86 Mr Babbage on the proportionate number of the 



will join with me in urging those who are at the head of our 

 great establishments for granting assurances, to increase this 

 collection of facts, by giving to the public the results of their 

 own experience, which now becomes additionally interest- 

 ing from the comparisons we should be enabled to make. I 

 am aware that the time and expence of such an inquiry at the 

 Equitable Society might be considerable, nor do T doubt but 

 that the government, which has already shown the great im- 

 portance it attaches to such information, would, if applied to, 

 lend its assistance. I confess, however, as a member of thai 

 society I should regret exceedingly that the fear of expence 

 should induce us to owe this advantage to any thing but our 

 own exertions. We have succeeded and grown wealthy by 

 availing ourselves of the experience which we owe to the in- 

 dustry of those who preceded us. They have now passed 

 away ; and although to them all expression of our gratitude is 

 vain, we owe it to our own character, not merely to transmit 

 unimpaired to our successors the light which conducted us to 

 prosperity, but to collect and cherish every additional ray our 

 experience has furnished, which may add to its permanence or 

 utility. 



There is one point, however, on which I would not be mis- 

 understood. I should be sorry that any remarks of mine 

 should throw an additional labour on our venerable actuary. 

 His merits and his unwearied care of our interests stand record- 

 ed in the present state of our society too forcibly to be in- 

 creased by any expression of mine ; and, I am convinced, every 

 member of that society would wish to lighten rather than to 

 augment his labours. Mr Morgan has honoured my little 

 book with his remarks, and, while I admit the justice of a 

 small part of his criticisms, 1 cannot but regret that he should 

 have so completely misconceived my meaning, as to have em- 

 ployed any portion of his valuable time in refuting what I 

 have neither thought nor written. That the work alluded to 

 should have induced him to publish his sentiments, is an ad- 

 vantage to the public ; at the same time that it is gratifying 

 to me to find that the opinions expressed by a mere amateur 

 are in reality so accordant with those of one who has had the 

 most extensive experience. I trust, therefore, that Mr Mor- 

 gan will consider that it is from no want of respect that I ne- 



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