4 Life and Character of Nathaniel Bowditch. 
is commonly called an original genius, for mathematical pursuits. : 
Every moment that he could snatch from the counter, was given 
to the slate. An old gentleman, who used frequently to visit the — 
shop, said to his wife, one day, on returning home, “1 never go 
into that shop but I see that boy ciphering and figuring away on 
his slate, as if his very life depended upon it; and if he goes on | 
at this rate, as he has begun, I should not at all wonder if, at last, 
in the course of time, he should get to be an almanac-maker !”"— 
this being, in his view, the summit of mathematical attainment. 
The expectation was stiendily fulfilled, for in the year 1788, when 
he was only fifteen years old, he actually made an almanac for the 
g 
ae 
year 1790, containing all the usual tables, calculations of the — 
eclipses and other phenomena, and even the customary predic- 
tions of the weather. The original manuscript is still in the — 
possession of his family. 
From his earliest years, he seems to have had an ardent love of — 
reading, and he has been heard to say that, ever when quite — 
, he read through the whole of Chambers? s Cyclopedia, in 
-. iwe tree folio volumes, without omitting a single article. 
He sailed on his first voyage, on the 11th of January, 1795, at 
iS the age of twenty-two, in the capacity of captain’s clerk on — 
Y> pec 0 owned by Elias Haske Derby, _ 
board the ship Henr 
to yn 
whom young Bow: 
mand of the ship, and had invited his friend to accompany him 
as clerk. He consented; but in consequence of some misuty 
course his agreement with his friend was atan end. Mr. Derby, 
’ however, on the appointment of Captain Prince, said to, him, 
derstanding subsequently. springing up between the owner of the 
ship and Captain Gibaut, he relinquished the command, and of 
“Do you know young Bowditch?” “Yes, very well.” “How 
should you like to have him go in the ship with you?” th 
should like it above all things,” said the captain. He acetane 
ly went on board as clerk, although his name was entered on the 
| His second voyage was made as supercargo, on a the s 
‘Salem, be id com: 
a PCapeaitr John Gibaut, with ; 
ch n engaged the year before in talt- 
ing a survey of Salem, ha previously been appointed to the com> 
shipping-papers as seen’ mate, The ship sailed for the Isle © 
urbon, and returned home after an absence of exactly one 1 
