356 Remarks on Mr. Babbage's Work 



pering with written documents, to honourable men, for whose 

 personal character he represents himself as entertaining a high 

 value, is uncourteous, uncandid, and unjust. 



Mr. Babbage is anxious for a reform in the Royal Society; 

 so he is in the Universities : but he sets about the accomplish- 

 ment of his wishes, in a way, which the least knowledge of 

 the world might convince him, was sure to defeat his object. 

 His efforts, like those of many other sticklers for innovation, 

 by attempting too much, and too speedily; viz. preferring the 

 tone of acrid and vituperative censure, to that of mild and 

 manly expostulation, run the risk of preventing the adoption 

 of those moderate views of improvement, in which judicious 

 and temperate men would all be disposed to join. He seems 

 to mis-time his motions, and appears to be grievously offended 

 that an ancient establishment does not at once consider his 

 suggestions for its improvement, as mandates to be obeyed, 

 not advice to be examined. The monarchical influence of 

 which he complains, is not of modern date, it has existed in 

 the Society for a long series of years; but it would be well to 

 recollect, that much may be done, in no very long period, by 

 temperate and well-timed counsel; and that in the policy of 

 Societies and States, as well as in that of domestic life, a little 

 blindness to faults, and a little kindness to virtues, are among 

 the most agreeable and efficient, as well as the best established 

 maxims of good government. 



The Society Utopist may with advantage attend to the ad- 

 vice of the great Bacon, when he says, " that it were good 

 that men, in their innovations, would follow the example of 

 time itself, which indeed innovateth greatly, but quietly, and 

 by degrees scarce to be perceived ; for otherwise whatsoever 

 is new, is unlooked for; and ever it mends some and pairs 

 others." 



Mr. Babbage is very liberal in his application of terms of 

 reproach to the Royal Society, which he represents as being in 

 a " second childhood," and as being viewed " with contempt 

 in this country, and ridicule in others." At what time its de- 

 merits arose to this fearful extent, it is difficult to conjecture; 

 but I presume they have been of long standing, since they are 

 traced to " years of misrule, to which it has been submitted :" 

 and yet Mr. Babbage has, in several instances of late years, 

 thought it not beneath him to communicate materials to the 

 Society's Transactions ; and even at a still later period, to sit 

 down at the Board with the junto, whom he is at so much 

 pains to expose. 



The faults of the Royal Society are visited upon the pre- 

 sent President and Secretaries, by Mr. Babbage, with nearly 



as 



