author - "Charles Babbage"
ich seemed to pervade manyestablishments; and having formed such conjectures, the desire torefute or to verify them, gave an additional interest to thepursuit. Several of the principles which I have proposed, appearto me to have been unnoticed before. This was particularly thecase with respect to the explanation I have given of the divisionof labour; but further enquiry satisfied me that I had beenanticipated by M. Gioja, and it is probable that additionalresearch would enable me to trace most of the other principles,which I had thought original, to previous writers, to whose meritI may perhaps be unjust, from my want of acquaintance with thehistorical branch of the subject.
The truth however of the principles I have stated, is of muchmore importance than their origin; and the utility of an enquiryinto them, and of establishing others more correct, if theseshould be erroneous, can scarcely admit of a doubt.
The difficulty of understanding the processes of manufactureshas unfortunately bee
gement to the veryvaluable Journals of Poggendorff and Schweigger. Lessexclusively national than their Gallic compeer, they present apicture of the actual progress of physical science throughoutEurope. Indeed, we have been often astonished to see with whatcelerity every thing, even moderately valuable in the scientificpublications of this country, finds its way into their pages.This ought to encourage our men of science. They have a largeraudience, and a wider sympathy than they are perhaps aware of;and however disheartening the general diffusion of smatterings ofa number of subjects, and the almost equally general indifferenceto profound knowledge in any, among their own countrymen, may be,they may rest assured that not a fact they may discover, nor agood experiment they may make, but is instantly repeated,verified, and commented upon, in Germany, and, we may add too, inItaly. We wish the obligation were mutual. Here, whole branchesof continental discovery are unstudied, and indeed almos
ich seemed to pervade manyestablishments; and having formed such conjectures, the desire torefute or to verify them, gave an additional interest to thepursuit. Several of the principles which I have proposed, appearto me to have been unnoticed before. This was particularly thecase with respect to the explanation I have given of the divisionof labour; but further enquiry satisfied me that I had beenanticipated by M. Gioja, and it is probable that additionalresearch would enable me to trace most of the other principles,which I had thought original, to previous writers, to whose meritI may perhaps be unjust, from my want of acquaintance with thehistorical branch of the subject.
The truth however of the principles I have stated, is of muchmore importance than their origin; and the utility of an enquiryinto them, and of establishing others more correct, if theseshould be erroneous, can scarcely admit of a doubt.
The difficulty of understanding the processes of manufactureshas unfortunately bee
gement to the veryvaluable Journals of Poggendorff and Schweigger. Lessexclusively national than their Gallic compeer, they present apicture of the actual progress of physical science throughoutEurope. Indeed, we have been often astonished to see with whatcelerity every thing, even moderately valuable in the scientificpublications of this country, finds its way into their pages.This ought to encourage our men of science. They have a largeraudience, and a wider sympathy than they are perhaps aware of;and however disheartening the general diffusion of smatterings ofa number of subjects, and the almost equally general indifferenceto profound knowledge in any, among their own countrymen, may be,they may rest assured that not a fact they may discover, nor agood experiment they may make, but is instantly repeated,verified, and commented upon, in Germany, and, we may add too, inItaly. We wish the obligation were mutual. Here, whole branchesof continental discovery are unstudied, and indeed almos