DE MORGAN'S "BUDGET OF PARADOXES" 257 



When reading Zollner's book Tail called Tyndall's attention to the terrible 

 onslaught the author had made on Tyndall's theory of comets. In his reply 

 Tyndall wrote : " I have glanced over it (Zollner's book) not read it, myself. 

 I can see that he means to mangle me kill me first and chop me into mince- 

 meat afterwards. But whether it is that the fire of my life has fallen to a 

 cinder, the book has produced very little disturbance in my feelings.... Ten 

 years ago I should have been at the throat of Zollner, but not now. I would 

 rather see you and Clausius friends than Zollner and myself. Trust me C. is 

 through and through an honest high-minded man." 



The reference to Clausius had to do with the controversy then going on 

 between Tail and Clausius in regard to the second law of thermodynamics. 



In many of his reviews Tait found occasion not only to hit off the 

 character of the writer but also to descant on the true way and the false in 

 the teaching of science. A few examples may still be of interest. The 

 following extracts are from a review which appeared in Nature on January 30, 

 1873, f De Morgan's inimitable Budget of Paradoxes. 



This work is absolutely unique. Nothing in the slightest degree approaching 

 it in its wonderful combinations has ever, to our knowledge, been produced. True 

 and false science, theological, logical, metaphysical, physical, mathematical, etc., are 

 interwoven in its pages in the most fantastic manner : and the author himself mingles 

 with his puppets, showing off their peculiarities, posing them, helping them when 

 diffident, restraining them when noisy, and even occasionally presenting himself as 

 one of their number. All is done in the most perfect good-humour, so that the 

 only incongruities we are sensible of are the sometimes savage remarks which 

 several of his pet bears make about their dancing master. 



De Morgan was a man of extraordinary information. We use the word advisedly 

 as including all that is meant by the several terms knowledge, science, erudition, 

 etc. Everywhere he was thoroughly at home. An old edition and its value-giving 

 peculiarities or defects, a complex mathematical formula with its proof and its 

 congeners, a debated point in theology or logic, a quotation from some almost- 

 unheard-of author, all came naturally to him, and from him. With a lively and 

 ready wit, and singularly happy style, and admirable temper, he was exactly fitted 

 to write a work like this. And every page of it shows that he thoroughly enjoyed 

 his task. 



De Morgan was a very dangerous antagonist. Ever ready, almost always 

 thoroughly informed, gifted with admirable powers of sarcasm which varied their 

 method according to the temperament of his adversary, he was ready for all comers, 

 gaily tilted against many so-called celebrities ; and upset them. It is unfortunate 

 that the issue of his grand contest with Sir William Hamilton (the great Scottish 

 Oxford Philosopher) is but in part indicated in this volume it is softened down, 



T. 33 



