of lleichenbach's Circle at Kvnigsberg. 355 



errors of the verniers, and for the sake of convenience, we 

 suppose that the coincidence always takes place in the middle 

 of the vernier, or 2° 15' from their zero point, the errors 

 arising from this supposition will be less than the errors of 

 the curve itself. On this supposition the curve gives for com- 

 plete observations read off by four verniers, the following cor- 

 rections : 



LVIII. On Mr. Babbage's new Machine for calculating and 

 printing Mathematical and Astronomical Tables. From 

 Francis Baily, Esq. F.R.S. $ L.S.* 



r I "'HIS invention of Mr. Babbage's is one of the most curious 

 ■* and important in modern times ; whether we regard the 

 ingenuity and skill displayed in the arrangement of the parts, 

 or the great utility and importance of the results. Its proba- 

 ble effect on those particular branches of science which it is 

 most adapted to promote, can only be compared with those 

 rapid improvements in the arts which have followed the intro- 

 duction of the steam-engine; and which are too notorious to 

 be here mentioned. 



The object which Mr. Babbagc has in view, in constructing 

 his machine, is the formation and printing of mathematical 

 tables of all kinds, totally free from error in each individual 

 copy: and, from what 1 have seen of the mechanism of the 

 instrument, I have not the least doubt that his efforts will be 

 crowned with success. It would be impossible to give you a 

 correct idea of the form and arrangement of this machine, or 

 * From M. Schumacher'* Aitronomuch* WaeArichten, No, 46. 



Y v 2 of 



