Page:Lectures on Ten British Physicists of the Nineteenth Century.djvu/81

 many books, but this is considered his most finished production; it has been described as a "hymn in honor of machinery."

The work on the Difference Engine went on for five years with little interruption, and the expenses had amounted to nearly £7000, of which the Government had advanced less than half, the remainder having come out of Babbage's pocket. Before proceeding further he wished to have a complete understanding with the Government, which was eventually reached after a delay of two years. The Government repaid Babbage what he had advanced, arranged to pay certified bills, leased a part of the grounds belonging to Babbage's house, and erected thereon a fireproof office and workshops. While these were in course of erection, the work continued for three years longer in Clement's workshop. At the end of this time (1833) a portion of the Difference Engine was assembled, and found to fulfill all Babbage's expectations and even more.

The Royal Society, like the University of Cambridge, had also declined as a scientific center since the days of Newton. The president had often been one of high rank rather than eminent in science. At this time the reforming party put up Sir John Herschel as a candidate for the presidency in opposition to the Duke of Sussex, but the royal candidate was successful. Babbage was one of the leading reformers; he prepared and printed a book called The Decline of Science in England which proved highly beneficial in that it led in a short time to the foundation of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

After the drawings and parts of the computing machine were removed to the fireproof premises adjoining Babbage's house, the engineer Clement made a claim for compensation for the removal of his business from Lambeth, a claim which Babbage declined to entertain as being extravagant. Whereupon Clement stopped the work on the machine, disbanded the specially trained workmen, and carried off all the tools, including those specially designed by Babbage and paid for by the Government. This he could do according to English law; he offered to sell the special tools to Babbage but the latter