Page:Passages from the Life of a Philosopher.djvu/90

The Duke of Somerset,

Lord Ashley,

Sir John Franklin,

Mr. Wolryche Whitmore,

Dr. Fitton,

Mr. Francis Baily,

Mr. (now Sir John) Herschel.

Being satisfied, upon inquiry, of the following facts, they came to the annexed resolutions:—

"1st. That Mr. Babbage was originally induced to take up the work, on its present extensive scale, by an understanding on his part that it was the wish of Government that he should do so, and by an advance of 1,500l, at the outset; with a full impression on his mind, that such further advances would be made as the work might require.

"2nd. That Mr. Babbage's expenditure had amounted to nearly 7,000l., while the whole sum advanced by Government was 3,000l.

"3rd. That Mr. Babbage had devoted the most assiduous and anxious attention to the progress of the Engine, to the injury of his health, and the neglect and refusal of other profitable occupations.

"4th. That a very large expense remained to be incurred; and that his private fortune was not such as would justify his completing the Engine, without further and effectual assistance from Government.

"5th. That a personal application upon the subject should be made to the Duke of Wellington.

"6th. That if such application should be unsuccessful in procuring effectual and adequate assistance, they must regard Mr. Babbage (considering the great pecuniary and personal sacrifices he will then have made; the entire expenditure of all he had received from the public on the subject of its destination; and the moral certainty of completing it, to which it was, by his exertions, reduced) as no longer called on to proceed with an undertaking which might destroy his health, and injure, if not ruin, his fortune.

"7th. That Mr. Wolryche Whitmore and Mr. Herschel should request an interview with the Duke of Wellington, to state to his Grace these opinions on the subject."

Mr. Whitmore and Mr. Herschel accordingly had an interview with the Duke of Wellington; and some time after they were informed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to whom they had applied for his Grace's answer, that the Duke of