MURCHISON AND BABBAGE. 387 



conversation is conducted in words of seven syllables, who 

 is always lost in profound abstractions; takes no interest in 

 common things; regards music, dancing, play-acting, poetry, 

 and every cheerful pursuit as frivolous and contemptible 

 a creature who never makes a joke, seldom laughs, and who 

 in matters of business is even more incapable than the poet. 



The singular contrast of character presented by Babbage 

 and Murchison affords at once a most complete "refutation 

 of such generalizations. Here were two men, both philoso- 

 phers, one the very type of amiability, suavity, and all con- 

 ceivable polish, the very perfection of a courtier, but differ- 

 ing from the vulgar courtier of the Court in this respect, 

 that his high-toned courtesy was not bestowed upon kings 

 only, but also upon all his human brethren, and with especial 

 gracefulness upon those whose rank was below his own. 



I doubt whether there is any man now living, or has 

 lived during this generation, that could equal Sir Roderick 

 Murchison in the art of distributing showers of compliments 

 upon a large number of different people in succession, and 

 making each recipient delightfully satisfied with himself. 

 In his position as Chairman to the Geological Section of the 

 British Association, he did this with marvelous tact, with- 

 out the least fulsomeness or repetition, or any display of 

 patronizing. Every man who read a paper before that section 

 was better than ever satisfied with the great merits and vast 

 importance of his communication, after hearing the Chair- 

 man's comments upon it. None but a most -detestably 

 strong-minded and logical brute could resist the insinuating 

 flattery of Sir Roderick. 



How different was poor Babbage! Who that attends any 

 sort of scientific gatherings has not seen Sir Roderick? but 

 who in the world, excepting the organ-grinders and the 

 police magistrate has ever seen Babbage, or even his por- 

 trait? What a contrast between the seclusion and the 

 public existence; between the hedgehog bristles and the 

 velvet softness, of the one and the other! 



Those who were on intimate terms with Babbage (I have 

 never met or heard of such a person) coiild probably tell us 

 that all his irritability and roughness were outside, and ihat, 

 in the absence of organ-grinders, he was a kind and amiable 



