264 MEMOIR OF AUGUSTUS DE MORGAN. 



1857. in Paris twenty-five years before, but this M. Biot, now in 

 his eighty-second year, had forgotten. 



In the course of the inquiry a question had arisen, 

 which my husband felt to be an important one, nearly 

 concerning Newton's moral rectitude. Catherine Barton, 

 the niece of the philosopher, was known to have kept the 

 house of his friend Lord Halifax. It was, however, never 

 publicly known whether they were or were not privately 

 married. From all that Mr. De Morgan could gather on 

 this subject, which amounted to a great deal of presump- 

 tive if not quite conclusive evidence, he was convinced 

 that, except as a wife, Newton would not have counte- 

 nanced his niece's connection with the Prime Minister. 

 This conviction was strengthened by the production of a 

 MS. letter of Newton's bought by our friend M. Libri at 

 a sale, in October 1856. But the opinions of scientific and 

 literary men were not unanimous. 



All the facts and arguments connected with this ques- 

 tion were carefully embodied in an article for the Com- 

 panion to the Almanac for 1858. This article was objected 

 to by the publisher, Mr. C. Knight, on the ground of its 

 not dealing with a subject of general interest. It was 

 suggested to Mr. De Morgan to alter or curtail his 

 writing, or to furnish another article, and he refused to do 

 either. This was the cause of his discontinuing his con- 

 tributions to the Companion to the Almanac. His reasons 

 will be found in the correspondence. 



1858. My husband's time was too thoroughly filled to allow of 



his taking an active part in many public movements, 

 but he was always glad to give what help he could to 

 benevolent schemes. He has mentioned, a propos of de- 

 cimal coinage, his work at the Savings Bank. Another 

 design which he much wished to see carried into execution 

 was the opening of playgrounds for poor children. Our 

 friend the Rev. David Laing, well remembered in his 

 parish of Trinity, St. Pancras, N.W., for incessant efforts 



