20 Life and Character of Nathaniel Bowditch. 
weight and efficiency to the old ones; and above all, recording and 
digesting the subsequent discoveries, and bringing down the sei- 
ence to’ the present time. I have heard it said that La Place, to 
whom Dr. Bowditch sent a list of errors, (which however he nev- 
er had the grace to acknowledge in any way,)* onee remarked, 
“Tam sure that Mr. Bowditch comprehends my work, for he has — 
not only detected my errors, but he has also shown me howl — 
came to fall into them.” 
The manner in which he published this work affords a ntti 
illustration of the spirit of independence, which was a prominent 
ee 
ON 
feature in his character. He had been frequently solicited’ and 
urged by his numerous wealthy friends, and by eminent scientific 
men, and formally requested by the American Académy of Arts 
and Sciences, to permit them to print it at their expense, for the 
honor of the country, and for the cause of science. He was well 
aware, however, ihat there was not sufficient taste in the commu- 
nity for such studies to justify an enterprise which would involve — 
a great outlay, and, as he thought, would bring him under pecu- 
niary obligations to others. 1 recollect conversing with him once 
on this ‘subject, when he said to me, in his usual ardent way, 
“Sir, I did not choose to give an opportunity to such a man 
(mentioning his name) to point up to his book-case and say, ‘ I 
Mr.. Bowditch. by subscribing for his get work,’ 
patronized 
—not a word of which which he could understand. I preferred © 
to wait till I could afford ‘to publish it at my own Perec That 
time at last arrived ; and if, instead of setting up my coach, as f 
' might have done, I see fit to spend my money in this way, who — 
has any right to Gorn plain? My children I know will not.” 
On the publication of the first volume, the London Quarterly — 
wc expressed the por aby high opinion of its merits. “ The — 
* This, possibly, may have been an inadvertence, or the letter of acknowledi C 
mient may have miscarried on the way. It is certain that his widow received the 
son of the American mathematician with great kindness and consideration, whet 
in the year 1833, he went to Paris to pursue his medical studies, earrying out with 
bim the « second a oe his’ nner : work. He was immediately invited to ® 
loon, filled with the savans of F 
Se wesistnapectodly greeted by seeing on the centre table-—the only thing on ( 
y identical volume which he had brought over with him—a delicate eompli- 
ment, which none but a graceful French woman would have thought of wee 
ane ° La Rlace subsequently sent sent to Dr. horn a = gee bust of 
oO 
