was stated to be in cosine of 14
degrees 18 minutes 3 seconds. Subsequent examination showed that there
was an error of one second in this correction; and, accordingly, in the
_Nautical Almanac_ of the next year a new correction was necessary. But
in making the new correction of one second, a new error was committed of
ten degrees. Instead of cosine 14 degrees 18 minutes 2 seconds the
correction was printed cosine 4 degrees 18 minutes 2 seconds making it
still necessary, in some future edition of the _Nautical Almanac_, to
insert an _erratum_ in an _erratum_ of the _errata_ in Taylor's
logarithms.[A]

[Footnote A: Edinburgh Review, Vol. LIX., 282.]

In the hope of obviating the possibility of such errors, Mr. Babbage
projected his calculating, or, as he prefers to call it, his difference
machine. Although this extraordinary undertaking has been arrested, in
consequence of the enormous expense attending its execution, enough has
been achieved to show the mechanical possibility of constructing an
engine of this kind, and even one of far higher powers, of which Mr.
Babbage has matured the conception, devised the notation, and executed
the drawings--themselves an imperishable monument of the genius of the
author.

I happened on one occasion to be in company with this highly
distinguished man of science, whose social qualities are as pleasing as
his constructive talent is marvelous, when another eminent _savant_,
Count Strzelecki, just returned from his Oriental and Australian tour,
observed that he found among the Chinese, a great desire to know
something more of Mr. Babbage's calculating machine, and especially
whether, like their own _swampan_, it could be made to go into the
pocket. Mr. Babbage good-humouredly observed that, thus far, he had been
very much out of pocket with it.

INCREASED COMMAND OF INSTRUMENTAL POWER.

Whatever advances may be made in astronomical science, theoretical or
applied, I am strongly inclined to think that they will be made in
connection with an increased command of instrumental power. The natural
order in which the human mind proceeds in the acquisition of
astronomical knowledge is minute and accurate observation of the
phenomena of the heavens, the skillful discussion and analysis of these
observations, and sound philosophy in generalizing the results.

In pursuing this course, however, a difficulty presented itself, which
for ages proved insuperable--and which to th