20 Life and Charactei' of Nathaniel Boivdiich. 



weight and efficiency to the old ones ; and above all, recording and 

 digesting the subsequent discoveries, and bringing down the sci- 

 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,)* once remarked, 

 "I am sure that Mr. Bowditch comprehends my work, for he has 

 not only detected my errors, but he has also shown me how I 

 came to fall into them." 



The manner in which he published this work affords a striking 

 illustration of the spirit of independence, which was a prominent 

 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 Academy 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, that 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. I 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 

 patronized Mr. Bowditch by subscribing for his expensive work,' 

 — not a word of which he could understand. No, I preferred 

 to wait till I could afford to publish it at my own expense. That 

 time at last arrived ; and if, instead of setting up my coach, as I 

 might have done, I see fit to spend my money in this way, who 

 has any right to complain ? My children I know will not." 



On the publication of the first volume, the London (Quarterly 

 Review, expressed the following high opinion of its merits. " The 



* This, possibly, may have been an inadvertence, or the letter of acknowledg- 

 ment may have miscarried on the way. It is certain that his widow received the 

 6on of the American mathematician with great kindness and consideration, when 

 jn the year 1833, he went to Paris to pursue his medical studies, carrying out with 

 him the second volume of his father's work. He was immediately invited to a 

 jBplendid soir6e, and on entering the brilliant saloon, filled with the savans of France, 

 he was unexpectedly greeted by seeing on the centre table, — the only thing on 

 it, — the identical volume which he had brought over with him — a delicate compli- 

 ment, which none but a graceful French woman would have tliought of paying. 

 Madame La Place subsequently sent to Dr. Bowditch gi noble colossal bust of her 

 husband. 



