90 MEMOIR OF AUGUSTUS DE MORGAN. 



1837. Mr. Babbage's ' Ninth Bridgwater Treatise,' at this 



time going through the press, contained the development 

 of an idea suggested by the working of the engine. In 

 the series of numbers presented by the rotation of the 

 cylinders, a regular order, which has continued for a long 

 time, is suddenly interrupted by the appearance of a new 

 number. The old series is again resumed, and at another 

 interval a number bearing relation to the first interrup- 

 tion makes its appearance. This process suggested to 

 Mr. Babbage a reply to Hume's argument against miracles, 

 founded on the experience of the world in the sequence of 

 events. The idea of the intervention of a higher law in the 

 processes of nature is now more familiar to the world than 

 it was when Mr. Babbage gave his beautiful illustration. 

 By theologians the book was condemned as heretical, as 

 doing away with what was held to be the nature of 

 miracle an arbitrary suspension of the laws of nature. 

 By some thoughtful men, who did not consider science 

 and revelation incompatible, the suggestion was held 

 valuable. My husband took a lively interest in the work, 

 and the author, who was then on friendly terms with him, 

 was a visitor at our house. 



Elizabeth In this year we made the acquaintance and gained 



the friendship of Elizabeth Fry ; of whom my husband 

 speaks in the Budget of Paradoxes as ' one of the noblest 

 of human beings.' Lady Noel Byron, who had heard of a 

 scheme for a female benefit society and home, which 

 seemed to promise great usefulness, and in which Mrs. 

 Fry took an interest, introduced her to my husband for 

 the sake of his advice on the calculations, and to us both, 

 as likely to enter warmly into the design. He found the 

 calculations utterly worthless, and loss or even ruin was 

 prevented by the reference to him, for the projector had 

 obtained promises of money for shares from persons who 

 could ill afford to lose it; her vexation on the over- 

 throw of her scheme was very plainly shown. Mrs. Fry 

 allowed me to accompany her in a visit to this person. It 



