Books

London: B. Fellowes, 1830. First edition. RARE SCATHING DIATRIBE AGAINST THE ROYAL SOCIETY BY ENGLISH ORIGINATOR OF THE CONCEPT OF THE DIGITAL COMPUTER--COPY OF PROMINENT JOURNALIST OF THE PERIOD. 8 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches hardcover, 3/4 brown calf with marbled cloth boards, spine with raised bands, gilt, with red leather label gilt, marbled edges and endpapers, bookplate to front paste-down, ink signature of George Augustus Sala on paper affixed to front free endpaper, xvi,+ 228,+ (4). Cover edges worn, scattered foxing, binding tight, very good. CHARLES BABBAGE (1792-1871) was an English polymath, mathematician, philosopher, inventor and originator of the concept of a digital programmable computer. In The Exposition of 1851, or Views of the Industry, the Science and the Government of England (1851) he pointed out the shortcomings of the British educational system. His Reflections on the Decline of Science and some of its Causes (offered here) aimed to improve British science, and more…

Charles Babbage’s "On the Alleged Decline of Science in England" is a sharp critique of the state of scientific institutions in early 19th-century England. Babbage, known for his contributions to mathematics and computing, focuses on what he sees as the failings of the Royal Society, one of England’s most prestigious scientific bodies. He argues that the Society had become inefficient and mismanaged, prioritizing prestige and social connections over genuine scientific contributions. According to Babbage, this neglect of proper scientific inquiry and leadership had led to a decline in England’s scientific standing compared to other European nations. One of the book’s main strengths is its candid and detailed analysis of how the structure of scientific institutions can impact progress. Babbage proposes reforms, including stricter criteria for membership in scientific bodies, improved recognition for scientists, and better funding mechanisms to support research. His call for a more meritocratic approach resonates with later efforts to professionalize science. However, the book can come across as somewhat polemical, and some contemporaries saw it as an attack on specific individuals within the Royal Society rather than a purely objective critique. Despite this, Babbage’s work helped spark important conversations about how science was organized and supported in England, contributing to future reforms.