Dr. Bowditch, President of the American Academy. xxv 
But the great work, upon which his fame as a man of science 
will ultimately rest, is his copious and profound Commentary upon 
the Mécanique Céleste of La Place, of which he made the first 
entire translation, and which he has elucidated in a manner that 
commands the admiration of men of science in all countries. 
To do justice to this invaluable work, would require much more 
time than can be allotted to it on the present occasion, even if I 
were qualified to perform that task in a manner worthy of the 
subject. The labors of Dr. Bowditch lie so far out of the range of 
readers, who do not make works of that kind a subject of their 
particular attention, that, amidst the universal and just commenda- 
tion of the work, a very imperfect knowledge of its real value still 
exists, even among many well-informed persons. Difficult, however, 
as it may be for me to do justice to this part of my subject, yet the 
honored name of our President has been so long connected with 
this work of La Place, that it is necessary for me to occupy a part of 
your time with a few particulars in relation to the Commentary and 
the original work, — a work, which, like Newton’s, in the preceding 
century, may justly be called the Principia of the age; and the 
author of which, by the common consent of men of science both in 
Great Britain and elsewhere, is placed in the next rank to his great 
predecessor, Newton. 
We often hear the names of the original Mécanique Céleste and 
of the Translation and Commentary of our late president; and 
always accompanied with vague praises, which leave no distinct 
impression of the one or the other. Yet, if we would form a just 
estimate of the labors of Dr. Bowditch, I need not say, that it is 
indispensable to have a clear conception of the design and execu- 
tion of both the works. 
On the present occasion, if the remarks I am about to make were 
4 
