180 CHARLES BABBAGE. 



direction witli a conchoidal fracture, and that tlie vibrations whicli would 

 liave caused cracking are checked by the support of the fixed center- 

 punch. 



" In the year 1825, during a visit to Devonport, I had apartments in 

 the house of a glazier, of whom I inquired one day if he knew this 

 secret. He answered that he did not, and expressed great curiosity to 

 see it done. Finding that at a short distance there was a blacksmith^ 

 we went to his shop, and selecting from his rough tools the center- 

 punches and the hammer, I executed the whole process. 



" On the eve of my departure 1 asked for my landlord's account, which 

 was sent up correct except the omission of charge for apartments. I 

 added the eight guineas for my lodgings ; and the next morning, ha\iiig 

 placed the total amount upon the bill, I sent for my host in order to pay 

 him, remarking that he had omitted the principal article of his account, 

 which I had inserted. 



" He replied that he had intentionally omitted the lodgings, as he 

 could not think of taking payment for them from a gentleman who had 

 done him so great service. Quite unconscious of having rendered him 

 any service, I asked Mm to explain. He replied that he had the con- 

 tract for the supply and repair of the lamps of Devonport, and that the 

 art in which I had instructed him would save him more than twenty 

 pounds a year. I found some difficulty in prevailing on my grateful 

 landlord to accept what was justly his due." 



Scarcely at the risk of being tedious — which no passages in the life 

 of this extraordinary man can ever be — but at the greater risk of space 

 which must be devoted to his contributions to knowledge, we cannot 

 forbear a single quotation further, which, like a dash from the brush of 

 Kubens, depicts the multifariousness of his character : 



"While I was preparing materials for the 'Economy of manufac- 

 tures,' " he writes, " I had occasion frequently to travel through our 

 mining and manufacturing districts. On these occasions I found the 

 travelers' inn or travelers' room was usually the best adapted to my pur- 

 pose, both in regard to economy and to information. As my inquiries 

 had a wide range, I found ample assistance in carrying them on. No- 

 body doubted that I was one of the craft; but opinions were widely dif- 

 ferent as to the department in which I practiced my vocation. 



" In one of my tours I passed a very agreeable week at the Commer- 

 cial Hotel in Sheffield. One evening we sat up after supper much later 

 than is usual, discussing a variety of commercial subjects. 



" When I came down rather late to breakfast I found only one of my 

 acquaintances of the previous evening remaining. He remarked that 

 we had had a very agreeable party last night, to which I assented. He 

 referred to the intelligent remarks of some of our party, and then added 

 that when I left them they began to talk about me. I merely added 

 that I felt quite safe in their hands, but should be glad to profit by their 

 remarks. It appeared, when I retired for the night, that they debated 



