Extracts from Babbage's Journal

Extracts from Babbage's Journal 1820-1825
In the possession of Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

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May 10 [1822] My calculating machine is nearly finished. Of those who I have made acquainted with the principles [too?] many think too little of it, of those ignorant of them the greater part think far too much.
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Monday June 8th [1822] Maule and Peacock called and examined the Engine, admired it considerably. P candidly confessed that since Herschel first told him of it he had [del:thought] considered the subject and thought it impossible. Maule appeared to take considerable interest in its success but rather doubted [it]. [... there follows a description of a meeting with Dr. Ure and Dr Wollaston ...] He [Dr. Wollaston] appointed to meet me at my house in an hour to see the engine. Dr. W examined it and I explained all its parts, and he then worked it and after about an hour and a half the result of his opinion was expressed in these words. "All this is very pretty but I do not see how it can be rendered productive."
Thursday [11th June 1822] This morning Davies Gilbert breakfasted with me. He examined the machine and we had much discourse on mathematical subjects. He admired it much and was particularly pleased at the contrivance for dividing the root of eq[uations]. He advised that it should be brought before the Board of Longitude. I observed that Dr. Y[oung] had already expressed a decided opinion of the mathematical part and that if he was a bad judge of the mechanical part his opinion was not of much value, and that from what I knew of the Board I did not think it had power or will to do any thing. With respect to the government he observed that they were perfectly unacquainted with the nature of the thing and that the only chance was that Mr Peel might take it up. He still recommended me to go on with the [printing?] part. He remarked that Dr Y disliked every thing that did not originate with himself.
Saturday June 15 The visitation at Greenwich Herschel, Whewell, Peacock and Mr South and myself went down to Greenwich in a boat. Met Mr. Wilkins who had seen my arithmetical engine two days before. He said that he had thought of nothing ever since he had seen it. ... I returned home in the Admiralty barge and went home to show [?] the Engine. He was much pleased with it.
I omitted to note that on Friday morning Mr Wilkins sat with me nearly two hours examining the engine and conversing about printing. In the evening I went to the Astronomical [Society] where I read a short notice respecting the machine.
Mr Barrow and Mr Murdoch having expressed a great desire to see the engine when we were at the Observatory I appointed a day and this morning (Tuesday). They called. I explained all the parts and worked the engine while Mr Barrow wrote down the results calculated. They both expressed great admiration and Mr Murdoch said he wished it had been contrived during the war as it would then have been easy to have procured me a considerable reward. They both appeared to think that it still ought to be rewarded and Mr Barrow mentioned the board of Longitude.
 
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Saturday March 1 [1823]
Called on Davies Gilbert and had a long conversation relative to the Engine the result of which was that he proposed speaking to Mr Peel about government granting some encouragement to it, and it was agreed that a reference to the R[oyal] S[ociety] or a committee of the RS would be much better than to the Board of Longitude.
Thursday 20 March [1823] Met Mr Gilbert at the council of the RS. He came over to me to inform me that he had had a long conference with the chancellor of the exchequer and Mr Peel relative to the engine and that they were ready to do any thing which might reasonably be expected for its encouragement. The great French tables were referred to and Mr Peel observed that he supposed they would not accept our offer of sharing the expence of printing them that we might not have a share of the glory. They agreed that the [œ]5000 which had been devoted to that purpose could not be touched and Mr Gilbert suggested that the chancellor of the Exchequer should apply to the President of the R.S. for a report on the nature and merits of the engine and if this should be favorable that it should be the ground of applying to Parliament for a committee to examine its merit and value. To this plan they immediately assented and Mr Robinson proposed writing a letter on the subject to Sir H. Davy.
April 3rd [1823] H[erschel] dined with me. He had just left the Board of Longitude and reported that Mr Barrow had made something like a speech in favor of tables and their utility and that the B[oard] of Long. were interested in them, that he remembered the engine and said it was desireable that they should know more about it. Several remarks were made and at Dr. Wollaston's suggestion it (the word [?] was employed), and H was desired by the B[oard] of L[ongitude] to invite me to communicate my views of what it was capable of to the Board.
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April 21 [1823] Met Lord Stanhope at a route at the Duchess of Somerset. He informed me that his father's arithmetical machine had performed its operations with more difficulty than they could be done by the few. His multiplying was merely addition repeated.
Thursday before Sir H. Davy having received a letter from the Treasury accomp[anying my printed letter to him requesting the opinion of the R.S. on the possibility and utility of my engine proposed a committee of the R.S.. The President and two Secries are ex-officio members: The Astronomer Royal, Dr Wollaston, Dr Young, Capt Kater, Mr Bailey [Baily], Mr Brunell [MI Brunel], Mr Herschel, Major Colby and Mr Davies Gilbert. The following thursday at half past four was appointed for their meeting and Monday Tuesday and Wednesday for examining the engine at my house.
Dr Young called in Saturday. He seemed struck with the contrivance for examining the type. I was introduced to Lord Lansdowne and the Duke of Leinster by the Duchess of Somerset. They enquired about the engine. The Earl of Stanhope to whom I had been introduced by the Duchess of Somerset called on Tuesday and spent some time in examining the engine. He comprehended it better than most of those who saw it for the first time.
Thursday. The Committee appointed by the R.S. to report on the engine were to meet this day at half past four. The President did not arrive untill ¬ past five so that there were but a few minutes before dinner to discuss. All agreed as to the practicability, even Dr. Young but he denied the utility of the tables when formed. Dr Wollaston observed that there was only one objector and no objection. The President remarked that they should lose their dinner and proposed meeting in the evening.
The whole committee were present except Brunell, Colby and the Astronomer Royal. In the evening before the meeting of the Society Baily, Herschel, the President and one other member met and agreed that their report was to be that [the RS thought] Mr. B's invention is highly ingenious, founded on just scientific principles and worthy of encouragement. The council [of the R.S.] was ordered to be [convened] at three [o'clock]. If the President is functional the committee will have just half an hour to consider the matter. Mr Gilbert who was present in the morning took a warm and active part in favor of the machine.
Dr. Wollaston remarked that there was but one objector and no objection.
Thursday after they met Sir H. Davy proposed a report. Mr Davies Gilbert proposed another which was not observed [to be] so strong on one point (utility) as he wished, but he proposed it for the sake of unanimity. Dr. Young who was the only [objector] last time said he still did not see the utility but he had drawn up a report which he would read. t was the strongest of the three and was adopted with little variation. I was at Sir H. Davy on Saturday evening. He mentioned the conduct of Dr. Y. with great suprize and said he thought the report too strong but as Dr. Y. had proposed it he agreed.
Sunday Mr. Brougham came to see the machine. He said little. Asked on what day it came before the House and observed to his friend Anderson "Oh it will do". Mr Croker, Mr Hume and Mr Grey [who had] applied to Mr D. Gilbert to be put on the Committee, hitherto there has scarcely any difficulty in getting it into the House of Commons.