Page:Passages from the Life of a Philosopher.djvu/403

CHAPTER XXIX.

miracles.

Difference Engine set so as to follow a given law for a vast period—Thus to change to another law of equally vast or of greater duration, and so on—Parallel between the successive creations of animal life—The Author visited Dublin at the first Meeting of the British Association—Is the Guest of Trinity College—Innocently wears a Waistcoat of the wrong colour—Is informed of the sad fact—Rushes to a Tailor to rectify it—Finds nothing but party-colours—Nearly loses his Breakfast, and is thought to be an amazing Dandy—The Dean thinks better of the Philosopher, and accompanied him to Killarney—The Philosopher preaches a Sermon to the Divine by the side of the Lake.

After that portion of the Difference Engine which was completed had been for some months promoted from the workshop to my drawing-room, I met two of my friends from Ireland—Dr. Lloyd, the present Provost of Trinity College, and Dr. Robinson, of Armagh. I invited them to breakfast, that they might have a full opportunity of examining its structure. I invited also another friend to meet them—the late Professor Malthus.

After breakfast we adjourned to the drawing-room. I then proceeded to explain the mechanism of the Engine, and to cause it to calculate Tables. One of the party remarked two axes in front of the machine which had not hitherto been performing any work, and inquired for what purpose they were so placed. I informed him that these axes had been so placed in order to illustrate a series of calculations of the

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