessairement que vos moulins puissent executer plusieurs opèrations identiques en même temps; je m'explique: Dans la construction des tables logarithmiques, par example, lorsqu'on donnée, à certain intervalles, des logarithmes tous calculés, les logarithmes des nombres intermediaires correspondants peuvent être calculés paur autant de groupes deposés d'arithmeticiens; de sorte que la tâche était repartie entre un plus grand nombre de travailleurs, le travail sera plus vite executé. Il faut [mot illisible: doux] que votre machine soit capable de travailler aussi vite, par exemple, que les 80 Calculateurs ensemble, dont vous parlez dans votre Economie des Machines. Cette condition exige donc, ainsi qu'il me parait, un certain nombre des moulins pouvant tous agir simultanement. Sans doute votre machine aura cette propiété, mais comme je n'avais pas en l'occasion de vous en parler encore, je suis bien [mot illisible: aix] de saisir cette circonstance pour [mot illisible: rien] assurer.
Vous recevrez probablement ma lettre dans 11 jours de porte que si vous croyez devoir ajouter encore quelque chose à tout ceque vous aviez déja écrit, vous serez à temps.
Lesque me manque pour entre leur d'avantage [mot illisible: ouer] vous; je suis content de terminer en vous priant de croire au devouement bien sincère de votre admirateur et ami
L.F. Menabrea
Turin le 27 Janvier 1841
M^r Sismonda et M^me de Benevetto me chargent specialement des les rappeler à votre souvenir.
[Translation:
Sir,
I am able to take advantage of Mr Piolti, the Government Architect, with his consent, as he is on his way to London, to send you my reply to your letter of 24th November last. Since then I have given a great deal of thought to the Analytical Engine, and the clarifications which you so kindly sent me have greatly extended the field of my ideas in this connection. I now believe that I will have to scrap completely the article that I had written and on which I have already sent you reports. This is the principal reason why it has not yet been published. Some other circumstances have equally intervened to cause an interruption. I have had the bad luck to lose my father but a short time ago; this sad event has made it very difficult for me to work. Now that I have recovered a little, I will give of my utmost to include those matters which concerned you and hope in a few days to be able to deliver it to the offices of 'La Bibliothèque Universelle' at Geneva. When it has been printed I will attempt to send you some copies by way of M. Prandi, who has given me news of you, if that is not possible, then by way of our minister accredited to your Government.
I am still studying one further question: how to explain in a clear manner (to the common mentality) the solution [by the Engine] of numerical equations; I believe that this will be a capital point by which to persuade of your invention's utility, and also to convince of the rationality of the principle upon which it is founded. I still wish to know, in a precise manner, if you have come to any grand fixed ideas about the means you wish to use in the introduction of the Calculus of Logarithms into your Engine or something more or less equivalent to them in order to increase the speed of its operations, for I imagine, it is the Logarithms themselves which are central to the workings of the methods of actual calculations, whereby such operations can be abridged and which, in another order of process, it is possible to find a different method of calculation, but which leads to the same goal. I am trying mainly to get to understand that your machine has its own special language, and secondly that we have to adapt our usual formulae by methods which seem to us the simplest for calculations; for this it is necessary to transform analytical expressions into a form which accords with the manner of the action of the Engine.
There is one other observation on which I desire your attention: as your Engine is principally aimed at executing the very large numerical problems, such as the calculation of tables, the speed of its operations necessarily depends on whether your Mills can execute many identical operations all at the same time. Let me explain: in the calculation of Tables of Logarithms, for example, if one is given a set of logarithms previously calculated at specific intervals in such tables, the logarithms of the numbers corresponding to positions intermediate to these specific intervals could all be calculated by allocating the job to several groups of Arithmeticians; these groups would be of the kind where the task of calculating would thus be distributed amongst a greater number of workers, such that the work could thereby be more quickly executed. One must realise that your machine is also capable of working as quickly, for example like the group of 80 Calculators which you spoke of in your book "Economy of Machinery and Manufactures". This condition, however, so it seems to me, exists for your Engine if it was possible for a certain number of Mills to all act simultaneously. Without doubt your Engine will have this property, but as I have not yet had the opportunity to talk to you about this, I wish to seize this opportunity to be reassured on this.
You will probably receive this letter in 11 days from now; if you think you still need to add anything on top of what you have already written you will still have time [to send it to me].
Not wishing to lose the opportunity of sending this to you I am content to end this letter here in begging you to believe well in the devotion and sincerity of your admirer and friend
L.F. Menabrea
Turin 27th January 1841
M. Sismonda and Madame de Benevetto have especially asked me to remember them to you.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f29
29th January 1842, Treasury marked 'Private'
Sir George Clerk to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
Sir Robert Peel has desired me to inform you that he has been so much occupied since he received your letter of the 22^d that it has been quite out of his power to make any answer to that communication. He desires me further to say that he is afraid it will not be in his power for some days to turn his attention to the subject, but he hopes that as soon as the great pressure of business previous to the opening of the session of Parliament is over he may be able to determine the best course to be pursued in order to come to a right understanding of the point which you state now at issue. Viz whether it is more expedient to complete the "Difference" Machine on the principles on which its construction has commenced or to construct an entirely new "Difference" Machine on the more simple principles which your investigations have subsequently suggested, the entire cost of which would probably not exceed the sum still required to complete the original Machine.
From the Papers before the Treasury on the subject it would appear that a sum of nearly £8,000 would be required for that purpose.
I remain
Yours Truly
G. Clerk
Chas Babbage Esq.
PS. I should think it highly expedient that the matter should be referred to the Royal Society or some equally high scientific Gathering to decide this point and also to report whether the Govt would be justified in applying to Parliament for funds to complete the machine.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f31
29th January 1842
Extract of letter from Babbage to H.A. Dewar of Lassodie, Scotland re a letter about Railway Accidents
... I am sorry to be quite unable to help you in the question you mentioned on [Railway accidents and measuring the speed of Trains etc. by marking the time when they pass each ¼ mile on a piece of paper]. My time is wholly occupies with another subject. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f36
Friday, 4th February 1842, Observatory Kensington (Athenaeum)
Sir J. South to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
P'[eel'?]s Letter has I apprehend made some stir. There has been official grumbling about the Expence of the building &c. at the back of your house.
If the Machine be not there pray let it be there. I have written last night to Robinson. There is a Role in which [2 words unreadable] McCullagh. I will if possible see him tomorrow.
Yours Very Truly
J. South
British Library Add Ms 37192 f37
4th February 1842
Babbage to Sir George Clerk, Secretary of the Treasury
My dear Sir,
[del: There are] Two points are referred to in your letter of the 29th on which I [del: would] wish to offer some [del: remarks] observations. 1stly the object of [del: my] the letter to Sir R. P. of the 22 Jan was to terminate an understanding which has existed indefinitely durying 20 years. I am sure neither Sir R P nor yourself will refuse me that justice. I accompanied that request with some printed pages of the past history of the circumstances attending that understanding [del: because I thought they might/ In the last page but one I stated] At P. 34 I stated that the question the decision of which I had during several years requested from the Government namely
Whether &c. _______
You will see on attentively examining that statement or the documents in your own office that I have never either offered or asked to make any other machine for the Government.
2ndly The other point is probable expense of completing the Difference Engine according to the Original Plans. You [del: appear to] seem to incline to the opinion that about £8000 will complete the old Difference Engine. I presume this view is founded upon an opinion of the R.S. [del: dated] given in a rep^t dated 26 March 1831 in which it is conjectured that 8 or 12 thousand will be required to complete the Machine. [del: The construction went on for two years ...] The Opinion I have formed from the whole of the Experience I have had is that it will cost at least as much to finish it as has already been expended. Whether the sum [del: expen...] already spent has been 14 or 17,000 I do not know because the latter payments have been made direct to Mr C.
I am My dear Sir
Yours Truly
CB
Dorset Street
4 Feb 1842
To Sir George Clerk Bart, Treasury.
[Note on Bottom of Letter by CB:
Mon 9th July 1842
Joined with Sir G. Clerk. Then pressed him to get Sir R.P. to decide and he promised to recall the subject to his attention.
CB]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f38
Midnight, Monday 7th February 1842, Observatory Kensington
Sir J. South to Babbage
My Dear Babbage,
On my return home I found the enclosed from Robinson, and am indeed delighted to find he will come to your aid if you wish it.
Lest I should not be able to get to you so soon as the post will deliver this, I send it in case it may be desirable for you to show its contents as soon as possible. Put it in its packet for me and give it back tomorrow (Tuesday) night when I expect to have the pleasure of meeting you at the Duke of Somerset's -for I keep all Robinson's Letters.
Yours Ever Sincerely
J. South
British Library Add Ms 37192 f53
25th February 1842, Trinity College Dublin
Extract of letter from J. MacCullagh to Babbage
... I suppose you are going on pretty much as usual -devoting your mornings to hard work (I wish it were not thankless) -and your evenings to Society. It is a good mixture, I am sure, and the one gives a relish to the other. But when shall we have something in print about the Machine? For you know, that has been always the burden of my Song. Has Menabrea published any thing as yet? I live quite out of the world here, and never hear a word of news Scientific or Political ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f61
18th March [1842?], Guy's Hospital
Extract of letter from Montefiori to Babbage
... I have been endeavouring to apply your new system of notation to anatomical purposes, but I was obliged soon to desist, for the best of all reasons, ie. ignorance on the subject. Therefore one Sunday when you have an hour to throw away I will with your permission come and learn. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f75
Monday 2nd May [1842], St. James' Square
Augusta Ada Lovelace to Babbage
My Dear Babbage
Will you do me the favor of showing your Calculating Machine to an old friend of mine, who is on leave of absence from India, and is to return there immediately.
It is Mr Henry Siddons, Grandson of the Mrs Siddons, and first cousin to Mrs Butler and Adelaide Kemble.
He is very desirous of just seeing the small portion that was completed, of your old machine. His wish arises from the perusal of your 9th Bridgwater Treatise; and he would ask leave to call on you for that purpose any morning this week that you can fix and to bring with him a friend whose name I forget, but it some one I know well by name.
Mr Siddons' address is 76 Baker St.
I believe that the favour would be well bestowed by you. He is not one of the idle or merely inquisitive; altho', as he himself is fully aware of, he cannot pretend or expect to comprehend much of the principles on which the machine is planned and executed.
Yours ever
A.A. Lovelace
British Library Add Ms 37192 f88
25th May 1842, Turin
Extract of letter from Plana to Babbage
... Je présume que vous êtes sans cesse occupé de votre machine à calculer: on m'assure que vous composer un ouvrage qui contiendra une explication complète de sont ce qui la concerne ainsi que ses détails de sa construction. Vous seul pouver bien faire un tel ouvrage. En livrant ainsi vos idées à la inéditation des autres, on saura [mot illisible: réussi?] apprécier le but et les moyens: alors, bien des doutes cesseront, et la considération de la dépense pour construire cette machine sera balancée par les advantages qu'elle présente. Et si des difficultés surgissent contre votre projet, il faudra qu'elles soient clairement [mot illisible: émoniées]; et vous saurez les mettre à profit. ...
[Translation:
... I presume that you are incessantly occupied with your calculating machine: I am assured that you are preparing a work which will contain a complete explanation on everything which relates to it as well as giving the details of its construction. In publishing thus your ideas for the edification of others, one will be able to appreciate its end and means; well then, doubts should cease, and the consideration of the cost of its construction will be balanced against the benefits which it can provide. And if criticisms surge up against your project, each should be clearly [word unreadable], and thereby each turned to your profit. ...]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f92
Thursday, 2nd June 1842, 11 Great Castle Street, Regent Street
Extract of a letter from Charles Torrigiani to Babbage
... I regret very much to be obliged to loose the favourable opportunity you had offered to me of seeing and admiring your calculating engine, and I in hope that such a satisfaction, which I ardently wish to enjoy, will only be put off [for a short while]. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f
15th July 1842, Florence
Extract of a letter from Tite Gonella to Babbage
... Je n'ai pu sçavoir si vous avez obtenu içi ce que vous désirez, car selon ce que nous avons convenu je n'en ai jamais parlé à personne. Je me crois pourtant oblige de vous dire tout ce qui peut avoir quelque rapport à votre affaire. Quelques jours après votre depart de Florence, le G D que j'eus occasion de voir me demanda si je connaîssais completement et dans toutes les parties votre machine. Je lui repondis que vous m'avez expliqué les principes généraux sur lesquels elle est fondée, mais que je connaîssais trés peu la partie mecanique, et l'assemblage des pièces de cette grande machine: que pourtant cela ne diminusit en rien ma certitude sur l'excéllence de cette machine, et que vos talens et honnêté étaient dessûrs guarantis de l'effet, que de plus M. Menabrea en aurait donnée une déscription raisonnée. Le G D confirma avec conviction et complaissance tout cela, car il a vous toute estime que vous pensez. Je n'ai plus rien sçu ensuite de cette affaire. ...
[Translation:
... I don't know if you got here what you wanted, because according to what we agreed I have not spoken to anyone about it. nonetheless I find myself obliged to tell you all I can which relates to your business here. Some days after you left Florence the Grand Duke, who I had occasion to see, asked me whether I completely understood your Engine in all its parts. I replied to him that you had explained to me the general principles on which it was founded, but that I understood little of its mechanical part, and how the pieces of the large machine were put together; that this did nothing to diminish my certainty of its excellence, and that your talents and honesty were sure guarantees of its effect; that moreover, M. Menabrea had prepared a reasoned account of it. The Grand Duke confirmed with conviction and complaisance in all this, for he holds you in greater esteem more than you imagine. I have not heard anything else since this matter. ...]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f127
ca 11th August 1842
Babbage to Augusta Ada Lovelace
I will endeavor to join you at Ockham on Saturday the 20th [del: if]. But the state of drawings and a possible discussion with Sir R. Peel may [del: prevent] either of them deprive me of that pleasure.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f128
12th August 1842
Babbage to Sir George Clerk Bart., Secretary of the Treasury
My dear Sir
I had hoped from your note just previous to the opening of [del: Parliament] the Session that Sir Rob^t Peel would have entered on the consideration of the Cal. Engine within a few weeks at furthest after that event. I have waited patiently untill the close of the Session and I [del: do] hope that I shal[l] not be considered unreasonable in pressing for [del: an] the immediate decision of a question which has [del: remained in suspense during eight y...] been a source of the most harassing anxiety to me during a suspense of nearly eight years.
I am
My dear Sir
Very truly yours
CB
12 Aug 1842
British Library Add Ms 37192 f146
8th October 1842
Babbage to Follet
Dear Follet,
I have just sent a note to Sir R. Peel pressing on him the necessity of coming to some decision respecting the Cal^g Engine.
I do hope that during this temporary repose of political affairs he will be able to take [del: it] up and terminate an uncertainity which has to me been a source of constant and painful anxiety nearly eight years. When you have looked at the question I will give you any further information you may think necessary.
I am Very Truly Yours
C.B.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f147
8th October 1842
Babbage to Sir Robert Peel
Sir,
On the 22^d of Jan^ry last I did myself the honor of transmitting to you a printed statement of the circumstances connected with the Calculating Engine (Difference Engine) [del: whose] the construction of which I had been superintending for the government since the year 1823. That paper [del: I] was accompanied [del: that paper with a ...] by a note requesting the decision [del:of government upon] on the following question whether

It is the intention of the government to call upon me to complete for them that Difference Engine [del: which] the construction of which has been suspended since 1833
Or finally to give up its completion and thus put an end to the understanding which has subsisted since the year 1823.

I[del:n] rec^d an answer [del: to that] in a note from Sir G. Clerk [del: in which he] stating that Sir R. Peel "hopes that as soon as the great pressure of business previous to the opening of the session of Parliament is over he may be able to determine the best course to be pursued."
I waited untill the important discussions of [del: that] the last Session and even the Session itself had terminated. Nor did I think it right to press upon your time during the continuance of the tumults in the manufacturing districts nor during the Queen's visit to Scotland.
The decision of that question which I have repeatedly but unfortunately without effect applied for during the last eight years is to me a matter of considerable importance and I now most earnestly request you [del: before the recommencement of ...] to examine it and favor me with the earliest information of the result.
I am Sir
Your Very Obd^t Serv^t
CB
to The R^t Hon^ble Sir R. Peel Bart.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f
19th October 1842
Extract of letter from Babbage to the Duke of Somerset [turning down an invitation to visit him and the Duchess at Stover, Devon.]
... I have many reasons for wishing I could have availed myself of your kind invitation and I am sure that there is nothing which the kind attention of the Duchess and yourself could have foreseen which would not have been ready to render my visit to Stover as agreeable as the state of my health would have admitted. Indeed the renewal of some of those quiet discussions "De Omni Scibile" which I have so frequently enjoyed in the Park at Wimbledon would have been an advantageous [del: contrast with] relief [from] my daily pursuits. But when the mind as well as the body is harassed the exertion of that energy which is necessary to control one of those copartners is more difficult and frequently impedes the [del: bodily] recovery of the other. Years of uncertainity and anxiety will have their effect upon both and it now appears probable that the question relative to the Calc. Engine will very shortly be entered upon by Sir R^t Peel at a time when assuredly I am not in the best of tempers for its favorable decision. However my state is better than that of uncertainity. My medical [del: friend] adviser(s) assure me I shall get well and [del: be] even be stronger than before [del: if] I will strictly obey their orders and I am now tolerably convinced that the shortest course is [del: to] at present submit to fate and physic. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f162 [Misfiled]
20th November 1842, Tulney Lodge, Abingdon
Extract of a letter from J. Maclaren to Babbage
... I am not surprised at what the Government have done but after what has passed I am rather surprised that Peel should deny that you had any claim upon them. Your views will now be no longer be affected by your connection with the Government and the old engine. You have no doubt formed new plans. I am glad to see by your letter that you are working at the new engine. I shall be glad to see you again. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f162
20th October 1842, West Molesey
Sir Wm Follet to Babbage
Dear Babbage
I found your note on my return to Town. I am sorry it was not forwarded to me; but your direction on the back prevented it. I have just left Drayton, and your letter would have furnished a good opportunity for entering upon the subject at length with SIr Robert there.
What I want now is to know is whether you have had any answers from him, and to what effect: if you have not yet had any answer I will write to him immediately on the subject.
Ever dear Babbage
Most truly Yours
W^m Follet
British Library Add Ms 37192 f164
23rd October 1842, Stover
Extract of a letter from the Duke of Somerset to Babbage
... We were much disappointed that you could not come to Stover, but the reasons you allege, are quite unanswerable, but we must submit to the unfortunate circumstances. Indeed they are hardly to be named in the same page with those to which you allude in your letter, and from which the nature of your pursuits might have been expected to have exempted you. That years of uncertainity should have resulted from being engaged in a line of study, of which, certainity is the great merit and the great characteristic, is a misfortune so paradoxical, that it deserves to be noted by the moralist as an illustration of the remark, that success, in all human endeavour, is mainly dependent on what we call Fortune. I am however extremely sorry that you have been so harassed by the state of suspense in which you have been kept, and I am only relieved by learning that you have now resolved upon a course which promises to put you in a state without which nothing that we do, is enjoyable, or likely to be efficient. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f169
25th [October 1842?]
Extract of a letter from Mary Damer to Babbage
... I feel very grateful to you for having appreciated the interest I feel in all that concerns you and I am deeply mortified at what you communicate. You know I have never had any Enthusiasm for Sir Robert, all mine has been content in the Duke. Sir Robert I feel is rotten to the very heart and as a Trader will benefit his Country but he has no refinement of feeling, his very appearance testifies ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f170
30th October 1842, Stover
Extract of a letter from J. South to Babbage
... Pray write and tell me how matters are going with Peel, as they may happen to occur ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f172
3rd November 1842, Downing Street
Mr Goulburn, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Babbage
My dear Sir
The Solicitor General has informed me that you are most anxious to have an early and decided answer as to the determination of the Government with respect to the Completion of your Calculating Engine. I accordingly took the earliest opportunity of communicating with Sir R. Peel on the subject. We both regret the necessity of abandoning the completion of a machine on which so much scientific ingenuity and labour has been bestowed. But on the other hand the expense which would be necessary in order to render it either satisfactory to yourself or generally useful appears on the lowest calculation so far to exceed what we should be justified in incurring that we consider ourselves as having no other alternative. We trust by withdrawing all claim on the part of the Government to the machine as at present constructed and by placing it at your entire disposal we may so assist afresh your future exertions in the cause of science.
I have the honor to be
Dear Sir
Yours ever most faithfully
Henry Goulburn
Sir Robert Peel begs me to add that as I have undertaken to express to you our joint opinion on this matter he trusts you will excuse his not separately replying to the letter which you addressed to him on the subject a short time since.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f174
4th November 1842, Whitehall
Sir Robert Peel to Babbage
Sir Robert Peel presents his Compliments to Mr Babbage and begs leave to apologize for the delay in sending an acknowledgement of Mr Babbage's letter of the 8 October.
Sir Robert Peel received it in the country and wished to have an opportunity of personally communicating upon the subject of that letter with the Chancellor of the Exchequer who has undertaken to convey to Mr Babbage their joint opinions.
Whitehall
Nov^r-4-1842
British Library Add Ms 37192 f176
6th November 1842
Babbage to Sir Robert Peel
Sir,
The Chan^r of the Exq^r has communicated to me your decision respecting the final abandonment of the Engine for Cal^g and Print^g tables by means of Differences the construction of which I commenced superintending for the Government about twenty years ago.
I have to thank you for the offer on the part of the government of that portion of the Engine which has been completed although under all the circumstances I am compelled to decline accepting it.
I infer however both from the regret [del: at] with which you have arrived at the conclusion as well as from the offer itself that you would much more willingly assist at the creation of the Analytical Engine than become the official cause of its total suppression or possibly of its first appearance in a foreign land.
In that communication I also perceive in the expression of feeling that although I have no other than a moral claim for twenty years of exertion accompanied by great pecuniary as well as personal sacrifices yet that those exertions in the cause of Science ought not to remain utterly unrecognised and unrequitted by the Government.
These views have rendered the task I had proposed to myself in this letter somewhat less difficult. The object is to request you to take these claims into consideration.
But as I am convinced that it would be unjust to you as well as myself to ask for a decision without personally communicating facts and views which ought to be brought before you, I should esteem it a favor if favor if you would allow me the honor of an interview.
I have the honor to be
Sir Your Obd^t Serv^t
C.B.
6 Nov^ber 1842
British Library Add Ms 37192 f178
6th November 1842
Babbage to Henry Goulburn
My dear Sir,
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3 Nov containing your own and Sir Rob^t Peel's decision respecting the Engine for Calculating and printing mathematical tables by means of Differences the construction of which has been suspended for about eight years.
You inform me that you both regret the necessity of abandoning the completion of the Engine and/but that not feeling justified in incurring the large expense which it may probably require, you have no other alternative.
You also offer on the part of the Government to withdraw all claim in the [del: part of] machine as at present constructed and to place it at my entire disposal with the view of assisting my future exertions in the cause of Science.
The drawings and the parts of the machine already [del: completed] executed are as you are aware the absolute property of government and I have no claim whatever to them.
Whilst I thank you for the feeling which that offer manifests I must under all the circumstances beg leave to decline accepting.
I am
Dear Sir
Ever Yours most faithfully
6 Nov 1842 CB
British Library Add Ms 37192 f179
7th November 1842
Babbage to Follet
Dear Follet,
I find by a letter from the Ch^r of the Ex that you have also aided me in that quarter in expediting the decision of government.
I do feel really gratified at your immediate and active assistance on this occasion [del: although].
One question is already decided and I write tonight to Sir R. Peel to request an interview upon another which is [del: probably] certainly the more important of the two because so much of the future depends upon it.
I wish very much to [del: ask of] have your assistance upon two points. It will be unnecessary that I should enter into any detail and I think if you could spare me ten minutes it would be [del: enough] sufficient. Independently of the importance of the result to myself I think it may be of some consequence to Sir R.P. [del: and]. But at all events whatever may be the result I do not think myself justified in ommitting any effort to [del: set] help him into what I conceive the right course.
Let me know where and at what hour I can find you and I will be punctual.
Ever Dear F.
Yours truly
CB
7 Nov^r 1842
British Library Add Ms 37192 f180
8th November 1842
Notes [made by Babbage] respecting two courses by which both Engines might possibly have been made had Sir R. Peel taken a different Course.
8 Nov 1842
1. A given Sum of ----- to be paid Mr B for making Diff Engine not as reward for invention

¹/₃ before commencing not to be returnable
¹/₃ when half finished
¹/₃ in having printed a table of logs to [del:7] 5 or 6 fig.
The copyright of all tables of log log-sines cos tan sec Tables of interest and of all ready reckoners to be secured to Mr B and not to be [del: pro...] stereotyped by Gove^nt.
2. Mr B to have some situation by which he might be enabled to make the Engine from his own means.
1. General Principles not app[licab]le to exceptions
2. Anal. Engine either all or nothing
Opinions upon or against
Airey, Rev^nd Sheepshanks+
3. Injustice [£ p.a.]
Airey 800, pens[ion] 300, House &c. 1300
Buckland 1200
Herschel Baronet
Peacock prof[essorship] 300 1800
Sedgewick -----
Whewell 2000
Pensions to others
Queen's music, drawing, writing masters
Sir John Newport for Spring Rice
Mr B was always in advance from [del: 1000] [£]500 to [£]1000 to the Engineer.
Reparations for past
[CB could have been] Partner in banking house
[ditto] in Life Assurance Office
Two plans for future
Scarlett's Pension
Duke of Wellington['s promise?]
advantage to Manufacture
British Library Add Ms 37192 f182
November 1842
[In red ink:] Notes for interview with Sir R. Peel
No ordinary rules (His advisers bad, jealous
(Sheeps[hanks]
(Dr. Rob[inso]n['s observation]
(Secr[etar]y of Embassy['s statement]
(Test of their sincerity
(Will [they] deny me publicly
Grounds of claims
Taken up because usefull to marine not for me personally.
Gave up Profⁿ in early life to follow Science hence invented Machine.
Gave the government of all that sacrifice and undertook at their wish to make it for them, made no conditions.
1st The Public insist that the money expended has gone into my pocket. Unless the gove^nt do some public act this cannot be disproved; if they do anything it will rebut it; if they do not the public will contrive to say that it is because I have been paid
2 Refused during that period [£]2000
3 Twelve years of labor, advance of money
4 Eight years of anxiety and indecision preventing every other arrangement. Doubt about Engineer's Life.
5 Gov^t wished me to make it for them
-It was discontinued from causes over which I had no Controul.
-It was abandoned by gov^t
Other men of science rewarded
Airey 1300
Buckland 1000
Peacock 1800
Herschel Baronet
Sedgewick 1000
Whewell 2000
Pensions to all sorts of people
Scarlett's compensation
British Library Add Ms 37192 f183
Early in November 1842
1st Importance of the Anal. Engine
Having exposed quackery in Science
Jealousy
Sheepshanks
Dr. Robinson['s observation]
Sec[retary] of Embassy['s statement]
Test of their sincerity
Will any one publicly (i.e.) by printing say anything against the Anal. Eng.
Duke of Wellington['s promise?]
2nd If claims are fairly met
readiness to aid in every way
(On this question will depend whether Sir R. Peel is adverse to science or not)
Grounds of Claim
1. 12 years of hard work
2. Gift of invention, made in previous years
3. 8 years of delay preventing all other arrangements
4. Large expense: all the time loan of money to government. [Could have been] Banker, [Partner] in Life Ass[urance Office] [£]1500
5. Public will assert that I have profited by the money -friends urge [me] to make statement.
6. They [The Government] decide to give it up, it is not my fault.
7. Other men of science rewarded [see below] -[I am the] exception.
[del: 8.] Disposal by Will

2 Courses [of Action]:
Make for Def^t sum [of money]
[To be] Put in position to make for myself [some money]
Necessity for 1st Step being immediate
my mother
my own state of mind as to exertion
Airey 1300
Buckland 1000
Peacock 1800
Herschel Baronet
Sedgewick 1000
Whewell 2000
Pensions to all sorts of people
Scarlett's Compensation
[Word unreadable] proposition the G Clerks office.

British Library Add Ms 37192 f184
November 1842
Notes for a meeting with Follet
[In pencil on front] CB ask Follet
[In pencil on back] Follet 3½[pm] Tuesday
Ordinary Rules [not applicable]
[Peel's] Scientific Advisers (Jealousy
( Sheepshanks
( Dr Robinson['s observation]
( Sec of Embassy['s statement]
Test of their sincerity:
Will they publicly avow or print
Connection of Sir R.P. with Sciences or Adverse to it [?]
2 Course may be pursued to make Engine
Anxiety about death of Cl[ement] during 8 years.
(Value of Anal. Engine
(Duke of Wellington['s promise?]
(Present disposal of by will
(Expenses incurred
(Prevalent opinion [of public] [del: against] about the
money is unjust, must be refuted [by] pamphlet
(Necessity of this first step [of the two courses to get some money and a paid position]: -my own power of application, -My Mother.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f185
9th November 1842, Stover
Extract of a letter from Sir J. South to Babbage
... The Duke [of Somerset] and Duchess not less than myself are very glad to find from your Note to see, that there was at length some probability of your arriving at a knowledge of what really are the intentions of Government concerning that affair by which so many years of your valuable life [have] been connected, and I had hoped that I should have had still further gratifying news from you, that the interview with Peel had actually taken place, and that it [the Government] had at least held out to you the probability of an arrangement of preliminaries likely to lead to a treaty between yourself and the Government alike honorable to you and it. I have looked carefully in the Court news Article everyday but have not found "Mr Babbage had a conference with Mr Peel". Pray write me one line reporting how matters stand. ...
British Library Add Ms 37192 f187
10th November 1842
Sir Robert Peel to Babbage
Sir Robert Peel presents his compliments to Mr Babbage and will have the pleasure of seeing him at Eleven o'clock tomorrow (friday) Morning.
Whitehall
10 Nov 1842
British Library Add Ms 37192 f188
11th November 1842, Stover
Sir J. South to Babbage
My Dear Babbage
The Duke, Duchess and myself are extremely annoyed at the resolve taken by the Government relative to the Machine altho' neither of us anticipated from them anything very different. I write this however particularly (for I have 2 minutes in which to write) to entreat you in your interview with Peel which we think he will not deny you, not to say anything which can possibly irritate him. He is at present in a false or bad position, pray mind you do not change places with him.
With very Good Wish[es] in which all here warmly join and believe me My Dear Babbage
Yours Ever Truly
J. South
British Library Add Ms 37192 f189
11th November 1842
Recollections [by CB] of an Interview with Sir R. Peel on friday Nov 11-1842 at 11 am.
I first asked Sir Peel if he had seen Sir W^m Follett within the last two days assigning as my reason that if he had it might perhaps save him [del: some] time as in that case Sir W^m Follett would have anticipated for me some part of what I had to communicate.
I then informed Sir R.P. that may circumstances had at last forced upon me the conviction that there existed amongst men of science great jealousy of me [del: which probably acted to my disadvantage]. I said that I had been reluctantly forced to this conclusion of which I now had ample evidence which however I should not state unless he asked me -In reply to [an] obsⁿ of Sir R.P. in a subsequent part of the conversation I mentioned one circumstance that within a few day[s] the Secretary of one of the foreign [del: ambass...] embassies in London had incidentally remarked to me that he had long observed a great jealousy of me in certain classes of English Society.
I then said that as he Peel must of course obtain his views of both the Difference Engine and Analytical engine from others I thought it right without alluding to any individuals [del: and] not [del: asking] wishing to know the name of any of his scientific advisers yet for his P's sake as well as my own to [del: give] mention this conviction.
I then turned to the next subject the importance of the Anal. Engine. I stated my own opinion that in the future scientific history of the present day it would probably form a marked epoch, and that much depended upon the result of this interview. I added that the Difference Engine was only capable of applications to one limited part of the science (although that part was certainly of great importance and capable of more immediate practical applications than any other) but that the Analytical Engine embraced the whole science. I stated that it was in fact already invented and that it exceeded any anticipations [del: of] I had ever entertained respecting the powers of [del: deriving assistance in] applying machinery to science. I then mentioned to Sir R. Peel that one of the first mathematicians in Europe, Plana, had written to me his view respecting it -that [del: Plana] "We hitherto (said Plana) have possessed full power over the legislative department of [del: Science] Analysis in the Executive we have been all feeble. Your invention appears to have given us the same controul over the/its executive as we have hitherto had over its legislative."
I now observed that I came to the point on which I had asked for an interview. I stated that at an early period of life I gave up the prospect of succeeding my father in a lucrative profession (that of banker in the City) in order that I might devote myself to Science -That in [del: consequence of] following out that pursuit I had [word deleted] invented the Difference Engine -That the in 1822 government wished [del: me to make] that such a machine [del: for them] should be constructed -That at their desire I had undertaken the construction of it for them. -That during twelve years I had devoted amidst many difficulties my whole time unceasingly to that object. -That circumstances over which I had no control caused what was thought a temporary cessation. -That during this interval I had been examining other combinations of machinery and had opened out views which [del: might] seemed likely to have the most important bearings on the machine [del: now] then constructing. -That when new arrangements had been made and the government wished the work to be resumed I thought it would [del: not be right] improper to [del: conceal] withold from them the knowledge I had thus acquired. -That I did communicate [del: these views] that knowledge but that no decision was arrived at by the government. -That as time advanced those views became gradually more clear and distinct so that ultimately it appeared that it would be both a shorter and a more economical course to throw aside all that had been done and to make a new Difference engine using for it some of the more simple contrivances which I had invented for the Analytical Engine. Finding still that the government after repeated applications came to no decision I confined my subsequent applications to the simple question whether they intended to call on me to complete the old difference engine or [del: intend] to abandon it altogether.
Year after year passed on in which I was kept [del: keeping me] in the most harassing state of uncertainity [del: and] that now after [del: eight] nine years I had just received notice of the intention of the government altogether to abandon the engine. That during this time I had myself expended a large sum of money and that the public had constantly accused me of having myself received that money which government had paid to the workmen.
That on the grounds of the great pecuniary and personal sacrifices which I had made and on that of the expectations I might reasonably have entertained upon the completion of such a machine which had now been by their decision abandoned I thought [del: I had some ...] that the services I had rendered ought not to be utterly unrequited and unrewarded.
I then adverted to another circumstance that whilst I had been thus exerting myself in advancing science many other pursuing the same career had been rewarded [del: for] by the government for their labors whilst I [del: who had worked for them] was made the marked exception. Sir R. Peel himself immediately adverted to the pensions given to Science and litterature which amount only to 1200£ each year. I remarked that although I partly alluded to them yet that there were other occasions on which Science was rewarded and said I would mention half a dozen names not unknown to him having him to put the amount of income derived by them which he probably knew better than I did.
£
Airey Astrom. Royal 800 + Pension 300
+ house &c. 1500
Buckland Canon of Christchurch 1000
Herschel A Baronet ----
Peacock Dean of Ely 1800
Sedgwick Dean of Norwich 1000
Whewell Master of Trinity 2000
I then concluded with stating that [del: both] on these [del: first] grounds [del: of time spent in the act ...] I thought [del: that] I had some claim to the consideration of the government.
[Del: Both these grounds] Sir R. P. denied altogether that either of these claims entitled me to any thing. He observed that I had rendered the Difference Engine useless by inventing a better. I remarked that it would if finished do more than I had promised and that although it was undoubtedly superseded by better machinery yet that I had never stated that it was useless. I said that the general fact of machinery being superseded in several of our great branches of manufactures after a few years was perfectly well known.
In reply to the statement of the anxiety I had suffered and the vexation of finding that the public believed I had profited by the money expended I mentioned that the belief was so prevalent that [del: I] several of my intimate friends had asked if it were not true; and that I had even met with it on the hustings at Finsbury. Sir R.P. took up the latter remark and said that I was too sensitive to such attacks that men of sense never cared for them. I looked at him and said you must Sir R. Peel in your own experience of public life have frequently observed that the best heads and highest minds are often the most susceptible [del: to] of annoyance from the injustice or the ingratitude of the public -(He seemed to admit it but I am not sure that the name[s] of Romilly Whitbread and others occurred to him).
With respect to the other ground of claim that as one of the class of men of science I had been neglected entirely, he tried rather artfully, to interpret the statement I had made of the emolument of the half dozen men I had quoted as meaning to put myself in competition [del: with] for the places held by the individuals Airey and Herschel (Peel seeming to think that Herschel held some office). I had commenced my statement by denying this expressly and had again repeated at the conclusion that they were all men eminent in science and that not wishing to disparage them in the slightest degree I had yet a right to be considered as belonging to that class.
Sir R. Peel's first remark however was that most of them were professional rewards. This I at once denied and said that it was perfectly well known that they were not given for professional services for that though they were eminent in science they had not any of them ever done anything to distinguish them professionally, (this of course alluded to the clerical portion of the list).
[Afterthought inserted here: Sir R P seemed excessively angry and annoyed during the whole interview but more particularly when I knocked over with some vivacity his argument about professional service. He thus proceeded to [deleted word] attempt humbug saying that the Institutions of the country &c. admitted of certain places being given to certain professions for services not exactly prof^l and so on.
I listened to all his statements looking him stedfastly in the face. When he got aground, I still retained my view upon him as if expecting at least some argument would be produced. This position of course was not very agreable and certainly not very dignified for a prime minister.
I then said Sir Peel if those are your views I wish you good morning.]
Finding Sir R P utterly denying that I had any claim I merely remarked that I considered myself as having been treated with great injustice but that as he was of a different opinion I [del: had] could [del: do nothing] not help myself on which I got up and wished him good morning.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f195
13th November 1842, Stover
Duke of Somerset to Babbage
My Dear Sir,
The news, that was brought me by the post of Friday last, caused me no small degree of regret, Although, by the apprehensions that I entertained, I was, in some degree prepared for it. But, as you observe, the question between you and the Government, is much narrowed, and that is a matter of some importance. The interview, which you propose with Sir Robert Peel, must be embarassing, at least to him; and I should be afraid that he would decline it, if he [can] do so in a becoming manner. But I must think that you have great claims upon the Government, for amazing industry and ingenuity employed with a view to the public service, and that, to some extent, with the consent and recognition of former Chancellors of the Exchequers.
With thanks for your kind enquiries as to the health of the Duchess and myself, I am happy to say that we are both better than lately. She desires to be kindly remembered to you, and I remain,
My Dear Sir
with much regard
yours very faithfully
Somerset
PS The Duchess joins with me in urging you to come to us as soon as you can. We are sorry you could not meet Sir James South, who has been directing us in the application of wine and water, and delighting us with the use of his telescope, and his most agreable company.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f203
ca 24th December 1842
Poster sent by Sir James South to Babbage
OBSERVATORY
Campden Hill, Kensington.
==============================
To Shy-cock Toy Makers, Smoke Jack Makers, Mock Coin Makers, Dealers in Old Metals, Collectors of, and Dealers in Artificial Curiosities, and such Fellows of
ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
As at the meeting of that most learned and equally upright Body, on the 13th of May last, were enlightened by Mr. Airy's (the Astronomer Royal's) profound exposé of the Mechanical incapacity of English Astronomical Instrument Makers of the present day,
TO BE SOLD
BY HAND, ON THE PREMISES BY
Mr. Macleland,
On WEDNESDAY next, DEC. 21^st,
BETWEEN 11 AND 12 IN THE FORENOON
Several Hundred-weight of Brass, Gun Metal, &c. &c.
being the Metals of the
GREAT EQUATORIAL INSTRUMENT,
MADE FOR THE KENSINGTON OBSERVATORY
BY MESSRS.
TROUGHTON AND SIMMS,
The Wooden Polar Axis of which, by the same Artists, and its botchings cobbled up by their Assistants,
Mr. Airy & The Rev. Mr. Sheepslanks,
were, in consequence of public advertisement on the 8th July, 1839, purchased by divers Vendors of Old Clothes, and Licensed Dealers in Dead Cows and Horses, &c. &c. with the exception of a fragment of Mahogany, specially reserved at the request of several distinguished Philosophers, and which, in consequence of the great anxiety expressed by Foreign Astronomers and Foreign Astronomical Instrument Makers, to possess, when converted into Snuff Boxes, as a souvenir piquant of the state of English Astronomical Instrument Makers in the 19^th Century, will, at the conclusion of the Sale, be disposed of, at ------- per pound.
[Printed by]
H. Johnson, 9 Wells Street, Oxford Street.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f205
24th December 1842
J. Maclaren to Babbage
Dear Babbage,
I have looked over your papers and should have returned them sooner had I not waited for an opportunity to send them to you; you cannot do better than complete and publish them; I am competent to advise in this matter only on one point; I advise you to be magnanimous and publish without any allusion at all as to the treatment you have received from Government as to the misconception which prevails as to your undertaking of the former engine, [two words deleted]. I am afraid that a repetition of the statement here would expose you to a reputation of neglect and misconstruction, for some book tho' it would contain an account of the wonderful powers of the new Engine would shew, at least to the common reader, that the making of it was feasible. In short I think this is not the time. I am much obliged for the Phil. Mags. 2 bundles of which I return to you as those numbers I have already; the rest I shall find very useful.
Truly Yours
J. Maclaren
British Library Add Ms 37192 f211
30th December 1842, Office of Woods &c.
A. Milne to Babbage
[Reg No.] 5557
[Date of Meeting] 23/12/42 Office of Woods &c.
30th Dec 1842
Sir,
On behalf of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods, Forests &c., I have to acquaint you, that they have received, from the Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury, a Letter, dated 21st Inst., stating that as in the opinion of Sir Robert Peel and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the expense, which would be required, in order to render your Calculating Machine generally useful, so far exceeded what they would feel justified in incurring on the part of the Public, the Government had no alternative but to abandon its' completion and that their Lordships are of opinion, that the Machine should be removed from the Premises in East Street, and deposited in any place of security this Board may be able to provide, until their Lordships should determine as to the final disposal of it; and that this Board should offer to you, at a Rent of £156, a year, the preemption of the Premises comprized in the Lease, granted, on the 1st December 1831, by you to a Trustee for the Crown, at the rent above mentioned: And I have, therefore, to request, that you will be so good as to inform this Board, whether you would be willing to avail yourself of this Offer, in order that, in the event of your declining the same, the Board may take measures for effecting some other disposal of those Premises.
I am,
Sir
Your Most Obed^t Serv^t
A. Milne
[To] Charles Babbage Esq.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f215
2nd January 1843
Babbage to Office of Woods
[Reg No.] 5557 Dorset St
[Dated] 23/12/42 Manch. Sq.
2 Jan 1843
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30 Dec 1842 offering me on the part of the Com. of H.M. Woods and Forests the pre-emption of the premises in East St. Manch^r Sq. at the rent of 135£ a year. I beg to acknowledge the courtesy of the Comm^rs in making this offer although I decline accepting it.
I am Sir Your Obd^t Serv^t
CB
[To] Alex Mylne Esq.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f216
4th Jan 1843
Babbage to Office of Woods &c.
In reference to 5557
23/12/42
To Alex Mylne Esq.
Sir,
[Del: Amongst the list of] Besides the various drawings [del: of which I have had the care during the last eight years] and parts of the Difference Engine which I am about to deliver into the care of the HM Com^rs of Woods & Forests there is tool called a "sliding rest" which is not mentioned in the list of things in my custody.
Having at my own expenses improved that tool and [del: Added to it several...] having made several additions which will not conveniently adapt themselves to [del: their] other tools of the same kind, I wish to ask whether I may be allowed to purchase that tool (the sliding rest) at a valuation and if this [del: is conceded] can be conceded then also a few of the drawing boards on which some of the drawings of the Analytical machine are at present fixed.
Dorset St
4 Jan 1843 I am Sir
Your Obed^t Serv^t
CB
British Library Add Ms 37192 f218
6th January 1843, Long Acre
Charles Holtzappfel to Babbage
Dear Sir,
I owe you many thanks for your "Eye Preserver" -which I propose both to use and publish, in each of which I feel assured I shall proceed with your full acquiescence.
I remain dear Sir
Yours truly obliged
C. Holtzappfel
British Library Add Ms 37192 f219
8th January 1843, Trentham
Edward Everett to Babbage
My dear Sir,
I received your obliging note of the 6th at this place, a moment since; and I most deeply regret, that my absence from town puts it out of my power, to take advantage of your kind proposal. I shall, notwithstanding, hope, on some future occasion, to have an opportunity of seeing your wonderful machine.
I am, Dear Sir,
with the highest respect
Faithfully Yours
Edward Everett
British Library Add Ms 37192 f220
9th January 1843, Office of Woods
A. Milne to Babbage
[Reg. No.] 5857
[Meeting dated] 6/1/43 Office of Woods &c.
9th January 1843
Sir,
In acknowledging on behalf of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods etc. the receipt of your Letter dated the 4th Inst. upon the subject of the removal of the Calculating Machine, and enquiring whether you may be allowed to purchase one of the Tools called a "Sliding Rest", and if this is conceded, then also a few of the drawing Boards on which some of the Drawings of the Analytical Engine are at present fixed. but previously to the Board being in a situation to reply to your application I am to request they may be informed whether in your opinion it will be any detriment to separate the Instrument and Drawings in question from the Calculating Machine in the vent of its completion at any future time being contemplated; and should there be no such objection, then the Board would wish to know what was the original cost of the Tool in question, and what is your opinion of its present value.
I am
Sir
Your most obedient servant
A. Milne
British Library Add Ms 37192 f223
11 Jan 1843
Babbage to the Office of Woods &c.
[Reg No.] 5857
[Dated] 6/1/43 11 Jan 1843
Sir,
In reply to the enquiries in your letter of the 9 Jan I beg to state for the information of the Com^rs of HM Woods &c.
That in my opinion it will be "no detriment whatever to separate the Sliding Rest and the drawing boards in question from the [del: rest] parts of the Calculating Machine in the event of its [del: future] completion at any future time being contemplated"
I believe I did not sufficiently explain that the drawings upon the boards [del: are my own property and have...] do not belong to the Difference Engine but relate to another subject and are my own property. I merely wish to purchase them to avoid the inconvenience of transferring unfinished drawings to new boards.
With regard to the cost price of the slide rest I believe it could not be ascertained from the accounts [del: because it formed part of a sum charged for many for if I remember ...] but I have asked Mr Holtzappfel of Charing Cross who has seen it and who has great experience in these matters what in his opinion it would produce at a Sale. He thinks it might sell for from 20 to 25£ and that the latter sum is a liberal offer.
The Drawing boards (each about 3 feet by 2 feet) are I believe worth about five shillings each.
If this question does not merge in the larger [del: question] one upon which I have addressed to you a separate offer I shall be willing to purchase the slide rest at 25£ and the drawing boards at 5 shillings each.
I am Sir
Your Obed^t Serv^t
CB
British Library Add Ms 37192 f224
10th January 1843
Babbage to Office of Woods, &c.
Sir,
Previously to delivering up the custody of the Difference Engine I wish to [del: be allowed] to submit to the Com^rs of HM Woods & Forests some observations with the hope of rendering the labor which has bee expended upon that machine as usefull as the circumstances [del: will permit] admit without further expenditure of the public money.
There are three distinct points
1. That part of the Difference Engine already finished and capable [del: as far as it extends] of performing Calculations.
2nd The Drawings of the whole as it was intended to be finished.
3rd The unfinished parts patterns &c [del: contained in about [del: 90] 80 cases]
1^ly [del: with respect to the Finished part: This ought to be carefully preserved from rust and kept in a warm well ventilated room.
This stands upon a stout mahogany table the dimensions of which are Inches
height from floor 30
length of table 36
Breadth of D^o 27
H^t of Machine above table 29
The machine is enclosed on all sides and on the top by thick plates in Glass and [del: would form a handsome] is a beautiful specimen of the state of the mechanical arts at the time when it was made. [Del: It would form a handsome ...] Some room in the British Museum to which the public have access I [del: imagine be] would suggest the fittest [del: situation] place for it.
2^nd Of the Drawings These are in a more finished state than from memory I had thought but unfortunately one is wholly in pencil and three others of the most important [del: are] have parts of them [del: also] still in pencil. The whole contrivance of the [del: intended] Difference Engine with the exception of a [del: some] certain quantity of the minor details. But these drawings would be almost useless [del: to any person] either for description without the Mechanical Notation for the whole Machine which had not been commenced at the time the work[del:s] was suspended (in 1833). That Notation [del: was] is a language of signs [del: invented by myself and] described by me in the Philosophical Trans. for 1826 and invented [del: by me] expressly to render the construction of the Difference Engine possible. It was used in organising the detail of every part although never united into a whole.
Since [del: then] 183[del:4]3 I have myself at much expense and with great labor reexamined the whole Engine and have made its Mechanical Notation. It covers a sheet of paper about eight feet long by four wide and [del: answers] gives on inspection [del: answers of] the following [del: questions] information
[Del: 1] a The names of every part of the Engine [del: is written upon it].
[Del: 2] b The [del: source] cause of the motion of every part is traced up through all its intermediate parts to the first mover.
[Del: 3] c The No. of teeth of every wheel and sector is [del: stated/found] given.
[Del: 4] d The velocity of every part [del: is found/given].
[Del: 5] e The successive [del: motions and] states of motion [del: and] or rest of every part throughout [del: every] the whole time of each calculation [del: is seen on inspection].
[Del: 6] f The cotemporaneous state[del:s] of motion [del: and] or rest of every part throughout the machine at any time is seen.
[Del: 7] g The references to the drawings [del: which] are not yet made because the drawings are not yet finished.
3rd The Unfinished Parts &c.
[Del: Since] The Government having now determined [del: on] to abandon [insert: so I am informed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer] [del: it] the construction of the Difference Engine these parts although [del: constructed] made in the most perfect manner at great expense [del: can be considered] are absolutely useless for any other purpose and would scarcely sell for much more than the value of their respective metals. Any idea of resuming the construction of [del: that] this Difference Engine [del: when it is known] will I presume be admitted to be out of the question when I state that [del: a simple] in consequence of the discoveries arising from the Analytical Engine a far simpler form of Difference Engine of equal power might be constructed in less time and at less expense [del: that] than would be required for completing that already half-finished.
It appears then that the finished part of the original Difference Engine and all the drawings in as complete a state as possible ought to be carefully preserved for the history of Science and that the partly manufactured materials are comparatively of insignificant value.
To render these drawings usefull [del: more complete] the government ought to possess the Mechanical notation which is at present my own property. It is difficult to set a value upon a work which cost so much labor that I should be reluctant to undertake it again at any price.
[Del: I shall be] I am however willing to [del: give it] to exchange [del: it] that Notation for the whole or such portion of those materials as may be agreed upon [del: some of which may possibly ...].
[Del: I have mentioned below those things which might by possibility be [del: more usefull to] of [del: some] use to me hereafter [del: The rest I should consider] the rest I should consider as merely as metal.
The Sliding Rest
Cases marked 71, 72, 73, 74 Steel Axes & Rods
" " 75 Screws
" " 60 & 61 62 63 Springs and Cases
" " 25, 26 Bolts
" " 53 Mixed
" " 47, 48, 49 Bevel Wheels]

I am Sir
Your Very Obd^t Serv^t
CB
There is a chance small that some of them might [del: be more] (owing to my peculiar pursuits) be [del: turned to] rendered of some use but the far larger part can be considered as [del: was] worth [del: the] its weight of metal.
I am Sir
Your Obd^t Serv^t
CB
Dorset street
11 Jan 1843
To Alex Mylne Esq.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f237
Tuesday 7th Feb 1843
Notes of a letter from Babbage to Augusta Ada Lovelace
accept invitation
long since we met
Engine under new circumstances
British Library Add Ms 37192 f242
9th Feb^y 1843, Chateau de Saubmit
Robert Smith to Babbage
I do not know My dear Babbage why I should trouble you with this for I am sure it will not be worth the postage, but I feel I have been so very long from all relating to you that I am anxious to know how you are, and [del: see/has] how the world has used you, what has transpired relative to the Engine and whether Peel has given you any decided answer to your letter. I have had it in contemplation to write to you for the last month by the particular request of my wife who I am happy to say is quite well under the daily disappointment she meets with the arrival of the piéton in not receiving any letter from Dorset House. Sometimes she imagines you are indisposed, not ill disposed, other times that you are from home.
Robert Smith
British Library Add Ms 37192 f269
2nd March 1843, Turin
L.F. Ménabréa to Babbage
Monsieur
Un de mes amis, M^r le Chevalier Della Bocca, Capitaine d'état Major General et premier ecuyer des A.B. le Duc de Savoie, voulant bien se charger de ma lettre, je profite de son obligance pour me rappeler à votre souvenir. je pense, Monsieur, que vous aurez reçu les exemplaires d'une notice que j'ai publiée, dans la bibliothèque universelle de Genêve (No d'Octobre 1842) sur votre machine analytique, et que je vous ai expediés, de Chambéry, il y a peu de temps.
Je desire avoir été le fidèle interprête de vos pensées dans l'exposition des principes sur lesquels repose votre invention que je considere comme le plus bel effort du Genie humain. Mon ami, qui visite pour la première fois l'Angleterre, sera bien heureux de se trouver en rapport avec un homme comme vous. Veuillez lui accorder votre bienveillance et agréer l'expression des sentimens respectueux de votre très humble et bien devoué serviteur
L.F. Ménabréa
Capitaine du Genie Militaire
Turin le 2 Mars 1843
[Translation of above:
Sir
One of my friends, M. le Chevalier Della Bocca, Captain of the State, Major General and first ecuyer [equerry] of his Royal Highness the Duke of Savoy, has kindly offered to deliver my letter. I profit by his willingness to be able to recall myself to your memory. I think, sir that your will have already received copies of the notice which I had published in the Bibliothèque Universelle de Genêve (Issue of October 1842) on your Analytical Engine, and that I had sent from Chambéry a short time ago.
I desire to be the faithful intepreter of your thoughts in the exposition on the principles on which your invention rests and which I consider to be the most beautiful work of human Engineering. My friend, who visits England for the first time, will be very happy to find himself in rapport with a man like you. Please accord him your welcome and accept the expression of respectful sentiments from your very humble and very devoted servant
L.F. Ménabréa
Captain of Military Engineers
Turin 2nd March 1843]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f276
14th March 1843, Milan
Extract of a letter from L. D'Andreis, T^t Gen^l, to Babbage
... Ayant eu le plaisir de me trouver à diner auprès de vous au Château de Racconis l'année 1840, j'ose esperer que vous n'aurez pas tout-à-fait oublié mon nom, d'autant plus que eûtes la bonté de m'envoyer de Turin quelque papiers fort intéressant rélatifs à votre admirable machine de calculation. ...
[Translation:
... Having had the pleasure of finding myself sitting next to you at dinner at the Chateau Racconis in the year 1840, I very much hope that you will not have forgotten my name, more since you had the goodness to send to me from Turin several very intersting papers relative to your admirable calculating machine. ...]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f278
Thursday, 16th March 1843
Notes for a letter sent by Babbage to Augusta Ada Lovelace
Have kept Tuesday
Talk over notes to Menabrea
Woven Picture Jacquard
British Library Add Ms 37192 f283
28th March 1843, 10 New Street, Spring Gardens
Sir John Yarde Buller to Babbage
Re Vote for Rent for Premises [for the Calculating Machine] in East Street
My dear Sir,
The Vote [in the House of Commons] for the payment of the rent to you by the Government passed last night in a way that must be satisfactory to you. I spoke to Sir George Clark about it afterwards and he told me that the Government conceive themselves bound to pay you this Rent till the Lease comes to an end, unless they can in any other way and with your consent dispose of the Premises.
I am
Yours truly
J B Y Buller.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f285
30th March 1843
Babbage to Sir John Yarde Buller Bart.
My dear Sir,
I fear I did not make myself understood yesterday about the rent mentioned in the estimates.
Of course there could not be the least doubt that the Govt to whom I had granted a lease of [del: the] some property would and must pay the rent.
The question which I [del: had] wished to have had answered if it had been proposed was this. That the money was for rent and not for services and that the rent was a fair and equitable rent for the property. But this is quite a minor question.
I have spent the best part of my life in contriving and superintending for the Government the construction of that machine which they have recently abandoned [del: I have sacrificed professional advantages as well as a large sum of money and I have never in any [del: way] shape received the smallest remuneration for my own use use. One shilling of the public money or even the slightest mark of the approbation of the Gov^t] and I feel deeply the great injustice with which they have [del: been] treated my [del: by the Gov^t]
I am My dear Sir
Yours truly
CB
Dorset St
30 March 1843
British Library Add Ms 37192 f291
Tuesday 4th April 1843
Notes by Babbage, for a letter to Augusta Ada Lovelace?
two leaves for my notes at end of [del: relate] Article
Multiplying on [Zeros/Levers?]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f294
[del:16] 17th April 1843
Babbage to Mrs Damer
I enclose a few papers explanatory of some of the facts bearing on the subject about which you have taken so great an interest.
In the list No. 1 are some names of humble origin though they are all of distinguished merit. But it is perfectly well known that the success of some of them is due not merely to their scientific [del: merit] but to their party and electioneering merits.
It cannot be denied that the social position of men of science in England is very low. The emolument they receive when they are fortunate to get any is small and the honors to which they can rise are of the lowest grade. For them, there are no promotions at coronations no brevets no great prizes like those of the Army the Law and the Church.
During the late visit of the King of Prussia he remarked with suprise to one of the most distinguished of his suite the low estimation in which Science and its cultivators were held by the English Court.
[Del: It seems a...]
In fact in England a private gentleman who gives up the whole of his time [del: the successfull] to Science and spends a fortune in the pursuit if he happen to have chosen an expensive department has, however great his success, no one object of ambition to hope for from his country.
At present the prospects of Science are even worse than during former reigns for Newton was Master of the Mint in those of William the Third and that of Queen Ann: (but this office has now been appropiated entirely to political purposes) and Sir J. Banks was made a knight of the Bath by George the Third.
-------
On other page of No. 1 was
Pensions to the amount of 650 pr Ann have been given to the
Queen's Music Mistress
German Teacher
Italian "
French "
The low rate at which scientific services are estimated in England may be so compared with the following salaries
Clerks of the House of Lords
1. 5000 Per An.
2. 3000
3. 2000
4. 1500
DoorKeeper of the H. of Commons
900£
Papers refered to -The statement about the Engine and Rent drawn up for the H of C June 1842-
-------
No.1 Airey Astron R 800
Keeper of Chron^t 100
Pension 300
House Garden Porter Etc. 200
1400
Buckland Canon of Christchurch 1000

Herschel Sir J Baronet
Peacock Dean of Ely 1500?
Plumian Prof^r 300
1800
Sedgewick Prebend of Norwich 800
Prof of Geol -
800
Whewell Master of Trin Coll. 2000
Prof of Casuistry -
2000
British Library Add Ms 37192 f308
Saty 13 May 1843
Chas Lyell to Babbage
I saw yesterday the new museum at K.C. and really should be satisfied to see the Engine there in the place of honor intended for it. I could wish it had been presented by you with a stipulation for an annual lecture on it or some means of it being rendered available.
In her secon Danielle fully appreciates the advantage of having it.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f326
5th June 1843, Office of Woods, &c.
A. Milne to Babbage
[Heading by CB: Woods and Forests Price of Tools and unfinished work of Diff Engine to be paid by CB
Removal of Diff Eng to Somerset House]
[Reg No.]6038
[Minutes Dated] 2/6/43 Office of Woods &c.
5 June 1843
Sir,
On behalf of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods &c I am to acquaint you that they have instituted Mr Cox of this Office to make the necessary arrangements with you for moving the Difference Engine and Drawings to King's College, and the Board will be obliged by your giving such directions and assistance as shall ensure its safe transition.
With reference to the sliding rest and some of the Drawing boards which you desire to retain I have to state that the Board are willing that you should retain them at the prices you propose namely Twenty-five pounds [in margin: £25] for the slide rest, and 5^s/0^d each for the Drawing Boards, and the Board also sanction your retaining the unfinished materials prepared for the machine which will be charged to you at a price per pound, to be named by Messrs Barrow and Turner.
And with reference to the question of your retaining the Fireproof Room together with the small piece of vacant ground abutting upon your garden, the Board have instituted their Architects to report their opinion of the value of that portion of the premises either at an annual rent or for the whole of the unexpired term of the existing Lease, if they should be of opinion that a compliance with your application would not be prejudicial to letting the remaining portion of the Premises.
I am Sir
Your most obedient Servant
A. Milne
British Library Add Ms 37192 f335 to f366, f370 and f379
Letters from A. Ada Lovelace to Babbage re her translation of Menabrea's article on his Analytical Engine
British Library Add Ms 37192 f372
13th July 1843
Rough Copy of a letter from Babbage to the Rt Hon Chas. Arbuthnot
My dear Sir,
Having been applied to for [del: some] a brief statement of the facts connected with my Calculating Engines to be inserted in the introduction to the Translation of a [del: Memoir] paper on the subject of the Analytical Engine by [del: a distinguished Italian Mathematician] M. Menabrea I have taken the opportunity of correcting some of the many misrepresentations which are current upon the subject.
The great interest you have taken in [del: the singularly curious] the reasonings to which these machines have given [del: birth] rise [del: assures me that I need offer no apology for troubling you with a copy of that statement] assures me that a copy of that statement will not be unacceptable to you and even induces me to hope that you will [del: approve of the ...] assist me in the object which you will in the sequel perceive [del: in the sequel shall] I have in view.
You will see from this statement that
My whole time during upwards of twenty years has been employed in contriving and constructing these Engines.
That I have maintained with my own funds at great expense a considerable establishment of assistants.
That with a limited income I have in the pursuit of that object abandoned every lucrative appointment [del: for the purpose to make those engines].
That I have endured great annoyance and anxiety from the long delay in the decision of the Government which has both wasted my time and [del: well as] impeded my progress.
That whilst other persons have received distinctions of a personal or professional nature or have been assisted in their pursuits [del: by having the funds of ...] by powerfull institutions I have worked at my almost hopeless task not only unaided unencouraged and also that I have suffered in public estimation from the [del: past that] prevailing belief that I have received from the government ample pecuniary remuneration.
[del: On these grounds] The Government having now finally abandoned the construction of the Difference Engine, I feel that on these grounds some mark of distinction or of honor from the Sovereign for the services I have already rendered to science is the only means which can set me right in the opinion of the public and furnish a complete answer to those widely circulated mistatements.
I have therefore troubled you with this a copy of the statement and with this letter [del: venturing to hope that you might perhaps find some opportunity of bringing the subject before the Duke of Wⁿ who has uniformly ...] in the hope that you will not refuse me the benefit of your counsel in this matter.
I am My dear Sir
Yours truly
CB
To Ch^s Arbuthnot Esq^e
British Library Add Ms 37192 f374
13th July 1843
Top Copy of a letter from Babbage to the Rt Hon Chas. Arbuthnot
My dear Sir,
Having been applied to for a short statement of the facts connected with my Calculating Engines, to be inserted in the introduction to the Translation of a paper [del: on the subject] on the Analytical Engine by M. Menabrea, I have taken the opportunity of correcting some of the many misrepresentations which are current upon the subject.
The great interest you have taken in the reasonings to which these machines have given rise assures me that a copy of [del: that] those [del: statement] observations will not be unacceptable [del: to you] and even induces me to hope that you will assist me in the object which, you will in the sequel perceive, I have in view. [Del: You] It will be seen from these observations that
My whole time during upwards of twenty years has been employed in contriving and constructing these Engines.
That I have maintained with my own funds at great expense a considerable establishment of assistants.
That with a limited income I have in the pursuit of that object abandoned every lucrative appointment.
That I have endured great annoyance and anxiety from the long delay in the decision of the Government which has both wasted my time and impeded my progress.
That whilst other persons have received distinctions of a personal or professional nature or have been assisted in their pursuits by powerfull institutions I have worked at my almost hopeless task not only unaided unencouraged and alone but I have even suffered in public estimation from the prevailing belief that I have received from the [del: Government] Country ample pecuniary remuneration.
The Government having now finally abandoned the construction of the Difference Engine, I feel that, on these grounds, some mark of distinction or of honor from the Sovereign for the services I have already rendered to science is the only means which can set me right in the opinion of the public and furnish a complete answer to those widely circulated mistatements.
I have therefore troubled you with this a copy of the [del: statement] introduction to that Translation and with this letter in the hope that you will not refuse me the benefit of your counsel in this matter.
I am My dear Sir
Yours truly
C Babbage
Dorset St
Manch^r Sq
To the Rt Hon^ble Ch^s Arbuthnot
British Library Add Ms 37192 f381
20th July 1843, Office of Woods, &c.
Office of Woods to Babbage
Weight and Value of the old metal etc. connected with the Calculating Engine proposed to be disposed to M^r Babbage.
---------------
Cwt qu lbs £ s d
Brass [Gun Metal] 48 - 0 - 26 @7[d per lb] 157-11-2
Steel 7 - 2 - 6 @8[d per lb] 28- 4-0
Amount as offered by Mr Babbage for the Slide
rest/a part of the Engine 25- 0-0
23 Drawing Boards @ 5[s each] 5-15-0
[Total] £216-10-2
Office of Woods, &c.
20th July 1843
[In pencil by CB: a) 3|112
37.3
74.6
b) Higginbottom King St Holborn]
British Library Add Ms 37192 f382 and f383
A.A. Lovelace to Babbage and Babbage to A.A. Lovelace re her translation of Menabrea's paper.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f385
24th July 1843, Office of Woods, &c.
A. Milne to Babbage
[Reg No.] 2755
[Date of Meeting] 21/7/43 Office of Woods
24th July 1843
Sir,
On behalf of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods &c. I herewith transmit to you an amount of the weight and value of the metals in SUndry unfinished Articles connected with the Calculating Engine together with the Sliding rest and some of the Drawing Boards you desired to retain, and which are charged at the prices you named.
Mr Cox has been directed to deliver the several Articles to you, and I have to request you will at your early convenience transmit the Amount of the Account [in margin: £216-10-2] Two hundred and sixteen pounds ten shillings and twopence to Mr Waller, the Cashier of this Department.
I am
Sir
Your most obedient Servant
A. Milne
British Library Add Ms 37192 f386-393,f398-409
Letters from A.A. Lovelace and Taylor to Babbage re the Translation of Menabrea's article.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f410
31st July 1843
Notes by Babbage
Account of the expenses [del: incurred by Mr B] incurred in having [del: charge] care of the House, workshops and fireproof building containing the Calculating Engine.
No.
1. A person to take care of the building at 12^sh per week
from Friday 24 Jan 1834 to Friday 26 Dec 1831 (48 weeks) £28-16s-0d
from Friday 26 Dec 1834 to 1 Jan 1836 (53 weeks) £31-16s-0d
from 1 Jan 1836 to 30 Dec 1836 (52 weeks) £31- 4s-0d
from 30 Dec 1836 to 29 Dec 1837 (52 weeks) £31- 4s-0d
from 29 Dec 1837 to 28 Dec 1838 (52 weeks) £31- 4s-0d
from 28 Dec 1838 to 27 Dec 1839 (52 weeks) £31- 4s-0d
from 27 Dec 1839 to 25 Dec 1840 (52 weeks) £31- 4s-0d
from 25 Dec 1840 to 31 Dec 1841 (53 weeks) £31-16s-0d
from 31 Dec 1841 to 30 Dec 1842 (52 weeks) £31- 4s-0d
from 30 Dec 1842 to 24 Jun 1843 (25 weeks) £15- 0s-0d
[Total] 491 weeks £294-12s-0d
2. Coals at £6 a year 9½ years £57- 0s-0d
3. Soap brooms brushes mats &c. at 12s a year 9½ years £5-14s-0d
4. Immediate repair of skylights water pipes &c. £5- 5s-0d
5. Parish Rates
½ of Lighting cleaning and paving 5d in the £ on rate
of 60 £ per year for 9½ years £11-17s-6d
6. Gas Supplied --------

7. Expenses of cleaning and keeping in order the Calc^g Eng. --------

_____________
[Total] £374- 3s-6d
Amount Due from Mr B for the materials Drawing boards
as by account 2755-21/7/43 £216-10s-2d

_____________
[Net owed by Office of Woods to CB] £157-13s-4d
British Library Add Ms 37192 f411
Observations made by Babbage on the above
1. This arrangement of paying 12sh a week for a person to take care of the premises [del: had been] was discussed in a conversation Mr B had with Mr Mylne at the Office of W&F and was as soon as such a person had been found approved of in a note from Mr Mylne.
2. Continual fires were necessary to preserve the drawings from damp and the machinery from rust. The coals were taken from Mr B's cellar and are estimated at 4 tons a year at 30s per ton the price generally paid by him.
3. Soap &c. No account of these has been kept and it is presumed that 12sh cannot be above their cost.
4. In consequence of storms birds and accidents the skylights were frequently broken and occasionally the water pipes were burst. In many such cases it became necessary for the safety of the property to have them immediately repaired. The book in which an account of these items was kept; having been mislaid 5£ has been charged a sum which Mr B is confident is considerably below the sum he has paid.
5. Parish Rates. In consequence of the continual expectation of some permanent arrangement being made Mr B did not have that part of His premises of which the Gov^t had become the possessor separately rated to the Parish. The whole property is rated at £200 [del: and]. If the Gov^t property had been separately rated it would from the circumstances of its being uninhabited have been subject only to one half of the rates for paving lighting and cleansing. [Del: These rates being 10d per £ one half then would be 5d.]
These rates are 10d per £
One half " 5d " £

Had the apportionment of rates been made [del: £60 a year could scarcely have been so ...] it is probable that more than 60£ would have been assigned to the Government property.
On this sum of 60£ Mr B has during the last 9½ years been paying parish rates of from 3 to 4sh per £ amounting to about 100£ and he proposes that 5d per £ as a rental of 60£ should be allowed him.
6. For the purpose of keeping the gas meter in order it was necessary to use it about once a month -no charge has been made for this supply.
7. The Calculating Engine itself required to be cleaned and kept in order. Mr B has frequently employed his own workmen for that purpose but has [del: made no ...] no wish to make any charge for [del: that] it.
British Library Add Ms 37192 f411 verso
31st July 1843
Babbage to Alex. Mylne Esq^e
In reference to 2755 21/7/43
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24 July enclosing an account in of the Wt and Value of the metals in the unfinished articles [del: of the] connected with the Calc^g Engine and also of the sliding rest and of the drawing boards.
[Del: The sum amounts to 216-10-2 which I am]
It appears from this account that the sum of 216-10-2 is due from me to the Com^rs of W & Forests.
During the [del: nine years] time I have had the [del: charge] care of the Engine and of the premises in East st I have had occasion to make various disbursements for them an account of which I enclose. It appears by this that the [del: total] sum I have expended amounts to 374-3-6 so that the present state of the account will be
Due from Mr B to the Com of W & F 216 - 10 - 2
Expended by Mr B for the Com of W & F 374 - 3 - 6
Ballance due to Mr Babbage 157 - 13 - 4
I am Sir
Your Very Obd^t Servant
CB
Dorset St 31 July 1843
Undated Letters and Papers Correspondents A to L
British Library Add Ms 37200 f24
Extract of a note
Mr Babbage spoke to the following effect on the presentation by the Graphic Society of a testimonial to Mr Brockendon the founder
... I remember one striking instance of art united to mechanics in the production by the loom of what appeared to be a beautiful print executed in compliment to Jacquard of Lyons the inventor of the machine, whose portrait was thus produced by the machine he had invented. ...
British Library Add Ms 37200 f42
Extract of a Letter from Bulwer E.L. (Baron Lytton) to Babbage
... Might I ask the additional favour of a note on your calculating machine, the great invention of the age; any brief history of its conception and prospect of its ulterior views w^d be most valuable. It might be the consequence and staple as it were of a note stating the principle inventions and discoveries of the last few years, but this is as you like. ...
[Lytton was the editor of a journal called the Monthly Chronicle]
British Library Add Ms 37200 f51
Letter from Harry Wilmot Buxton to Babbage
n.d., Hartwell House, Nr Aylesbury, Bucks
... There seems to be in fact two species of numbers dealt with additive and subtractive. Their operation is made palpable upon the Machine by the direction of the figure wheels. If one represents a positive progression the reverse will of course represent a negative one. Now it seems pretty clear that if this is an accurate conception of Numbers the analogy of operations requires that whatever signs are necessary for the combination of positive numbers, the same signs are also numbers to complete the analogies of the Science, and also necessary in operating upon negative ones, and it [is] as easy to conceive the necessity of the use of signs upon numbers which have passed thro' zero , as on numbers whose progression is in the other direction. I dare say you may characterize this as gibberish, but seeing the importance of signs both of ideas and operations (inconceivable) it cannot be doubted that the latter class play a most important part in Algebraic Computations. They point out plainly those limits by which the possible relations of things are circumscribed, and distinguish those which are capable of being limited in the same system of things. By means of these conventional signs we are made sensible of how far the greatest and the least degrees [del: in which] of these conditions can co- exist. When positive number passes thro' zero it ceases to have an actual existence, it has not in fact an imaginary existence, for we cannot imagine it. I therefore take exception to the term "imaginary quantity" but lest I sh^d fall into heresy [I] leave it to you to relieve Mathematics from this palpable absurdity.
I hope you will find time to send the "same sign" while at Hartwell. Mrs. Buxton joins me in kind regards. ...
British Library Add Ms 37200 f53
Thursday Morning, n.d.
Letter from Harry Wilmot Buxton to Babbage re Review of his Ninth Bridgewater Treatise
Dear Babbage,
Many thanks for your inclosures. The note of Mr Favet is a most satisfactory testimonial of the sentiments of the Aide de Camp and I anticipate something equally flattering on the part of the Emperor.
With regard to the review I was scarcely prepared for so flattering a reception of your views on "Miracles" by the Church party. It is a great pity that you are not in other respects qualified for promotion to a Bishoprick. The review is well written and is obviously the production of a man who has thought upon the subject of mechanical calculus. I object to the mode of statement of your argument which is inaccurate. The Reviewer says: "if the maker of a machine can thus &c. its Creator might ordain &c." this is a mere argument on a foregone conclusion, a mere argument to prove that what is possible to the finite mechanician is also possible to the infinite Creator. With the very idea of the Godhead is connected the attribute of omnipotence and no argument can confirm or amplify that conception; but your argument is purely analogical and founded on the true basis of all human reasoning: a gradual series of generalizations of which the last term is merged in the omnipotence of the Godhead.
I do not think I am hypercritical.
Addio Yrs very faithfully
Wilmot Buxton
P.S. How the Reviewer arrives at the conclusion "that there is evidently a latent vein of superstition" in your mind I do not clearly see. All that you have hitherto written would lead me to a contrary conclusion, however I may be praeternaturally stupid or obtuse. You alone can set it right.
British Library Add Ms 37200 f55
Note Babbage to Buxton
British Library Add Ms 37200 f63
n.d.
Extract of a letter from Julia Cameron to Babbage
... Your parties I always heard were the most charming in London. You say the secret was in having an automaton woman! I think the secret is in having talking men and I am sure it was. I will be in your presence and talk not failing so I entreat you not to fail us. We shall have some good music and some pretty women. Will either or both of these tempt you and if their influence is weak will you sacrifice yourself to all the bore of coming to please friends ...
British Library Add Ms 37200 f65
Monday, 13 July n.y., 29 Grosvenor Square
Sir Stafford Canning to Babbage
Sir Stafford Canning presents his compliments to Mr Babbage. Though he has not the honour of being personally known to Mr Babbage he would esteem it a great favour to be allowed to see Mr Babbage's Calculating Machine. He feels that he is taking a liberty in making this request, but he hopes Mr Babbage will excuse his not writing to obtain an introduction, as he wishes not only to gratify his own curiosity, but to obtain for a foreign friend of his, who leaves London on Thursdy, an opportunity of seeing, while here the most remarkable invention of this, or perhaps of any age or country.
British Library Add Ms 37200 f73
July 27 n.y., Belgrave Square
W. Cavendish to Babbage
My Dear Sir
I am extremely obliged to you for your very kind offer, and I do not think I ever was more sorry than to be unfortunately prevented from taking advantage of it, but I am obliged quite unexpectedly to leave London next Saturday for 3 or 4 days. I really am quite vexed at having first asked you to shew me your engine, and then not being able to profit by your kindness.
I remain
Very truly yrs
W. Cavendish
British Library Add Ms 37200 f91
Samedi, 29 Juillet [n.y.]
D.C. Colladon to Babbage
Monsieur
Je vais voir aujourd'hui à 3 heures à Hackney 12 John Street une fabrique où se trouve une nouvelle application des métiers à la Jacquard ce devait un trés grand plaisir pour le propiétaire si vous lui saisier l'honneur de venir. Il y a plusieurs autres machines ingenieuses.
Le propiétaire s'appelle M. La Rivière constructeur de Blinds en percés métalliques.
Veuillez Agréer Mes Saluations Respecteuses
et empriméer
D.C. Colladon
[Translation: Sir, I am going today at 3 o'clock to no. 12 John Street Hackney to a factory where one will see a new application for the Jacquard process. It will be a very great pleasure for the proprietor if you would seize this opportunity to come. There are several other ingenious machines [there also]. The proprietor is called M. La Rivière who is manufacturer of blinds made from metallic slats. Yours sincerely D.C. Colladon.]
British Library Add Ms 37200 f129
March 10th [n.y.], 22 Holles Street, Cavendish Sq. London W
Cornelia A. Crosse to Babbage
Dear Mr Babbage
Can you oblige me with two tickets for the next Friday evening's lecture at the Royal Institution? If I am presuming too much on your kindness, forget my request. I have endured much from the reproaches of my friend Miss Kingslake, whom it appears I dragged away from a very interesting discussion with you at Mr. Barlow's. What a magnificent invention it would be, if time could be made to contract or expand, according to our sense of its agreeability -Raleigh in "The Size" said "Tell Time it is but motion".
I had a letter yesterday from a very warm admirer of yours, Mr Jerwood, a Devonshire Mathematician. He seems to consider that there are two things in London: Yourself and the Calculating Machine.
But I shall be reduced to less than a cypher in your estimation if I fall into the error of my sex -a long letter.
Allow me to subscribe myself
Yours sincerely
Cornelia A F Crosse
[ps] My friend begs me to add her kind regards, but I will not add a postscript. C 3
British Library Add Ms 37200 f142
n.d.
Extract of a Letter from J.C. Bancroft-Davies to Babbage
... I neglected to acknowledge your kindness in sending me the copies of the 9th Bridgwater, the Pamphlet, and the plate of the Calculating Engine, hoping to have found time to call on you and thank you in person. ...
British Library Add Ms 37200 f146
Saturday Morning, n.d., 69 Gower Street
Augustus de Morgan to Babbage
Dear Babbage
I have no objection that I remember to the publication of the letter, but I should in such case beg to you request Sir E. head to send me a proof.
I am sorry we cannot go out, but my wife has a young baby and so have I (No. 24 Diff Calc).
Yours Truly
A. de Morgan
British Library Add Ms 37200 f151
Wednesday, n.d., 69 Gower Street
Extract of a letter from Augustus De Morgan to Babbage
... A very decent Moscow Russian Professor Brusckmann ... is very curious about the machine. ...
British Library Add Ms 37200 f153
Sunday, n.d., 69 Gower Street
Augustus De Morgan to Babbage
Dear Babbage
The calculating machine I spoke to you about is to be shewn to a few persons on wednesday at 12 o'clock. The place is 47 Hunter St brunswick Sq. Judd St. Produced ask for Mr Fowler.
If you can come I think you will be pleased with the ingenuity of an uneducated man, though I apprehend this machine will not not run risk of error, and true only in certain cases.
Yours Truly
A De Morgan
British Library Add Ms 37200 f240
Thursday, n.d., 35 Cavendish Square
J. Long [or Lerry?] to Babbage
Dear Sir,
I have to return you many thanks for your kind note, and invitation. My mother and sister propose to have the pleasure of going to see the machine on Saturday next if that will suit you. My father will join then if he can, and I hope that I shall be able to do so. Might I ask you to let me know at what time they had better go to you?
Pray believe me Sir
Yours Very Truly
J. Long or [Lerry?]
British Library Add Ms 37200 f260
Thursday Morning, 15 Park Westminster London SW
William Gravatt to Babbage
My dear sir
Will you kindly turn over your red copies and see if there be not one inscribed to Brunel. Scheutz is out, he is not very orderly, and there seems to be a blank copy that should belong to you, and Brunel's copy I cannot find. If it be as I imagine you can give me the inscribed book to night and I will bring you a blank copy.
Yours faithfully
Wm. Gravatt.
British Library Add Ms 37200 f290
n.d.
Benjamin Hawes to Babbage
Dear Babbage
The enclosed is the result of my application to Hansard.
Where can I see you upon it - as I learn I can at least report myself; but then I should like between ourselves to state my case with perfect accuracy.
Yours sincerely ever
B. Hawes Esq.
British Library Add Ms 37200 f395
July 16th [n.y.] 3 Osnaburgh Messuage
Richard Lane to Babbage
Sir
I beg to thank you very cordially for a copy of the paper which (as a member of the Graphic Society) I have received from you.
I will not doubt that your previous advocacy of the high merits of Mr Scheutz will have their due effect.
I have the honor
to be Sir
Your obedient Servant
Rich^d Lane
British Library Add Ms 37200 f400
Friday, n.d., Regent Street
Dionysius Lardner to Babbage
My Dear Babbage
I have made arrangem^ts for interviews with the principal leaders of the press for Sunday and Monday. So pray keep yourself disengaged from ½ p. 2 on Monday till 5. We must make another appointment after that for we shall not be able to get thro all in the next two days.
ever yours
Dion: Lardner
British Library Add Ms 37200 f411
Sunday, n.d., 9 Whitehall place
Extract of a letter from John G. Shaw Lefevre to Babbage
... Ryan told me that you would be kind enough to shew me your Calculating Machine this morning. Will you allow me to put off this pleasure till next Sunday or the Sunday after, which ever may suit you when I hope the weather will be more favourable ...
British Library Add Ms 37200 f423
19 August n.y. Paris
Extract of a letter from G. Libriez to Babbage
... Je profite du voyage de M. Daly ingenieur très distingué, qui a commencé une publication periodique du plus haut interêt, il qui desire bien vivement pouvoir admirer votre admirable machine. Je vous serai entremement reconnaissait si vous permettez à M. Daly de cherche auprès de vous des directions a des conseils; il est tout à fait deja de votre interêt, et je vous entremement reconnaissant de tout ceque vous pouvez faire pour lui ...
[Translation: ... I benefit from the journey of M. Daly, a very distinguished engineer, who has just started a periodical publication of considerable interest. He wants very much to admire your wonderful machine. I would be extremely grateful to you if you would let him visit you for advice and guidance. He is completely au fait with your interest and I would be grateful for whatever you can do for him. ...]
British Library Add Ms 37200 f425
Saturday evening, n.d., 21 Berkeley Square.
Lord Lindsay to Babbage
Lord Lindsay presents his compliments to Mr Babbage, and requests he will accept his best thanks for the kind permission he has given to see his most curious and wonderful calculating machine, and the more so a Lord L. fears that his writing to him may occasion Mr B. some inconvenience, and as he has not mentioned any particular hour, but expresses a wish that it may be early. Lord L. will do himself the honor to wait upon him tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
British Library Add Ms 37200 f473
n.d., 23 St. James' Place
Mr Lubbock to Babbage
My dear Babbage,
The Committee of the Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge are in treaty with Didot for his plates of Callet's Logarithms or rather for copies of them.
But I think it would be far better if possible to accomplish the thing here. Have you not published logarithms, and may I take the liberty of asking if you still have the copyright of them or if not what Bookseller has in order that we may apply to him[?] Can you tell me whether we could be supplied with a number of copies say 1000 at a very moderate price in order to bind up with our treatises[?] Between ourselves Didot offers us a 1000 copies @ 5 francs per copy.
This matter will be discussed by the Committee next Friday therefore your answer before would very much oblige.
Yours most truly
Mr Lubbock
[ps] pray direct to me
Undated Letters Correspondents M to Z
British Library Add Ms 37201 f30
On the back of a letter from Blanche Marryat to Babbage sending him a Chinese compass.
A draft letter from Babbage to Lord Duke (presumably the Duke of Wellington)
My L Duke
I shall be most happy to show the Cal. Engine to Count Mensdorf [del: at any time which may be most convenient], and will have everything ready [del: at the above] on Wednesday morning next [del: at eleven] [del: should any other time] [in pencil:] Should any other time prove ultimately more convenient I will if your Grace inform me [del: endeavour] adopt it.
I regret that the engine is not in so convenient a room as it was when I had last the honor of showing it to you but I will endeavour to make it as convenient as its position admits.
I am My Lord Duke
with sincerest Respect
Your very faithful
Serv^t
CB
British Library Add Ms 37201 f35
10th Dec [n.y.], 30 Upper Grosvenor Street
Extract of a letter from Francis Offley Martin to Babbage
Dear Babbage
Our returning home from the country this afternoon I was sorry to find that I had missed an opportunity of seeing your Machine. I should have been delighted to see it then. I fear the small portion of Mathematics I ever possessed would not and never will enable me to comprehend it. I hope to be more fortunate some future day. ...
30 Upper Gros^vn
Dec 10th
F. Offley Martin
British Library Add Ms 37201 f53
n.d. 25 Old Sq., Lincoln's Inn
F.O. Martin to Babbage
Dr Babbage
My clerk wishes to know if you are willing to be a Trustee of the London Mechanics Institution. Say yes: Dine with us on Saturday and send me the Book for Blishaw.
Ever Yours
F.O. Martin
25 Old Sq. Linc. Inn
It will be of use to you to be Trustee and no trouble.
British Library Add Ms 37201 f59
Thursday n.d.
Extract of a letter from F.O. Martin to Babbage
Dear Babbage
Mr Henry Ellis our ambassador to Persia is very anxious to see the machine before he goes. I promised to ask you for a card for him and his wife who is a very nice pretty little woman for Saturday. Can you spare me one. He is a right Hon^ble if that make a difference in the address. ...
F.O. Martin
Thursday

British Library Add Ms 37201 f61
Thursday night n.d., 19 Upper Grosvenor Street
Note from F.O. Martin to Babbage
If I do not receive a tuppenny poster to counter order me I will come.
Dear Babbage
If either you or Herschel are likely to be at home about 2 o' clock on Sunday I should be much obliged if you would let me bring Wood (you know him to see the Machine. He is a good Analyst and will twig the principle.
Ever truly yours
F.O. Martin
19 Upper Gros. St.
Thursday night
British Library Add Ms 37201 f81
Friday n.d., 19 Upper Grosvenor Street
F.O. Martin to Babbage
My dear Babbage
I send two notes. On e from my clerk and one from a man by the name of Mylne a lawyer who was a fine friend of yours at Finsbury: As to that part of the story which relates to Clement that is out of the question. Can you let him come someday to see the Machine?
They say Lord M [2 unreadable words] go by default.
Ever truly yours
F.O. Martin
19 UGS Friday
British Library Add Ms 37201 f140
Sunday Noon n.d., Harley Street
J. Morrison
My Dr Sir
I hope I shall be able to get you a copy of the Portrait of Jacquard in about a month.
I understand twenty five thousand cards were employed in making the design.
Yours faithfully
J. Morrison
British Library Add Ms 37201 f142
Thursday Evening, Harley Street
Note from J. Morrison to Babbage
Mr Morrison presents compts to Mr Babbage and sends him the copy of the Portrait of Jacquard.
British Library Add Ms 37201 f212
Thurs 11 April [n.y.]
H. Harris Nicolas to Babbage
My dear Mr Babbage
I am sorry I was prevented from writing to you yesterday, and more so that my list of the Masters of the Mint extends only from 1760 to 1806.
I am Sincerely Yours
H. Harris Nicolas
Thurs 11 April
British Library Add Ms 37201 f238
Monday Noon [n.d.], Tavistock Place
H Harris Nicolas to Babbage
... I saw the attack upon your plan in "the Times", and was thrown into despair. I rejoice That your courage is greater and am impatient to hear what your present plans are. ...
H. Harris Nicolas
British Library Add Ms 37201 f266
14th February [n.y.] British Museum
A. Pannizzi to Babbage
My Dear Sir
Many thanks back for the information you sent me and for the 11th Chapter of Weld's Hist. of the Roy. Soc. I am glad you did not write on it the story of its "rejection" chiefly because I should have felt hurt at its being thought that the pamphlet was "rejected", whilst as i endeavoured to show there was no such intention.
Believe me
Yours very obliged
A. Pannizzi
British Library Add Ms 37201 f274
June 12 [n.y.], 19 Connaught Place
Earl of Rosse to Babbage
Dear Babbage
I have been [unreadable word: making?] several attempts recently to make miniature calculating machines, and before I came to London Mr Hackney of the Commissioner's department exhibited one by which he made some of the calculations required of the Consolidated Annuities Committee. The machine I believe was produced at the committee. I presume the charming ideas in their 000s have been in a great measure taken from you. There were several of such machines at the Exhibition, but I saw nothing about them. With the view of making myself up with the subject I shall feel obliged if you giving me some information on this point.
truly
Rosse
British Library Add Ms 37201 f292
Wednesday Noon [n.d.], 59 Montague Square
Juliet Pollock to Babbage
My dear Mr Babbage,
Many thanks for the eleventh chapter of the R.S. History. My husband has read it with deep interest and I intend to read it this afternoon. There is another pamphlet which you promised to lend me, from which you read me a very admirable passage describing what a statesman ought to be. I forget the title of the pamphlet, but you will know what I mean, and if you will have the kindness to put it on your hall table addressed to me, I will send for it in the course of tomorrow.
The remembrance of the time I spent in your library will always be a source of pleasure to me. I feel very anxious for the publication of your work, for it is a great satisfaction whatever may be the subject treated to read language so beautiful and powerful as you are the master of.
I am my dear Mr Babbage
Juliet Pollock
59 Montague Square
Wednesday Noon
British Library Add Ms 37201 f308
March 6th [n.y.], 46 Berness Street
F. Prandi to Babbage
Dear Sir,
If you are likely before next Monday to show your Calculating Machine to any friends, I should consider it as a great favour if you would allow me to join the party together with some gentlemen of the suite of the Duke of Lucca, and perhaps the Duke himself, who will leave for Italy at the beginning of next week. As I have scarcely the honor of being known to you, I should not venture to make this request, were I not induced to hope that from regard to Lyell and many other common friends, you will perhaps excuse the liberty which I thus take.
I have the honor to be
Your very Obedient Servt
F. Prandi
British Library Add Ms 37201 f314
Monday 21 June [n.y.], London
(Londres Lundi 21 Juin)
Guillaume Prévost to Babbage
Monsieur
C'est avec un grand regret que je n'ai pu profiter ce matin de l'offre obligeante que vous fîtes l'autre jour à mon père M. le prof. Prévost de me montrer votre intéressante machine. Mais j'ai été retenu trop tard à Balham hill et je suis obligé de partir par le coach de Brighton, où je vais sejourner une semaine avec un de mes frères.
Je prendrai la liberté à mon retour de vous rendre mes devoirs.
En attendant, je vous prie, Monsieur, d'agréer l'assurance de mon entière dévouement.
Gme Prévost
[translation: Sir, It is with great regret that I cannot profit this morning from the obliging offer which you made the other day to my father, Professor Prevost, of showing me your interesting machine. But I returned too late to Balham Hill and I am obliged to leave by coach to Brighton, where I am going to stay a week with one of my brothers. I will take the liberty on my return of paying my respects. Awaiting that occasion I beg you, Sir, to accept the assurance of my whole devotion. William Prevost]
British Library Add Ms 37201 f317
Prony to Madame Bowditch
Brook Taylor, celebre géometre du 17e et du commencemnt du 18e siècle, auteur de l'ouvrage intitulé Methodus Incrementorum &c. [Directa et Inversa 1715 London] espouser en 1729, Subettor fille de John Fawbridge, esq. d'Planting dans le Kent. Cette femme mourait en 1729 en accouchant d'une fille, qui lui suivent, et qui a été la mere de William Young.
Ce Mr William Young a conservé et publié, en partie, les manuscrits de son grand pere maternal, Brook Taylor (Un de ces manuscrits, imprimé en 1793, avait pour titre Contemplatio Philosophica; il a fourni des notes pour la notice biographique de Taylor, inserée dans l'encyclopaedia anglaise.)
Si Madame Bowditch est en liaison avec Mr William Young, elle obligerait Mr de Prony en l'informant si M. Young, a quelque notes sur Taylor, qui ne soient pas dans l'encyclopaedie anglaise et qui puissent etre placée dans la biographie française.
[Translation: Brook Taylor, famous mathematician of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries, author of the work entitled Methodus Incrementorum &c. married in 1729 the daughter of of John Fawbridge, of Planting in Kent. She died in 1729 giving birth to a daughter, who survived, and who became the mother of William Young. This Mr William Young has preserved and published in part the manuscripts of his maternal grandfather, Brook Taylor. (One of these manuscripts printed in 1793 was entitled Contemplatio Philosophica; it provided the information for the biographical notice of Taylor, which was inserted in the Encyclopaedia Britannica).
If Madame Bowditch is in liaison with Mr William Young, she would oblige Mr Prony by informing him if Mr Young has several notes on Taylor, which did not appear in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, but which could be placed in the French Biography.]

British Library Add Ms 37201 f318
n.d.
Prony
en 18.. ... le gouvernement engager l'auteur des grandes tables a faire faire une transcription des 10000 Log. Sin. et Tang. à 8 figures. L'auteur considerait les chances d'erreur des copistes prit le parti de faire calculer immediatement les 10000 log. sin. et tang pour les ateliers où les grandes tables avaint été formées. dans l'espace de 9 jours, deux exemplaires de ces tables manuscrites furent achévés à 9 chiffres (dont 8 exacts) et 3 ordres différences.
école des ponts et chausées
Rue Culture Ste Catherine au Marais No. 27
[Translation: In 18.. ... the government [of France] engaged the author of the grand tables [i.e. Prony] to produce a transcription of Logs Sines and Tangents to 10000, to 8 figures. The author considered the chances of error made by the copyists against that produced by recalculation of the 10000 logs, sines and tangents by the same workshops which had created the grand tables. In the space of 9 days, two copies of these manuscript tables were achieved, to 9 figures (which gives 8 exact) and 3 orders of differences.
School of Bridges and Roads
Rue Culture St. Catherine au Marais No. 27]
British Library Add Ms 37201 f321
9th May [n.y.], Brussels
Letter in French to Babbage, author unknown and illegible, requesting if Babbage would let a young Vito Mangiamete, a calculator and only 11½ years old?, see his celebrated arithmetic machine.
British Library Add Ms 37201 f339
n.d.
Spring Rice to Babbage
My dear Sir,
Will you let our engagement stand over till after Trinity examinations or the next week when I can bring my young mathematician from Cambridge to participate in the delight of acknowledging and viewing the work of your prodigy. I wish to gratify my son and to spare you the trouble of seeing us twice.
Remember your promise that your machine is never to calculate the duties of Sec^r to the Treasury.
If you look in on us next Wed^s evening Lady Thurdum will be very glad to see you.
Yours truly
Spring Rice
British Library Add Ms 37201 f355
1st November n.y. Observatory
Extract of a letter from T.R. Robinson to Babbage
My dear Babbage
Make any use of my letter you think likely to secure the cause. I only wish you had acted on the hint long ago. ...
T.R. Robinson
British Library Add Ms 37201 f380
Tuesday 7th March n.y, 4 Bulstrode Street
Extract of a letter from Forbes Royle to Babbage
... to enquire whether any part of your celebrated Calculating Machine is visible and if so whether you would allow her (Mrs Royle) to see it, as she has been very anxious to do ever since she took notes of the lecture she heard on the subject. ...
British Library Add Ms 37201 f399
Wednesday, n.d. Park Lane
Extract of a letter from Charlotte Somerset to Babbage
Dr Sir
As you kindly proposed to shew me your machine for calculating I write to propose coming to you on Sat^y at ½ past one o'c. Could you after we have seen it manage to shew us the invention of Mr Perkins. ...
Charlotte Somerset
Park Lane Wed^y
British Library Add Ms 37201 f409
n.d., 18 Spring Gardens
Jane Georgiana Seymour to Babbage
... with compliments to the Silver Lady ...
British Library Add Ms 37201 f449
Friday 5 n.m. n.y., 47 Bryanstone Square
Extract of letter from Mary Skinner to Babbage
My dear Mr Babbage
I heard it asserted that there was not one "Tally" of the Exchequer left, as they have not one at the British Museum. I therefore send you one, Given to me by
"Commissioner Milne,
Who order'd the Kiln" - he of
Woods and Forests who rescued a few from the pyre.
...
Mary Skinner
British Library Add Ms 37201 f459
20th June [1823?/1828?], House of Commons
William Smith to ?
Dr Sir
On speaking to the Chr of the Exchequer it appears to me that 2 misunderstandings exist respect^g our Friend Babbage's Business. Robinson conceives that no more was asked of him than to reimburse B's Expences in the Construction of his Machine, which He is ready to do. I tho^t from D. Gilb^t that something of a remunerating Premium for the employment of his Time and Talent was asked, that hopes of it were given, and that it was afterwards declined. It is therefore highly expediant that the State of the Facts should be ascertained before anything more shall be said about it.
I am Dr Sir
Yrs very truly
W^m Smith
H^o of Comm^s 20th June
British Library Add Ms 37201 f474
Saturday 19th July [n.y.]
W. Somerville to Babbage
My dear Sir
I send you with shame and remorse for neglect of my promise to Mr Clement Robinson's paper on Turning. If my friend arrives today from Scotland with this patent machine Dr James will conduct him to you tomorrow.
very sincerely yours
W. Somerville
Saturday 19th July

British Library Add Ms 37201 f481
n.d.
H.C. Sorby to Babbage
My dear Sir
If I had not gone off when I did, I should not have caught Mr Gore in; for he had to leave home early. He suggested that I should call on Mr Osler, who told me that
Mr George Shaw Patent Agent 7 Cannon Street
who is a scientific man would be as likely a person as anyone to tell you who would be the best person to make your brass work. I am sorry not to have seen you again and to have missed seeing the button with which I am so much interested. Wishing you every success.
I remain
Yours very truly
H.C.Sorby
British Library Add Ms 37201 f538
21st April, St Albans
Harriet Beecher Stowe to Babbage
My dear Babbage
Mr Scheutz has been kind enough to send me a Copy of his "Specimen of Tables calculated &c.". I should like to thank him for it very much but don't know his address. Will you kindly do it for me? and express to him my thanks for his "Bonsouvenir".
Pray excuse this trouble
and believe me
very truly yours
H.B. Stowe
British Library Add Ms 37201 f539
n.d.
Extract of a letter from Harriet Beecher Stowe to Babbage
[re 9th Bridgewater Treatise] ... I must take the liberty of saying that owing to an absolute want of mathematical capability in myself, my veneration for that talent in others amounts to almost superstition. And I do not know that I have been ever more excited and impressed than that by an account I once heard of the process by which your celebrated calculating machine was eliminated. I felt as much awe struck as the natives of the new world did at the sight of ships.
British Library Add Ms 37201 f580
3rd March n.y, P.O. Union Hall
J. Wedgwood to Babbage
My dear Sir
My father is referred to a Mr Clements with respect to a mode of propelling canal boats. He is stated to be an eminent civil engineer especially skilled in mechanical contrivances with whom you are acquainted. I should be extremely obliged to you if you would send me a line to tell me whether this is so or not and whether you think he is a man whose opinion upon such a subject is of much value.
I am, my dear Sir
Yours faithfully
J. Wedgwood
British Library Add Ms 37201 f614
Tuesday n.d., 33 York Street, Portman Square
Gudrun Wilkinson to Babbage
Dear Babbage,
Did I understand you rightly, that there are between 30 and 40 volumes such as the one you lent me printed with different inks on the same number of variously coloured sheets (150 or 151 sheets): Does your list viz. "3 of blue 3 of purple 4 of salmon colour, 4 of yellow, 4 of pink 4 of green, 3 of purplish brown" refer to the ink or to the Colour of the paper? I thought the inks were of 20 different tones, that is 2 tones of 10 colours.
What are the rest of the volumes belonging to the set of which I have one which is in black ink on 151 sheets of differently coloured paper.
Are they not 1 black ink 2 blue ink, 2 red ink, 2 green and so on or are they the list you sent me of 3 blue, 3 purple etc. If so no black and no red ink are mentioned.
I understand them to be as on the opposite page. Am I right? If so kindly mark them off as I have done and return me that page so marked.
I am very truly
Gudrun Wilkinson
British Library Add Ms 37201 f630
n.d.
Page 5 of a letter rest missing
A. Wylie to Babbage?
... you were so kind as to send me. I should suppose the value of such an instrument in mathematical investigations can scarcely be over-estimated. It is a matter of regret to me that I had not an opportunity before leaving England of inspecting the machine which has rendered your name illustrious. I have given a short account of the history and capabilities of Scheutz's machine in a monthly Chinese periodical which I publish, as there are a number of native mathematicians in this part of the country, who feel intensely interested in all matters of that kind.



  A Wylie