The Origins of Cyberspace collection described as lots 1-255 will first be offered as a single lot, subject to a reserve price. If this price is not reached, the collection will be immediately offered as individual lots as described in the catalogue as lots 1-255.
BABBAGE, Charles. Autograph letter signed to William Henry Fitton (1780-1861). [London] March 3, 1836. Docketed by Fitton on the blank verso of the second leaf. 2½ pages.
Details
BABBAGE, Charles. Autograph letter signed to William Henry Fitton (1780-1861). [London] March 3, 1836. Docketed by Fitton on the blank verso of the second leaf. 2½ pages.
A letter referring to Babbage's working portion of the Difference Engine no. 1. "I suppose or at least hope you would have come without such a formality had you been in town. You will not see the [Difference] Engine work as my Son is absent. This is the only subject Taboo between us and now that the "Quarterly advocate of despotic principles" [i.e., The Quarterly Review] has spoken of the Soirées, you as a philosopher and as a Suspector of all quacks, ought to come and inspect if only to see the varied forms of vanity. Have you seen Dr Granville's book on the R. S. [i.e., A. B. Granville's The Royal Society in the XIXth Century, . . . and a Plan for its Reform (1836)]. If he would only traduce my character, his blacking might give it additional lustre: but the knave falsifies my English and that I cannot forgive and the rest I will not answer."
In 1832 Babbage instructed his manufacturing engineer, Joseph Clement, to assemble a portion of the Difference Engine no. 1 for purposes of display. It was the only working portion of any of Babbage's calculating machines constructed during Babbage's lifetime. The Engine was moved to Babbage's house on Dorset Street, and became a featured attraction at his Saturday evening soirées, which were held during the London season in the 1830s and 1840s. These evening parties were usually attended by two or three hundred guests; "they were lively and intelligent gatherings and Babbage's drawing-room was one of the great meeting places of liberal intellectual Europe" (Hyman 1982, 175). The geologist William Henry Fitton was a regular at these soirées; the two men were good friends who shared an independence of spirit coupled with a strong desire to reform and promote British science. When Babbage read his paper on the Temple of Serapis before the Geological Society he considered Fitton to be one of the very few men capable of understanding his geological theories. OOC 52.
A letter referring to Babbage's working portion of the Difference Engine no. 1. "I suppose or at least hope you would have come without such a formality had you been in town. You will not see the [Difference] Engine work as my Son is absent. This is the only subject Taboo between us and now that the "Quarterly advocate of despotic principles" [i.e., The Quarterly Review] has spoken of the Soirées, you as a philosopher and as a Suspector of all quacks, ought to come and inspect if only to see the varied forms of vanity. Have you seen Dr Granville's book on the R. S. [i.e., A. B. Granville's The Royal Society in the XIXth Century, . . . and a Plan for its Reform (1836)]. If he would only traduce my character, his blacking might give it additional lustre: but the knave falsifies my English and that I cannot forgive and the rest I will not answer."
In 1832 Babbage instructed his manufacturing engineer, Joseph Clement, to assemble a portion of the Difference Engine no. 1 for purposes of display. It was the only working portion of any of Babbage's calculating machines constructed during Babbage's lifetime. The Engine was moved to Babbage's house on Dorset Street, and became a featured attraction at his Saturday evening soirées, which were held during the London season in the 1830s and 1840s. These evening parties were usually attended by two or three hundred guests; "they were lively and intelligent gatherings and Babbage's drawing-room was one of the great meeting places of liberal intellectual Europe" (Hyman 1982, 175). The geologist William Henry Fitton was a regular at these soirées; the two men were good friends who shared an independence of spirit coupled with a strong desire to reform and promote British science. When Babbage read his paper on the Temple of Serapis before the Geological Society he considered Fitton to be one of the very few men capable of understanding his geological theories. OOC 52.
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