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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..84edab2 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #61092 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61092) diff --git a/old/61092-0.txt b/old/61092-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0d44041..0000000 --- a/old/61092-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3946 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Nat the Navigator, by Henry Ingersoll Bowditch - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Nat the Navigator - A Life of Nathaniel Bowditch. For Young Persons - -Author: Henry Ingersoll Bowditch - -Release Date: January 3, 2020 [EBook #61092] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAT THE NAVIGATOR *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: DR. BOWDITCH’S STUDY IN LATER YEARS.] - - - - - _NAT THE NAVIGATOR._ - - A LIFE - OF - NATHANIEL BOWDITCH. - - FOR YOUNG PERSONS. - - [Illustration: The House in which he lived when a little Child.] - - BOSTON: - LEE AND SHEPARD. - 1870. - - Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by - LEE AND SHEPARD, - In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of - Massachusetts. - - ELECTROTYPED AT THE - BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, - No. 19 Spring Lane. - - * * * * * - - BOSTON, December, 1869. - -Moved by feelings I could scarcely comprehend, while, at the same time, -they were most sweet to me, I was led to talk with the pupils of the -Warren Street Chapel on the Sunday afternoon after my father died. The -subjects were his active and good life and happy death. I am aware that -some of my nearest friends thought it strange that my heart, on the -occasion of his death, was filled with a kind of joy rather than with -sadness. To them I could merely say, that an event so calm, and under -such circumstances of suffering as he then was, suggested to me nothing -like real sorrow. I wished my young companions to feel as I did, and -that, in their minds, a quiet death following a good life should be -clothed with beauty, and that they might thus be led to believe that, -in accordance with the Scotch proverb, “A gude life makes a gude end. -At least it helps weel.” Horace Mann was present during the address. -Being deeply interested in the education of the young, he requested me -to prepare for his Common School Journal a sketch similar to that I -had spoken. In accordance with that desire, a memoir was prepared, and -after its publication the Warren Street Chapel Association requested -that it should be put, with some revision, into this form. And as it was -originally prepared for, and dedicated to, the pupils of that institution, - - SO I NOW DEDICATE IT - - ANEW TO THE - - GIRLS AND BOYS OF WARREN STREET CHAPEL. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - - CHAPTER I. - - _From 1773 to 1784—under 10 years of age._ - - Birth.—Childhood 11 - - CHAPTER II. - - _From 1784 to 1795—between the ages of 10 and 21._ - - His apprenticeship, his habits.—Studies Chambers’s - Cyclopædia.—Results of his studies; gains the respect of - all.—Dr. Bentley, Dr. Prince, and Mr. Reed, do him kindness; by - their means allowed access to “The Philosophical Library.”—He - makes philosophical instruments.—Calculates an Almanac at - the age of fourteen.—Studies algebra: delight he experienced - from this new pursuit.—Learns Latin.—Reads works by Sir Isaac - Newton.—Studies French 23 - - CHAPTER III. - - _From 1784 to 1796—age, 10-22._ - - Apprenticeship continued.—Favorite of his companions.—Learns - music; neglects his studies for a time.—Gets into bad society; - his decision in freeing himself from it.—Engages in a survey - of the town of Salem.—Sails on his first voyage to the East - Indies; extracts from his Journal during this voyage; arrival - at the Isle of Bourbon; return home 37 - - CHAPTER IV. - - _From 1796 to 1797—age, 23-4._ - - Second voyage.—Visits Lisbon.—Island of Madeira; festival and - games there.—Anecdotes of his skill as an accountant.—Doubles - Cape of Good Hope.—Albatrosses.—Arrival at Manilla.—Extracts - from Journal.—Curious boat.—Earthquake.—Voyage home 46 - - CHAPTER V. - - _From 1797 to 1800—age, 24-7._ - - Marriage.—Third voyage; visits Spain.—Dangers.—Earl - St. Vincent’s fleet.—Arrival at Cadiz.—Observatory at - Cadiz.—Sails for Alicant.—Passage through the Straits of - Gibraltar.—Privateers; chased by one; anecdotes of Mr. B.’s - love of study shown then.—Hears news of the death of his wife; - consoles himself with mathematical studies.—More troubles with - privateers.—Leaves Alicant.—Advantages derived from his visit - to Spain.—Fourth voyage; to India.—Extracts from Journal on - viewing a ship that was engaged in the slave trade.—Arrival at - Java; introduction to the governor; respect formerly paid to - him.—Anecdote of English navy officers.—Goes to Batavia and - Manilla.—Observations of Jupiter while becalmed near the - Celebean Islands.—Voyage home 62 - - CHAPTER VI. - - _From 1800 to 1803—age, 27-30._ - - Second marriage; character of his wife.—Mr. Bowditch engages - in commerce for two years.—School committee.—East India - Marine Society; a description of the annual meeting of this - society.—Mr. Bowditch becomes part owner of ship Putnam, and - sails for India.—Anecdote, occurrence a few days after leaving - Salem.—Studies during the long voyage.—Begins to study and make - notes upon La Place’s “Mécanique Céleste.”—Arrival off Sumatra; - difficulties there.—Boarded by English man-of-war.—Revisits - Isle of France.—Journal extracts about modes of procuring - pepper; seasons for it, &c.—Incident on approaching Salem - harbor.—Decision of Mr. Bowditch 80 - - CHAPTER VII. - - Review of the labors, &c., performed by Mr. Bowditch, during - these voyages.—Habits while at sea; studies; desire to teach - others; kindness to sailors and to the sick.—Discovers errors - in a book on navigation.—Origin of “American Practical - Navigator;” success of it; industry of Mr. Bowditch upon - it.—Investigates higher branches of science.—“Mécanique - Céleste.”—Mr. Bowditch reads history.—Learns Spanish, French, - and Portuguese languages.—Anecdotes.—Chosen member of American - Academy.—Receives honors from Harvard College 99 - - CHAPTER VIII. - - _From 1803 to 1817—age, 30-44._ - - Mr. Bowditch translates a Spanish paper; is chosen President - of a Fire and Marine Insurance Office.—Habits of life.—Becomes - interested in politics.—Federalists and Democrats.—Great - excitement.—Division between him and old friends in - consequence of his zeal.—Feelings of Mr. Bowditch when war - was declared.—Decision of character.—His charity.—Earnestness - in aiding others; ludicrous instance of the effects of - this.—Boldness towards a truckman.—Zeal for improving the - libraries; unites the two.—Dr. Prince’s church.—Performance - of duties of President of Insurance Office.—Answer to an - overbearing rich man.—Appointed Professor of Mathematics at - Harvard College; same at West Point.—His modesty.—Hints - about leaving Salem 115 - - CHAPTER IX. - - _From 1803 to 1823—age, 30-50._ - - Papers published by Mr. Bowditch in the Memoirs of the Academy; - account of some of them.—Total eclipse of the sun in 1806; - effect of it.—Anecdote of Chief Justice Parsons.—Meteor that - fell over Weston, Ct.; account of its curious appearance; - effect of these papers upon his fame in Europe.—Chosen member - of most of the learned societies of the Old World.—Quits Salem - to become connected with larger institutions in Boston 131 - - CHAPTER X. - - Sketch of the life of La Place, author of the “Mécanique - Céleste.”—Newton’s labors.—Halley’s comet.—The importance of - astronomy to navigation.—Comets; Dr. Bowditch translates the - Mécanique Céleste; difficulties attending the undertaking; - objects he had in view; first volume analyzed; Newton’s error - pointed out 149 - - CHAPTER XI. - - Commentary continued; second volume.—Discussion between - the English and French mathematicians; Dr. Bowditch’s - criticisms.—Errors in La Place in regard to the earth, - &c.—Third volume; motions of the moon.—Fourth volume; many - errors discovered in it.—Halley’s comet.—Curious phenomena - of capillary attraction 169 - - CHAPTER XII. - - _Death, March 17, 1838, aged 65._ - - Sketch of the life of La Grange, the equal of La Place; love - Dr. Bowditch had for La Grange’s character; comparison between - him and La Place; also between him and Dr. Bowditch.—Conclusion - of the Memoir 176 - - - - -NAT THE NAVIGATOR. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -_From 1773 to 1784—under 10 years of age._ - - Birth.—Childhood. - - -Nathaniel Bowditch, whose history I shall relate to you, was one whose -character and actions presented many circumstances which cannot fail of -being interesting to you. He died more than thirty years ago, in Boston; -and, from having been a poor and ignorant boy, he became a man known all -over the world for his great learning, while at the same time he was -beloved for the goodness of his heart and the integrity of his character. -May the perusal of his history excite some of you to imitate his virtues -and his energy. - -[Sidenote: BIRTHPLACE.] - -[Sidenote: EARLY SCHOOL DAYS.] - -He was born in Salem, a town about fourteen miles from Boston, the -capital city of our State of Massachusetts. His birthday was March 26, -1773. His father was at first a cooper, and afterwards a shipmaster. -He and his wife were exceedingly poor, and they had many children. Nat -was the fourth child. He had two sisters and three brothers. When he -was about two and a half years old, his parents removed to a very small -wooden house in Danvers, about three miles from Salem; and here the boy -attended school for the first time, and began to show those generous -feelings, and that love of learning, which he displayed so much in -after-life. A few years ago the old school-house in which he learned to -spell and read remained entire. It was an old-fashioned building, with -a long, slanting roof, which, at the back of the house, nearly reached -the ground. Its single chimney, with many curious and pretty corners, -then rose in the middle of the roof, as it had for ninety years. Around -the dwelling is a grass plat, upon which he used, when a child like -yourselves, to play with his schoolmates. It was planted with shrubs, -such as the farmers most need. The house in which he lived still stands -nearly opposite that in which the school was kept. This house formerly -had but two rooms in it, and all its furniture was of the simplest kind. - -[Illustration: HIS FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.] - -[Sidenote: BROTHERS AND SISTERS.] - -I visited the relations of the schoolmistress. She died many, many years -ago; but her niece, when I asked about Nat Bowditch, told me how her aunt -used to love him for his earnestness in pursuing his studies, and for his -gentleness, while under her care. He was “a nice boy,” she used to say. -While in Danvers, his father was most of the time at sea, he having been -obliged to give up his trade and become a sailor when the Revolutionary -War broke out.[1] Nat lived, during his father’s absence, very happily -with his mother and his brothers and sisters. During the whole of his -after-life, he used to delight to go near the small house in which he -had dwelt so pleasantly. The family was “a family of love.” He had a -brother William, to whom he was very much attached. He was more grave and -sober than Nat; for the latter, with all his devotion to study, was full -of fun, frolic, and good nature. But William was equally, and perhaps -more, gentle. The brothers frequently studied together from an old family -Bible, and on Sundays, when they were quite small, their grandmother, -who was a very excellent woman, used to place this large book, with its -wooden covers and bright brazen clasps, upon the foot of her bed; and -hour after hour did those two boys trace, with their fingers upon the -map, the forty years’ wanderings of the Israelites, before they came into -the long-looked-for land of Canaan. - -[Sidenote: GRANDMOTHER’S BIBLE.] - -[Sidenote: HIS MOTHER.] - -I have said that Nat frequently went to look upon the house in which he -had lived; and so he often called upon the family in which this old Bible -was kept, in order that he might see the volume which he had so loved -when a boy. It reminded him of the delightful home of his childhood, -where his dear and worthy mother tried to make him good, in order that -he might become an honor to her and to the people. His mother was one -who was extremely kind; yet she was by no means afraid to correct her -children, if she found them doing wrong. Nat sometimes suffered, -because, like every boy, he sometimes did wrong; but generally the mother -found that he could be easily guided by her love. I seem to see her now, -taking her little son, and leading him to the window of the cottage in -Danvers, to see the beautiful new moon just setting in the west, while, -at the same time, she kisses and blesses him, and talks to him of his -absent father, and they both send up earnest wishes for his safe and -speedy return. She was very careful to instil into all her children the -importance of truth. “Speak the truth always, my boy,” said she. She -likewise loved religion, and she was very liberal in her feelings towards -those who differed from her upon this subject. Nevertheless, believing -that the Episcopal kind of worship was the most correct, she educated -all her children in that form. An anecdote which Nat, when he became a -man, often related, will show you how much influence her instructions in -this particular had upon him. Among the Episcopalians the prayers are -read, and the people repeat, aloud, some answer. One day Nat called his -brothers and sisters around him, and, taking his mother’s Book of Prayer, -with a sober face began to read aloud from it, while his brothers made -the answers. They had continued some minutes amusing themselves in this -way, when their mother entered the room. She was very much troubled at -first, as she supposed they were ridiculing the services she held as -sacred. “My sons,” said she, “I am pleased to see you read that book; but -you should never do so in a careless manner.” They told her that, though -playing, they did not think to do any harm, or to show any disrespect. - -[Sidenote: EARLY POVERTY.] - -[Sidenote: CHEERFULNESS UNDER IT.] - -The family was very poor; so poor, indeed, that sometimes they had -nothing to eat, for several successive days, but common coarse bread, -with perhaps a little pork. Wheat bread was almost never allowed to any -one of them. Their clothing, too, was at times very thin. Frequently, -during the whole winter, the boys wore their summer jackets and trousers. -At times, Nat’s schoolmates used to laugh at him because he wore such -a thin dress, when they were wearing their thickest winter clothing. -But he was not afraid of their merriment, nor made angry by it; on the -contrary, he laughed heartily at them for supposing him unable to bear -the cold. He knew that no good would be gained by complaints, and that he -would distress his mother if he made any; he therefore bore contentedly -his want of clothing, and tried even to make himself merry with those who -ridiculed him. - -[Sidenote: LOVE OF ARITHMETIC.] - -[Sidenote: DIFFICULTIES.] - -At the age of seven years, and after returning to Salem, he went to -a school kept by a man named Watson. Master Watson was one who had -sufficient learning for those times; though the boys who now go to school -in Boston would think it very strange if a master did not attempt to -teach more than he did. None of the scholars had a dictionary. Master -Watson was a good man, but he suffered much from headache, and therefore -he was liable to violent fits of anger; and when thus excited, as it -generally happens in such cases, he was guilty of injustice. An instance -of this, young Bowditch met with, not long after he entered the school. -From early life, Nat had liked ciphering, or arithmetic; and thinking -that at school he would be able to learn something more about this than -he had previously gained from his brothers, while at home, during the -long winter evenings, he requested the master to allow him to study -it. As he seemed too young, this request was not granted. But, being -determined to study what pleased him so much, he obtained a letter from -his father, in which Mr. Bowditch requested Master Watson to allow his -son to pursue his favorite study. The schoolmaster, on receiving the -message, was very angry, and said to his pupil, “Very well. I’ll give -you a sum that will satisfy you;” and immediately prepared a question -that he thought Nat would be unable to answer, and which he could not -have answered had he not studied at home. But the boy had learned before -sufficiently to enable him to perform the task; and, having done so, he -ran gayly to the desk, expecting to be praised for his exact performance -of duty. You may imagine his surprise at being saluted with these words: -“You little rascal, who showed you how to do this sum? I shall punish -you for attempting to deceive me.” The poor lad’s heart swelled and beat -violently. He blushed and trembled from fear of punishment, but still -more at the suspicion which his instructor had expressed, that he had -been guilty of telling a lie. Filled with anger and alarm, he stammered -out, “_I_ did it, sir.” But his master would not believe him, and was -about to strike him, when an elder brother interfered, and stated that -Nat knew very well how to perform the task, for he himself had previously -taught him enough to enable him to do it. Our young arithmetician thus -escaped the punishment; but he never could forget that he had been -accused of falsehood. His pious and truth-loving mother had so firmly -fastened in his mind the holiness of truth, that he rarely, if ever, -thought of deviating from it; and during his life he considered that -any one who even suspected him of falsehood had done him the greatest -injury. How well it would be if all of our boys loved truth as he did! - -[Sidenote: APPRENTICED TO SHIP-CHANDLER.] - -This was the only serious difficulty he met with while at this school. -He was the same lively lad at everything he undertook as he had been -previously. He was beloved by his comrades for his good nature, and was -always engaged in useful employment or innocent amusements. When he was -about ten years of age, his father became poorer than ever; and moreover, -in consequence of loss of regular employment and of the little property -which he possessed, he gave himself up to habits of intoxication. From -having been a brave man, he became a coward, and, unable to look at the -distress of his family, made their poverty many times more burdensome -by habits which wholly unfitted him for active duties. Under these -circumstances, his son, at the age of ten years and three months, left -school, and soon afterwards was bound an apprentice to Messrs. Ropes and -Hodges, who kept a ship-chandler’s shop in Salem. - -[Sidenote: EARLY CHARACTER.] - -As this was one of the important times in his life, I think I will -finish this chapter with only two remarks, for the boys and girls who may -be reading this. You see a lively and good-natured boy, who, before he -was ten years old, showed great love of truth, much perseverance, a warm -desire for study, particularly of arithmetic; and lastly, you perceive -him under the influence of a good mother, who tries to excite in him all -just and holy sentiments. Particularly does she point out to him truth as -one grand aim of his existence. Now, I wish you to remember these facts, -and see where they eventually led him; and if you remember, you may be -induced to imitate him, at least in some respects. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -_From 1784 to 1795—between the ages of 10 and 21._ - - His apprenticeship, his habits.—Studies Chambers’s - Cyclopædia.—Results of his studies; gains the respect of - all.—Dr. Bentley, Dr. Prince, and Mr. Reed, do him kindness; by - their means allowed access to “The Philosophical Library.”—He - makes philosophical instruments.—Calculates an Almanac at - the age of fourteen.—Studies algebra: delight he experienced - from this new pursuit.—Learns Latin.—Reads works by Sir Isaac - Newton.—Studies French. - - -[Sidenote: CHANGE OF ABODE.] - -[Sidenote: WORK AT THE SHOP.] - -[Sidenote: THOUGHTFULNESS FOR OTHERS.] - -Doubtless it was with a sorrowing heart that Nat left his own dear home -and his kind mother to take up his abode among strangers; for he was to -live at the house of his employer, Mr. Hodges. But if he did feel sad, -he was not one to neglect a duty in consequence of sorrow. The shop in -which he was employed was situated very near the wharves, in the lower -part of the town of Salem. We do not see many such stores now in Boston; -though something similar is sometimes found in small country towns. In -it a great variety of goods was sold, especially everything which would -be useful to a sailor. Pork and nails, hammers and butter, were kept in -adjacent barrels. The walls were hung with all the tools needed in the -seafaring life. There was a long counter in it, at one end of which Nat -had his little desk. When not engaged with customers, he used to read and -write there. He always kept a slate by his side, and, when not occupied -by the duties of the shop, he was usually busied with his favorite -pursuit of arithmetic. In the warm weather of summer, when there was -little business, and the heat was uncomfortable, he was often seen, by -the neighbors, engaged in ciphering, while resting his slate upon the -half door of the shop; for in those days the shop doors were made in two -parts, so that frequently the lower half was shut, while the upper was -open. Thus he was always actively employed, instead of being idle, as is -too frequently the case with boys in similar circumstances. Even on the -great holidays of Fourth of July and “General Training,” he did not leave -his studies for the purpose of going to see the parade, but remained at -the shop, laboring to improve himself; or, if the shop was closed, he -was in his little garret-room at his employer’s house. Study and reading -were beginning to be his only recreation. Frequently, after the store -was closed at night, he remained until nine or ten o’clock. Many long -winter nights he passed in a similar manner, at his master’s house by the -kitchen fire. While here, he did not become morose or ill-natured; but -frequently, when the servant girl wished to go to see her parents, who -lived one or two miles off, he took her place by the side of the cradle -of his master’s child, and rocked it gently with his foot, while busily -occupied at his books. I think this was one of the sweetest incidents -in his early days. It was the germ of his benevolence in after-life. A -truly great man is kind-hearted as well as wise. Nat began thus early -his course of genuine humanity and science. So must you do if you would -imitate him. - -[Sidenote: HIGHER STUDIES.] - -As he became older, he became interested in larger and more important -works; and of these, fortunately, he found an abundant supply. His -employer lived in the house of Judge Ropes, and Nat had permission -to use the library of this gentleman as much as he wished. In this -collection he found one set of books which he afterwards valued very -much. He tried to buy a copy of it when he was old, having a similar -feeling towards it that he bore towards his grandmother’s Bible. It -was Chambers’s Cyclopædia. As you may judge from the name Cyclopædia, -these books, consisting of four very large volumes, contained much upon -a great many subjects. It is like a dictionary. He read every piece in -it, and copied into blank books, which he obtained for the purpose, -everything he thought particularly interesting, especially all about -arithmetic. Previously, he had studied navigation, or the methods whereby -the sailors are enabled to guide their ships across the ocean. In this -Cyclopædia he found much upon this subject; also upon astronomy, or the -knowledge of the stars and other heavenly bodies; and upon mensuration, -or the art with which we are enabled to measure large quantities of land -or water. - -[Sidenote: ALMANAC FOR 1790.] - -But he was not satisfied with merely studying what others did. He made -several dials and curious instruments for measuring the weather, &c. He -likewise, at the age of fourteen years, made an Almanac for 1790, so -accurately and minutely finished, that it might have been published. -Whilst engaged upon this last, he was more than usually laborious. The -first rays of the morning saw him at labor, and he sat up, with his -rushlight, until late at night. If any asked where Nat was, the reply -was, “He is engaged in making his Almanac.” He was just fourteen years of -age when he finished it.[2] - -[Sidenote: BEGINS ALGEBRA.] - -[Sidenote: HIS DELIGHT IN IT.] - -August 1, 1787,—that is, at the age of fourteen,—he was introduced to a -mode of calculating which was wholly new to him. His brother came home -from his school, where he had been learning navigation, and told him -that his master had a mode of ciphering by means of letters. Nat puzzled -himself very much about the matter, and imagined a variety of methods of -“ciphering with letters.” He thought that perhaps A added to B made C, -and B added to C made D, and so on; but there seemed to him no use in -all this. At length he begged his brother to obtain for him the book. -The schoolmaster readily lent it; and it is said that the boy did not -sleep that night. He was so delighted with reading about this method, -or algebra, as it is called, that he found it impossible to sleep. He -afterwards talked with an old English sailor, who happened to know -something about the subject, and received some little instruction from -him. This person afterwards went to his own country; but just before he -left Salem, he patted Nat upon the head, and said, “Nat, my boy, go on -studying as you do now, and you will be a great man one of these days.” -You will see, before finishing this story, that the prophecy of the old -sailor was amply fulfilled. - -[Sidenote: DRS. PRINCE AND BENTLEY AID HIM.] - -[Sidenote: DR. KIRWAN’S LIBRARY.] - -[Sidenote: COPIES BOOKS.] - -But all this labor, this constant exertion, combined with his kind and -cheerful disposition, must, you will readily believe, have given him -friends. He became known as a young man of great promise; as one more -capable than his elders of deciding many questions, particularly all -those in which any calculations were to be made. Consequently, when about -seventeen or eighteen years old, he was often called upon, by men much -older than himself, to act as umpire in important matters. All these -he attended to so willingly and skilfully, that those whom he assisted -became very much attached to him. He thus gained the respect not merely -of common persons, less learned than himself, but his industry, his -fidelity to his employers, his talents, attracted the notice of men well -known in the community. Among these were two clergymen of Salem. At -the church of Rev. Dr. Prince he attended for divine worship; and Dr. -Bentley rarely passed the store without stepping in to talk with his -young friend. Nat availed himself of the learning of Dr. Bentley, and -often visited his room in order to converse with him. Dr. Prince, the -other clergyman above alluded to, had studied much the subjects that -the apprentice was pursuing, and he was very glad to see a young man -zealous in the same pursuits. There was another individual who kept an -apothecary’s shop; and it was he, who, with the aid of the two clergymen, -opened to our young student the means of continuing his favorite studies -with more success than he had ever anticipated. Mr. Reed—for that was his -name—likewise gave him permission to use all his books, of which he had -a great many. But the chief means of study, to which I allude, was the -permission to take books from a library which had been formed by a number -of gentlemen of the town. The kindness of the proprietors of this library -was never forgotten by the young apprentice; and in his will, made fifty -years afterwards, he left a thousand dollars to the Salem Athenæum, in -order to repay the debt of gratitude which he felt he had incurred. But -you may want to know something about the formation of this library, and -the books of which it was composed. Some time during the Revolutionary -War, alluded to in Chapter I., Dr. Kirwan, an Irishman and a learned man, -put the greater part of his library on board a ship, in order to have -it carried across the Irish Channel. While on the voyage, the vessel -was taken by an American ship of war, and the books were carried into -Beverly, and were afterwards sold at auction in Salem. Of all in the -world, these books were perhaps those most needed by the apprentice. He -had been studying those sciences chiefly, concerning which there were -very few works printed in America; and suddenly he found himself allowed -free access to all the important books which had been printed in Europe -upon these same subjects. You may readily imagine how eagerly he availed -himself of the opportunity thus afforded him. Every two or three days -he was seen with a number of volumes under his arm, going homeward; and -on his arrival there, he read and _copied all_ he wanted to study at -that time, or refer to afterwards. He made, in this way, a very large -collection of manuscripts, which formed a part of his library. Thus, by -his own exertions, he, at the early age of eighteen, became acquainted -with the writings of most of the learned men of Europe; and he did this -at the time when he was engaged almost constantly in his store, for -he made it a strict rule never to allow any study or reading, however -interesting, to interfere with his duties to his employers. He rarely -forgot this. The following incident impressed it so strongly upon his -memory, that it influenced all his subsequent life. - -[Sidenote: ATTENTION TO BUSINESS.] - -One day a customer called and purchased a pair of hinges at a time when -the young clerk was deeply engaged in solving a problem in mathematics. -He thought he would finish before charging the delivery of them upon the -books; but when the problem was solved, he forgot the matter altogether. -In a few days the customer called again to pay for them, when Mr. Hodges -himself was in the shop. The books were examined, and gave no account of -this purchase. The clerk, upon being applied to, at once recollected the -circumstance, and the reason of his own forgetfulness. From that day he -made it an invariable rule to finish every matter of business that he -began, before undertaking anything else. Perhaps some of you may remember -the story; and when you think of leaving anything half finished, you may -repeat to yourselves, “Charge your hinges, and finish what you begin.” - -[Sidenote: STUDIES LATIN.] - -Having been instructed in the elements of algebra, Nat soon found that -there were books written upon it in other languages, which he knew -he ought to read, if he intended to learn as much as he could about -algebra. One of these books was written in a tongue which is called a -dead language, in consequence of its having ceased to be spoken by the -people of the country in which it was originally used. It was in Latin. -This language usually requires many years of study, if one wishes to read -it well, even when he has good instructors. Our hero, however, never -thought of the difficulties he had to surmount, but commenced, alone, the -study of it, June, 1790, that is, when seventeen years old. He was soon -in trouble. He could not understand his Latin book on mathematics. He -asked many who had been at college, but they were puzzled by the peculiar -expressions as much as he was. At length, however, by the aid of his -friend Dr. Bentley, and afterwards of a German who gave him lessons, he -succeeded in mastering the greatest work in modern times, written by -Sir Isaac Newton, who, you know, was one of the most famous philosophers -who have ever lived in this world. Nat discovered in one part of it -a mistake, which, several years afterwards, he published; but he was -deterred from doing so at first, because a very much older person than -he, a professor in Harvard College, said that the apprentice was mistaken. - -[Sidenote: STUDY OF FRENCH.] - -[Sidenote: GOOD RESULTS.] - -But Latin was not the only language that he learned. Finding in the -Kirwan library many books upon mathematics written in French, he -determined to learn that tongue likewise. Accordingly, at the age of -nineteen (May 15, 1792), he began to study it. Fortunately, he was able -to make an arrangement with a Frenchman living in Salem, who wished -to learn English. Mr. Jordy agreed to teach the apprentice French, on -condition that Nat would teach him English. For sixteen months they met -regularly, a certain number of times a week; and the consequences were -very important to the youth’s future success in life. One circumstance -took place, during this study of French, which I think it important to -mention. Nat, desiring only to learn to _read_ a French book, supposed -that it would be unnecessary to spend time in learning accurately to -_pronounce_ the words. These, as is the case in the English tongue, are -often pronounced very differently from the manner in which we should be -led to speak them, if we judged from their mode of spelling. His master -protested against teaching without reference to the pronunciation; and, -after much arguing, Nat yielded to the wishes of his instructor, and -he studied the language in such a way that he could converse with a -Frenchman, as well as read a French book. You will soon see the good that -resulted. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -_From 1784 to 1796—age, 10-22._ - - Apprenticeship continued.—Favorite of his companions.—Learns - music; neglects his studies for a time.—Gets into bad society; - his decision in freeing himself from it.—Engages in a survey - of the town of Salem.—Sails on his first voyage to the East - Indies; extracts from his Journal during this voyage; arrival - at the Isle of Bourbon; return home. - - -[Sidenote: STUDY AND BUSINESS.] - -[Sidenote: A GOOD COMPANION.] - -Though so interested in his studies, Nat tried, as we have seen, never to -neglect a known duty. Whenever any one came to the store, he was ready -to leave study in order to attend to him. And he did this cheerfully, -and with so bright a smile that all were pleased to meet him. His young -companions loved him, for he was not one of those vain persons who think -themselves more important than others because they are more learned. On -the contrary, what he knew himself he liked to impart to others. He was -a member of a juvenile club for the discussion of different subjects. In -this association his opinion had much weight, because he rarely spoke, -and never unless he had something of importance to say. - -[Sidenote: LOVE OF MUSIC.] - -Some of his comrades were very fond of music. He had originally a great -taste for it. Music, at that time, was less cultivated than it is now; -and generally, those who practised it were fond of drinking liquor, -and often became drunkards. Nat’s love of the flute led him, at times, -to meet with several young men of this class. In fact, he was so much -delighted with their company, that he began to forget his studies. Day -after day he spent his leisure hours in their society; and, for a time, -all else was neglected. At length he began to think somewhat in this way: -“What am I doing? forgetting my studies in order to be with those whose -only recommendation is, that they love music? I shall be very likely to -fall into their habits if I continue longer with them. I will not do -so.” He soon afterwards left their society. - -The simple, old-fashioned flute on which he played at these meetings is -still preserved. It is a silent monitor to his descendants, urging them -to performance of duty, in spite of the allurements of pleasure. - -May every boy who reads this remember it, and try, if ever led into -temptation as the apprentice was, to say, “I will not,” with the same -determined spirit that he did. - -The time was fast approaching when he was about to leave the business -of shopkeeping, and enter upon the more active duties of life. It is -true that, to a certain extent, he had been engaged in active life ever -since entering his apprenticeship. At the age of ten he had left the home -of his mother, and had been obliged to depend much upon himself. His -father’s habits had finally prevented him from being of service to the -family. The mother had died; the family had been broken up; and Nat had -thus, at an early age, been thrown upon the world. After having remained -with Ropes & Hodges until they gave up business, he entered the shop of -Samuel C. Ward, which was a similar establishment; and there he remained -until he was twenty-one years old. He then quitted, forever, this -employment. - -[Sidenote: SURVEY OF SALEM.] - -In 1794, by a law of the state, every town was obliged to have an -accurate survey and measurement made of its limits. Captain Gibaut and -Dr. Bentley were appointed by the Selectmen in Salem to superintend this -business. Believing that the calculating powers of the apprentice would -be useful to them, he was made assistant; and during the summer of 1794 -he was occupied with this business. Thus we see how his studies already -began to be useful to him. For his pay, he received one hundred and -thirty-five dollars. Towards the end of the summer, Mr. Derby, a rich -ship-owner in Salem, wished Captain Gibaut to take command of a vessel -to Cadiz, and thence round the Cape of Good Hope to the East Indies. -Captain Gibaut consented, and he asked Nat to go with him as clerk. -Nat agreed to the terms; but, owing to some difficulty with Mr. Derby, -Captain Gibaut resigned to Captain H. Prince. Young Bowditch was unknown -to the latter; but at the suggestion of Mr. Derby, who had heard of the -talents and industry of the clerk, the same arrangements were continued -by Captain Prince. - -A new era in his life was now beginning; and let us look a moment at him. -He is now twenty-one years of age. He is already more learned than many -much older than himself, in consequence of his untiring industry and his -devotion to study and to duty. Yet he is modest and retiring. He is still -full of fun and frolic at times, and always ready for acts of kindness. -Above all, he is a good youth; no immorality has stained him. His love of -truth had been given him by his mother; and since her death he has loved -it still more. It is to him a bright light, as it were, to guide him. -Cannot we foresee his career? - -[Sidenote: FIRST VOYAGE TO INDIA.] - -On January 11, 1795,—that is, when he was a few months more than -twenty-one years of age,—he sailed from Salem in the ship Henry. Though -he went as clerk, he was prepared to undertake the more active duties -of sailor and mate of the vessel. Thinking that he should be too much -occupied to be able to read, he took very few books; and therefore he -devoted much more time to observations of the heavenly bodies, the state -of the weather, &c., while at sea, and upon the manners and habits of the -nations he visited. Though he had not been educated as a sailor-boy, his -studies had led him to understand the most important part of a seaman’s -life, the art of guiding the vessel from one shore to another, across -the ocean. In other words, he had studied much on navigation, and copied -books upon that subject. - -[Sidenote: JOURNAL—MOTTO.] - -The Journal which he kept during the voyage is quite long. One of the -first lines you meet, on opening the book, is the motto which he chose -for himself. It is in Latin, and means, that _he would do what he thought -to be right, and not obey the dictates of any man_. He notes the events -of every day, most of which are similar; but occasionally something -unusual occurs. - -[Sidenote: SLAVERY.] - -February 7, 1795, he writes thus: “At ten A. M., spoke a ship, -twenty-five days out, from Liverpool, bound to Africa. We discovered her -this morning, just before sunrise, and supposed her to be a frigate.” -They discovered soon that it was a negro slave-ship, and he exclaims -thus: “God grant that the detestable traffic which she pursues may soon -cease, and that the tawny sons of Africa may be permitted quietly to -enjoy the blessings of liberty in their native land.” - -“February 22. We remember with gratitude that this is the anniversary of -the birth of our beloved Washington—the man who unites all hearts. May he -long continue a blessing to his country and to mankind at large!” - -During the passage to the Isle of Bourbon, situated, as you know, east -of the southern extremity of Africa, he frequently alludes to his native -land in terms of respect and love. On May 8, the ship arrived in the -harbor of Bourbon. Perhaps you may like to see his description of the -town. - -[Sidenote: BOURBON.] - -“May 9. After dinner, Captain P., Mr. B., and I, went to see the town. -It is a fine place. All the streets run in straight lines from the -shore, and cross one another at right angles. There is a church here, -with a priest to officiate. I went into it. We afterwards went into -the republican garden. It is a beautiful place, though at present much -neglected. The different walks are made to meet in the centre, and -form the figure of a star, each one of the rays of which is formed by -thirty-four mango trees, placed from twelve to fourteen feet apart. All -the houses of the island are built very low; they have no chimneys. They -are two stories high (about ten feet), have lattice windows, outside -of which are wooden ones to keep off the sun and rain. The floors are -made of the wood of the country, on which they rub wax, as the women of -America do on their furniture. It makes them very slippery.” There are -other places of which he speaks, and in them he finds flower-gardens in -abundance, intermixed with groves of coffee and orange trees, &c. - -He afterwards alludes to the poor slaves, who, it appeared, suffered as -much there as they do in some other places at the present day. - -[Sidenote: HABITS THERE.] - -He visits the people of the place, and finds them superstitious and -vicious. Alluding to the vice he found there, he writes, “I was reminded -of the beautiful words of Solomon, in the Proverbs.” This was not the -only occasion on which he remembered his Bible; and it seemed always to -have a kindly influence over him. On one occasion, several young men -argued with him about its truth; and, having heard them patiently, he put -his hand over his heart: “Talk no more about it. I know that the Bible is -true; that it is capable of doing to me the greatest good. I know so by -the feelings I have here.” - -After remaining in this place until July 25, he set sail for home, and -arrived in Salem January 11, 1796, having been absent exactly twelve -months. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -_From 1796 to 1797—age, 23-4._ - - Second voyage.—Visits Lisbon.—Island of Madeira; festival and - games there.—Anecdotes of his skill as an accountant.—Doubles - Cape of Good Hope.—Albatrosses.—Arrival at Manilla.—Extracts - from Journal.—Curious boat.—Earthquake.—Voyage home. - - -[Sidenote: AT SEA AGAIN.] - -[Sidenote: SECOND VOYAGE.] - -After remaining at home about two months, he again sailed in the same -ship, and with Captain Prince. On the 26th of the following March, they -prepared to sail from Salem harbor; but, being prevented by contrary -winds from getting out of the bay, the anchor was dropped during the -night, and on the following morning, under fair but strong breezes, -Mr. Bowditch was again on his way across the wide Atlantic. His course -was towards Lisbon, situated at the mouth of the River Tagus, in -Portugal. The first part of the voyage was unpleasant, because cloudy -and stormy weather prevailed most of the time; but during the latter -part, under pleasant and mild breezes from the south, the ship rode gayly -onwards, and, on the morning of April 24, the vessel was within sight -of Lisbon, with its beautiful and romantic country behind it. Lisbon is -the chief city of Portugal, and presents a very superb appearance when -viewed from a vessel which is entering the harbor. It is the principal -commercial place in the kingdom. Its inhabitants are among the richest. -In consequence of its being the place of residence of the kings of -Portugal, many magnificent country-seats, or villas, are seen on all the -vine-covered hills of the adjacent country. - -The stay at this city was short, and the opportunities for visiting -the interesting places in it very limited. Mr. Bowditch seems not to -have been particularly pleased with its appearance. At the time he was -there, probably, much less attention was paid to the cleanliness of the -streets than there is now. But he spent the 28th and 29th of April in -walking about the city, and says in his Journal, that he “found nothing -remarkable.” - -[Sidenote: LISBON, INCIDENT.] - -It was at Lisbon that Mr. Bowditch discovered the advantage of having -learned to _speak_ French, to which I alluded at the close of the second -chapter. Though a Portuguese port, the custom-house officers understood -French; and no one on board but he could speak any other language -than the English. The consequence was, that he acted as interpreter, -which was, of course, a great help to the captain. This incident made -a deep impression upon his mind; and in after-life, when a person in -conversation expressed a doubt about the importance of any kind of -knowledge, because for the time it seemed useless, he would reply, “O, -study everything, and your learning will, some time or other, be of -service. I once said that I would not learn to _speak_ French, because I -thought that I should never leave my native town; yet, within a few years -afterwards, I was in a foreign port, and I became sole interpreter of -the ship’s crew, in consequence of my power to speak this language.” - -[Sidenote: MADEIRA.] - -[Sidenote: GAMES.] - -On the 30th, having taken on board a quantity of wine, they again were -ready for sea; but, owing to bad weather, they did not sail until the 6th -of May, when the ship dropped down the river. On the 6th it was on its -way to the Island of Madeira, which is a small island, situated about -three hundred and sixty miles from the northern part of Africa. At eleven -o’clock, May 15, the island was discovered; and, under full sail, the -ship swept along the shore until nine in the evening, when they hailed -a pilot, who came on board, from the town of Funchal. Mr. Pintard, the -American consul of the place, greeted them very cordially. The ship spent -six days there, taking in more wine,—for which the country is famous,—and -sailed from it on Thursday morning, May 26, 1796. During this residence -at Mr. Pintard’s, Mr. Bowditch saw some feats of horsemanship, about -which you may like to hear. They are thus described in his Journal: “A -ring being suspended by a small wire, about ten feet from the ground, at -the entrance of the gate of the public garden, a horseman attempted to -strike it, and carry it off, while upon full gallop. If he gained the -prize, he was attended by the master of ceremonies, mounted on a small -colt fantastically adorned with ribbons, &c., with a most deformed mask, -who generally gave him a reward fully proportioned to the merit of the -action; perhaps a whistle, a small flower, or some little image. During -the next day, no business was done by the inhabitants; but the whole of -it was devoted to amusements similar to those of the preceding. Again -there were masquerades, and some of the richest men in the place joined -with the crowd, masked like the people. Others were very richly dressed, -like Turks, East Indians, &c. One of them wore a head-dress worth, it was -said, forty or fifty thousand dollars.” From this description, slight as -it is, we may see the difference in the customs between these inhabitants -of Madeira and the Americans. - -[Sidenote: ANECDOTE.] - -Captain Prince relates the following anecdotes, which occurred during -their residence at Madeira. I shall use Captain Prince’s words. - -“I was one day walking with an American shipmaster at Madeira, who, in -the course of conversation, asked me who that young man (alluding to Mr. -Bowditch) was. I replied, that he was clerk of the ship under my command, -and remarked that he was a great calculator. ‘Well,’ said the gentleman, -‘I can set him a sum that he can’t do.’ I answered that I did not believe -it. The gentleman then proposed a wager of a dinner to all the American -masters in port, that he could set him such a sum. The wager was accepted -by me, and we repaired to the hotel, where we found Mr. B. alone. The -gentleman was introduced, and the question stated to Mr. Bowditch, with -the interrogatory, Can you do it? The reply was, Yes. The great sum which -had puzzled the brains of the gentleman and all his friends at home, for -a whole winter, was done in a few minutes. I remember the question. It -was this: To dig a ditch around an acre of land, how deep and how wide -must that ditch be, to raise the acre of land one foot? - -[Sidenote: KNOWLEDGE OF NAVIGATION.] - -“One day, Mr. Bowditch and myself received a visit from a Mr. Murray, -a Scotchman, who was at that port, having under his charge a valuable -cargo of English goods, and who made many inquiries concerning the -Americans. He asked particularly what passage we had made against the -north-east monsoon, and remarked that it was very surprising that the -Americans should come so far, and undertake such difficult voyages, with -so little knowledge as they possessed of the science of navigation. In -reply to his remark, I told him that I had on board twelve men, all of -whom were as well acquainted with working lunar observations for all the -practical purposes of navigation, as Sir Isaac Newton would be, should -he come on earth. Mr. M. asked how my crew came by that knowledge. I -told him, in the same manner that other men came by theirs. He thought -it so wonderful, that (as he afterwards told me) he went down to the -landing-place, on Sunday, to see my _knowing_ crew come on shore. During -all this conversation, Mr. Bowditch remained silent, sitting with his -slate pencil in his mouth, and as modest as a maid. Mr. Kean, a broker, -who was also present, observed to Murray, ‘Sir, if you knew what I know -concerning that ship, you would not talk quite so fast.’ ‘And what do -you know?’ asked Murray. ‘I know,’ replied Kean, ‘that there is more -knowledge of navigation on board that American ship (the Astræa) than -there has been in all the ships that ever came into Manilla Bay.’” - -[Sidenote: TEACHES THE SAILORS.] - -Mr. Bowditch, during this and the previous voyage, had been in the habit -of teaching navigation to the sailors; so that it is probable that, -considering the number of persons then on board who really understood -practical navigation, Mr. Kean was not so extravagant in his remark as at -first sight he seems to be. - -[Sidenote: LUNAR RAINBOW.] - -May 26, as we have already said, he sailed for India. On July 1, the -Island of Trinidad was within sight. They did not stop there, but -keeping on their course steadily, two days afterwards crossed the -Tropic of Capricorn, in the Southern Hemisphere. On the 17th, during -the night, it having rained during the day, the young sailor observed, -what we rarely see in this part of the world and on land, but which is -not uncommon at sea, a beautiful lunar rainbow. It is caused in the same -manner as those rainbows which are seen after a summer shower in the -daytime, when the sun is just coming out brightly, and the clouds, which -cause the bow to be formed, are passing away afar off in the opposite -part of the heavens. But the difference between the solar and lunar -rainbows is very great. The solar is grander and has more brilliant -coloring, while the lunar bow has a more delicate outline and lighter -tints. - -August 1, the Journal says, “All the latter part of these twenty-four -hours, fine breezes and pleasant, smooth sea. Ever since crossing the -Cape [of Good Hope], we have seen a great number of albatrosses, but no -fish.” These birds are the largest of marine birds. They at times fly -and swim (for they are web-footed) to a great distance from land, living -upon the fish and other things which may fall in their way. It is said -that, as they come gently rising over the waves of the sea, they present -a very pleasing sight to the sailor who has been for many months upon the -ocean, separated from living things. - -[Sidenote: PHOSPHORESCENT LIGHT.] - -For some weeks afterwards, the ship met with severe weather, until -September 7, when, according to previous expectation, they saw the land -of the Island of Java. The day before their arrival at that place, a -curious phenomenon was observed, the account of which I will copy from -the Journal. “At seven P. M., the water, as for the two nights past, -became of a perfect milk color, through the whole extent of the horizon. -We drew a bucket of it in order to determine whether there was anything -in it to account for the curious phenomenon. When seen by candlelight, -nothing could be observed; but, when carried into a dark place, it -appeared full of small, bright, cylindric substances, of the nature of a -jelly, about the size of a small wire, and a quarter of an inch long. -Some large jellies floated on the water at the same time, and looked -like long pieces of wood. The sky all this time was perfectly clear; not -a cloud to be seen. About three A. M. the water began to take its usual -color. Next morning we examined the water which had appeared so shining -in the night; but nothing could be discovered in it, although it was -viewed in a very dark place. In the forenoon the sea appeared somewhat -colored, of a greenish hue; but some of it, being taken up and carried -from the light, appeared colorless.” - -[Sidenote: ISLAND OF JAVA.] - -[Sidenote: ARRIVAL AT MANILLA.] - -The next morning the high lands of the Island of Java came in sight on -the horizon, at the distance of about twenty miles towards the east. -The Journal kept during his passage through the Straits of Sunda is -interesting, because the greatest care was necessary to keep the ship -off from the shoals which abound there. The current runs at times very -swiftly, the strait being between the large islands of Sumatra and -Java, and on the 9th, the force of this current, and strong headwinds, -compelled the captain to cast anchor two or three times. Finally, on the -17th, the ship was fairly out of the Straits of Sunda and Straits of -Banca, having been ten days, during sultry weather, toiling, with much -danger, amid coral reefs and shoals. The remainder of the voyage along by -the coast of Borneo to the city of Manilla, the capital of the chief of -the Philippine Islands, was more speedy. At six in the morning of Sunday, -October 2, 1796, the Island of Luzon was in sight towards the east, about -eighteen miles off. That same evening they cast anchor in Manilla Bay, it -being a little more than six months since the sailor had left his home in -Salem. - -[Sidenote: COSTUMES OF THE PEOPLE.] - -The following are some extracts from his Journal while in the city. -Under date of October 4, he says, “No coffee can be procured here; the -Spaniards, not being very fond of it, cultivate the cocoa instead. The -common drink of the natives is sweetmeats and water, which beverage, they -say, is wholesome and agreeable. Large quantities of wax are produced -here; but it is very dear, owing to the great consumption of it in the -churches, of which there are a great number in Manilla and its environs. -There are a few bishops in the island, and one archbishop, whose power is -very great. The priests are very powerful, every native wearing the image -of the Virgin Mary, a cross, or some such thing. No books are allowed -to be imported contrary to their religion. The commandant who makes the -visit examines every vessel.... The inhabitants of the city and suburbs -are very numerous, amounting to nearly three hundred thousand. In the -Philippines there are about two or three millions. A great number are -Chinese; and in general they are a well-made people. Their common dress -is a shirt, and trousers, or jackets and trousers. The women have great -numbers of handkerchiefs about them, so as to be entirely covered. The -natives are well used by the Spaniards, the King of Spain, in all his -public papers, calling them his children.” From these extracts you may -judge of Mr. Bowditch’s mode of studying a people when residing with -strangers. He afterwards speaks of their games, &c. - -[Sidenote: SINGULAR BOAT.] - -The following description of a boat appears on record of October 5: “At -twelve, set sail for Cavite in one of the passage-boats, which is very -inconvenient for passengers; being nearly three hours before arriving -at Cavite, during which time I was basking in the sun. Their boats and -manner of sailing are very curious. Having generally light winds, they -make their mat sails very large, and the boats, made of the bodies of -trees, are very long and narrow; so that there would be great danger of -upsetting, if it were not for “out-riggers,” which they have on each -side, consisting of two bamboos about eight or ten feet long, whose -ends are joined to another long bamboo, running lengthwise of the boat. -The lee one, on a flaw of wind, sinks a little in the water, and, being -buoyant, keeps the boats from upsetting; and on the weather [that is, -towards the wind] ones the persons in the boat are continually going out -and in, according to the force of the breeze. In a fresh breeze there -will be six or eight men at the end of the bamboo, there being ropes -leading from the top of the mast to different parts of the bamboo, to -support them as they go. By this means they keep the boat always upright, -and make it sail very fast, in a good breeze going five or six knots.” -After this, a good account is given of the mode of counting used by the -Malays. - -[Sidenote: EARTHQUAKE.] - -“November 5. About two P. M. there came on, without any preceding noise, -a very violent shock of an earthquake. It commenced towards the north, -and ran very nearly in a southerly direction. It continued nearly two -minutes; everything appeared in motion. When it happened, the captain and -myself were sitting reading, and we immediately ran out of the house. -All the natives were down on their knees, in the middle of the streets, -praying and crossing themselves. It was the most violent earthquake known -for a number of years. It threw down a large house about half a league -from the city, untiled one of their churches, and did considerable -damage to the houses about the city and its suburbs. Nothing of it was -felt on board the shipping.” - -[Sidenote: HOME AGAIN.] - -On Monday, December 12, having sold their wines and laden their vessel -with sugar, indigo, pepper, and hides, the party set sail from Manilla, -heartily tired with the vices and superstitions of the place. Retracing -their course through the Straits of Sunda, with much difficulty they -regained the Indian Ocean, and then, setting full sail, they once more -looked towards home. - -In coming round the Cape of Good Hope, the wind was very favorable. -During their passage, several ships were met with, all of whom told them -of home, and of the beginning of troubles between America and France, and -England. Finally, at six A. M., they saw Cape Ann towards the north-west, -and at two P. M., May 22, 1797, the vessel was riding at anchor in Salem -harbor, having been about half round the world, and nearly fourteen -months from Salem. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -_From 1797 to 1800—age, 24-7._ - - Marriage.—Third voyage; visits Spain.—Dangers.—Earl - St. Vincent’s fleet.—Arrival at Cadiz.—Observatory at - Cadiz.—Sails for Alicant.—Passage through the Straits of - Gibraltar.—Privateers; chased by one; anecdotes of Mr. B.’s - love of study shown then.—Hears news of the death of his wife; - consoles himself with mathematical studies.—More troubles with - privateers.—Leaves Alicant.—Advantages derived from his visit - to Spain.—Fourth voyage; to India.—Extracts from Journal on - viewing a ship that was engaged in the slave trade.—Arrival - at Java; introduction to the governor; respect formerly paid - to him.—Anecdote of English navy officers.—Goes to Batavia - and Manilla.—Observations of Jupiter while becalmed near the - Celebean Islands.—Voyage home. - - -[Sidenote: TRADES FOR HIMSELF.] - -[Sidenote: FIRST MARRIAGE.] - -During these two voyages, Mr. Bowditch had been engaged in trade for -himself; and having thereby gained a little property, he wished to remain -at home and enjoy the blessings of domestic life, from which he had -been separated at the age of ten years, when he left the abode of his -parents. In accordance with this wish, on the 25th day of March, 1798, -he married an excellent and intelligent woman, named Elizabeth Boardman. -But in a few months he was again called to a seafaring life. His young -and beautiful wife was already beginning to show symptoms of that disease -which eventually removed her from her husband and friends. It was a hard -struggle for the tenderly attached couple to separate; but duty called -the husband, and obedience to duty was always his watchword. Accordingly, -by August 15, 1798, he was prepared for sea, in the same ship, with -the same owner, Captain Derby, and his friend Captain Prince. On this -occasion he went as joint supercargo. It was on the 21st of August—nearly -five months from the date of his marriage—that he bade adieu to his wife. -He never saw her again. Full of devotedness to him, she, however, urged -him to do what he thought right, unconscious that she should never more -embrace him. During his absence she died at the age of eighteen years. - -[Sidenote: VOYAGE TO SPAIN.] - -One of the objects of the present voyage was to go to Cadiz, the chief -southern port in Spain. It was rather dangerous at this time for any -vessel to sail towards Europe, as the revolution in France had taken -place only a short time before, and most of the nations of Europe were -beginning to rise against that country; but as Spain was united with -France, an English fleet was hovering about the Straits of Gibraltar. The -consequence was, that it was of great importance to avoid all vessels, -for fear of meeting a privateer. - -On the 19th of September, after nearly a month’s voyage, they came within -sight of the shores of Spain; and at seven A. M. the next day, they -discovered the English fleet, under command of Earl St. Vincent, several -leagues to the eastward of them. On this same day they were boarded by -the captain of an American vessel, who informed them that the privateers -were very numerous in the straits. - -[Sidenote: CADIZ.] - -By Mr. Bowditch’s Journal we learn the following:— - -“On Thursday afternoon, 20th of September, the winds continued light -and variable to the westward. Captain Prince steered directly for Earl -St. Vincent’s fleet, and at two P. M. the Hector, of seventy-four guns, -Captain Camel, sent his lieutenant on board, ordering us to bear down to -him. Captain Prince went aboard, was treated politely, and received a -passport to enter Cadiz.” On the 21st, at four P. M., anchor was cast in -that harbor. - -The state in which poor Spain was at this time was miserable enough. -There was but one newspaper in the whole kingdom, and that was printed at -Madrid. Everything was degraded about that once noble and brave-hearted -people. Upon the appearance of Cadiz the Journal says thus: “The streets -of the city, although narrow, are very neatly paved, and swept every day, -so that they are very clean. They have broad, flat stones at the sides. -All the houses are of stone, with roofs but little sloping. There are -fortifications all around the city.” - -[Sidenote: BATTLE OF THE NILE.] - -“September 29, 1798. This day news came of the destruction of the -French fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, by Lord Nelson.”[3] Of this -event you will read in history at some future time; but it was deemed -very important at that time by the whole world. It was one of the most -formidable checks received by the French after they had begun to overrun -Europe. - -This news, of course, was very interesting to our voyager; but, although -excited by the political and military contests of the day, he did not -forget the subject to which, from earliest years, he had devoted himself. -You will perceive from the following extracts from his Journal, that -he now was studying astronomy. In fact, he had been reading, during -his previous voyages, many of the greatest works on mathematics and -astronomy. - -[Sidenote: OBSERVATORY AT CADIZ.] - -“November 12. During our residence in Cadiz we formed an acquaintance -with Count Mallevante, who, before the revolution, commanded a French -frigate at Martinico, and at present is a post-captain in the Spanish -navy. He carried us to the New Observatory, built on the Island of Cadiz, -where we were shown all the instruments they had mounted. There were not -any of them very new. The person who went with us was named Cosmo de -Churruca. I promised to send him, on my arrival in America, the works -of Dr. Holyoke on Meteorology. I gave him my method of working a lunar -observation, which he was to print at the end of the Nautical Almanac.” - -[Sidenote: FRENCH PRIVATEERS.] - -“At half past four P. M., got under way, and beat out of the harbor of -Cadiz, in company with three other American vessels, which sailed under -the protection of the Astræa.” They were destined for Alicante, and -consequently their course lay through the Straits of Gibraltar, up along -the south-eastern coast of Spain. On the afternoon of the 14th, they fell -in again with the English fleet, which, with those under their convoy, -consisted of forty-five vessels. As the fleet was steering in the same -direction, they kept company with it, being all bound for the Straits of -Gibraltar. Next day they saw another convoy of twenty vessels, and two -of those accompanying the Astræa joined it. The Astræa was obliged to -fall behind, because the remaining vessel under its protection sailed too -slowly. On the 18th the whole convoy entered the Straits, except one, -which was chased by French privateers, ten of which could be counted in -full view; but, on the approach of the Astræa, the enemy retreated. - -[Sidenote: FEARLESSNESS.] - -[Sidenote: DANGERS FROM PIRATES.] - -The moon was shining brightly on the night of the 19th of November, 1799. -Many times had the bell broken over the silent sea from the ship’s deck, -telling of the passing hours, when suddenly the crew of the Astræa was -called to quarters, for a suspicious sail was seen bearing down towards -them. The cannon, of which nineteen were on board, were all cleared -for action, and every sailor, placed at his post, watched anxiously as -the privateer came rapidly towards them. Captain Prince assigned to -Mr. Bowditch a station in the cabin, through which the powder was to -be passed to the deck. When all on deck was ready, and that deep and -solemn silence which always comes over every part of a ship that is -just approaching the enemy, was beginning to creep over those on board -the Astræa, the captain stepped for a moment into the cabin to see if -everything was in order; and “there sat Mr. Bowditch at the cabin table, -with his slate and pencil in hand, and with the cartridges lying by -his side.” Entirely absorbed with his problem, he forgot all danger, -thus showing that his love of science, even when in imminent peril, -was superior to all feelings of fear. This anecdote, doubtless, will -amuse you. It reminds me of the geometrician Archimedes, who lived two -hundred years before Christ, who, as some of you may know, was slain by -the soldiers of the Roman General Marcellus, when they sacked the city -of Syracuse. Archimedes had labored much for his countrymen during the -siege, but finally, it is said, became so engaged in his studies that -he did not know that the soldiers had taken possession of the town until -they attacked and killed him. Fortunately, in the case of Mr. Bowditch, -no evil ensued. Captain Prince could not restrain himself, but burst into -a loud laugh, and asked Mr. Bowditch whether he could make his will at -that moment; to which question Mr. Bowditch answered, with a smile, in -the affirmative. Captain Prince adds, “But on all occasions of danger he -manifested great firmness, and, after the affair of the privateer (which, -by the by, did not molest us), he requested to be stationed at one of the -guns, which request was granted him.” - -[Sidenote: SORROW RELIEVED BY STUDY.] - -In this way they continued cruising along the beautiful Mediterranean, -but perpetually exposed to danger. Now they come within sight of the high -lands of Malaga, and shortly they fly away from some pirate on the broad -sea. Now they are quietly sailing along under the warm and sunny skies -of an Andalusian climate, and again, in the course of a few hours, are -driven by the current and tempest far away to the south-west. Finally, -after a tedious passage, the ship was moored, on Friday evening, November -23, in the harbor of Alicante. After considerable difficulty and delay -because the city authorities were afraid of disease being brought into -the place by the crews of the ships, they were at length allowed to go -on shore. Here melancholy tidings awaited our voyager. By a Salem vessel -that had arrived at Cadiz, news came of the death of his wife some time -in the preceding October. He made no complaints, however, but quietly -sought to interest his mind in his favorite pursuit of astronomy. He -always did so whenever any trouble came upon him. In this way he consoled -himself, and was not a burden to others by allowing his sorrows to -disturb them. - -[Sidenote: INSOLENCE OF PRIVATEERS.] - -January 24, 1799, having finished loading the ship with brandy, they -would have sailed, had not the wind prevented. On February 11th they were -still detained by head winds; but now, to their discomfort, they saw a -French privateer cruising off in the bay at the mouth of the harbor. It -was evidently waiting to intrap some one of the American vessels. On the -next day the daring of the privateer commander arose to such a height, -that he rowed in his barge all around the American fleet, and insulted -some of the seamen. Towards evening of February 13, Mr. Bowditch narrowly -escaped serious difficulty with them, as the privateer barge and the -American boat coming from shore came in contact; but the former received -the most damage, and Mr. Bowditch got safely on board the Astræa. On -the 14th, the brigand of the sea departed, and his ship was soon seen -gradually losing itself in the distance over the blue Mediterranean. - -[Sidenote: TO INDIA.] - -On the next day the convoy sailed. It consisted of five vessels, and by -twenty-four hours of favorable breezes they were brought within thirty -miles of the coast of Barbary; and, after some trouble in consequence -of being obliged to take in tow those of the convoy which sailed more -slowly, the Astræa was fairly out from the Straits of Gibraltar by -February 24, that is, three days from the time of leaving Alicante. - -During half the passage home, some of the convoy were in company with -them. They had rough seas; but on the 6th of April, at ten o’clock at -night, Mr. Bowditch arrived in Salem harbor, having been absent nearly -nine months. - -This visit to Spain was of service to him in many respects. He there -obtained many books on astronomy and navigation, and some celebrated -works on history, all of which he studied with care on his voyage home. -He, moreover, had gained some knowledge by his visit to the Observatory. - -[Sidenote: STUDIES DURING THE VOYAGE.] - -He was not destined to remain at home a long while; but the Astræa having -been sold to a merchant in Boston, Mr. Bowditch sailed with Captain -Prince from that city on the 23d of the following July, bound for India. -It was a long, and to most persons a tedious voyage that he was about to -undertake; but to Mr. Bowditch it was the means of improvement. While -the ship was sailing quietly along, or sinking lazily from one swell of -the sea to another, or being tossed about by the most violent gale, Mr. -Bowditch was still laboring at his books. During this voyage, as during -the preceding, he did not perform much duty, except when in port, and, -consequently, on board ship he had a great deal of time to be devoted -to study. And he worthily filled every moment with reading and study -to improve himself or others. During this voyage, as in previous ones, -he taught the sailors practical navigation. Very few incidents worth -mentioning occurred during the voyage; but on the 15th of September, -1799, we find the following in his Journal: “The ship in sight yesterday -soon proved to be an English Guineaman. As we came up with him he fired -a gun to leeward, which we returned. As we came nearer, he fired one to -windward. We returned the compliment and nearly hulled him. When within -hail, he ordered our boat out, which Captain Prince refused, telling him -to come on board if he wanted anything. Finally, he requested Captain -Prince to haul out our boat, as his was calking, which we could plainly -see. Mr. Carlton went on board with the clearance, and the surgeon came -aboard of us, and, after examining our papers and acting in a manner -becoming a Guineaman, they made sail.” - -[Sidenote: SLAVE SHIP FROM GUINEA.] - -[Sidenote: ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.] - -In order to understand this allusion to the Guineaman, you should -know that, at the time we are reading of, the greater part of English -merchants, especially those of Liverpool, were engaged in the horrid -traffic called the Slave Trade. Immense numbers of vessels were annually -sent from Liverpool and other places in England for the sole purpose of -sailing to the coast of Africa, there to get a cargo of the poor natives, -whom they carried to the West Indian Islands and America, in order that -they might be sold, as slaves, into perpetual bondage. Men, women, and -children, were taken indiscriminately, and crammed together, like bales -of cotton or any other goods, between the decks of the vessels. You may -imagine that those who could engage in such abominable proceedings must -have lost all the feelings of humanity. They were used to blood and -rapine; hence you can understand the reason why Mr. Bowditch uses the -term of reproach that he does. I thank Heaven—and I feel sure you will -agree with me—that, by the efforts of devoted men and women in England -and elsewhere, that trade has been formally abolished by Great Britain, -and that every man who now sets his foot on British soil becomes free. -Thank God, also, that our late civil war has destroyed every vestige of -American slavery, and that we can claim, that no slave can now breathe on -the soil of England or America. But to return to the Astræa. - -[Sidenote: BATAVIA.] - -On December 17 they arrived at Batavia, the chief city of the Island of -Java. The following will give you some idea of the place and persons in -it:— - -“Upon our arrival, after making our report to the custom-house, we -proceeded to the Saabandar, who introduced us to the governor and the -governor-general, who is commander-in-chief, and formerly lived in -all the splendor of an Asiatic monarch. At present the outward marks -of respect are far less than they were twenty or thirty years ago. In -former times he was attended by his guards, preceded by two trumpeters. -Every carriage was forced to stop, and the persons within obliged to -dismount, under the penalty of one hundred ducatoons (about one hundred -and sixty-seven dollars). Captain —— refused even to stop his carriage, -and forced his coachman to drive on. The officers of an English squadron -lying at Batavia, in order to show their contempt of the procession, -formed a party similar to that attending the governor, only, instead -of the aids with their staves, one of the officers bore a staff with a -cow’s horn tipped with gold, and another an empty bottle. The rest of the -officers of the fleet met this procession, and made their respects to -it, as the natives did to the governor. At present, all these practices -are brought into contempt, so that none now stop for any officers of -government.” - -[Sidenote: THE PLANET JUPITER.] - -The Astræa remained but four days at Batavia, the captain finding that -he could not fill his vessel with coffee, as he intended. Consequently, -after taking a fresh supply of provisions and of water, they weighed -anchor, and bore towards the north, with the intention of visiting -Manilla, as on his second voyage. Traversing the Straits of Macassar, -they passed slowly up through the China Sea, and anchored in Manilla Bay -on the 14th of February, 1800. During this passage we find Mr. Bowditch -still occupied in the study of science. When floating, becalmed, among -the islands, during the quiet night, he is observing the appearance of -the planet Jupiter, and studying the motions of its beautiful satellites. -As he was thus occupied, he thought of the immense power of that Being -who first put the bright planet in its appropriate place, and caused it -to revolve around our sun, while its own little satellites, like four -moons, were to keep it company, silently and grandly, in its mysterious -course. - -[Sidenote: DEATH OF WASHINGTON.] - -After remaining at Manilla long enough to get a cargo, the ship was -prepared for home. On the 23d of March it sailed, and during a passage -of six months very little occurred to interrupt Mr. Bowditch’s daily -labors. It arrived on the 16th of September, 1800. About a fortnight -before this,—September 2, a ship was observed to windward, which bore -down upon them. By the captain they were informed of the melancholy -news (as Mr. Bowditch says in his Journal) “of the death of our beloved -Washington. Thus,” continues he, “has finished the career of that -illustrious man, that great general, that consummate statesman, that -elegant writer, that real patriot, that friend to his country and to all -mankind!” - -During these different voyages Mr. Bowditch gained more property. Having -obtained, likewise, what was much better, a reputation, among his -fellow-citizens, as a man of great learning, perseverance, extraordinary -skill in the transaction of business, and unyielding uprightness, he -determined to remain at home. He therefore bade farewell to the sailor’s -life, as he supposed, forever. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -_From 1800 to 1803—age, 27-30._ - - Second marriage; character of his wife.—Mr. Bowditch engages - in commerce for two years.—School committee.—East India - Marine Society; a description of the annual meeting of this - society.—Mr. Bowditch becomes part owner of ship Putnam, and - sails for India.—Anecdote, occurrence a few days after leaving - Salem.—Studies during the long voyage.—Begins to study and make - notes upon La Place’s “Mécanique Céleste.”—Arrival off Sumatra; - difficulties there.—Boarded by English man-of-war.—Revisits - Isle of France.—Journal extracts about modes of procuring - pepper; seasons for it, &c.—Incident on approaching Salem - harbor.—Decision of Mr. Bowditch. - - -[Sidenote: SECOND MARRIAGE.] - -[Sidenote: CHARACTER OF HIS WIFE.] - -On the 28th of October, 1800, Mr. Bowditch married his cousin, Mary -Ingersoll. She was destined to live with him thirty-four years, and -was the source of much of his happiness in life. She was a person in -some respects as remarkable as her husband. She was possessed of -excellent judgment, unwearying kindness and love. She had also an elastic -cheerfulness which scarcely anything could subdue, and very strong -religious feelings. She was constantly trying to aid him. Instead of -seeking for enjoyment in display, she preferred economical retirement, -and great but respectable frugality, in order that her husband might -pursue more thoroughly and easily his favorite studies, and might -purchase books of science. Instead of collecting beautiful furniture, she -called her visitors to see the new works of learning that her husband -had imported from foreign lands. Yet, with all this devoted love, with -all this reverence for his talents and virtues, she remained his true -friend, and never shrunk from fully expressing her own opinion upon every -matter of duty; and if, perchance, she differed from him, she maintained -her side of the question with the zeal of a saint. It has been often -said, that, had Mr. Bowditch been united with a woman of a different -temperament, he would have been an entirely different person. He loved -study, it was true; but none enjoyed more than he the delights of a -family circle. None needed more than he did the kindness of a wife and -children. She lived with him thirty-four years, and on the 17th of April, -1834, she died of consumption, after long and severe suffering. - -[Sidenote: REPUTATION AT HOME.] - -[Sidenote: EAST INDIA MARINE SOCIETY.] - -But I am anticipating my story. For two years after his arrival from his -last voyage, Mr. Bowditch remained at home, and engaged as a merchant -in commerce. We find him generally, in connection with his old friend -Captain Prince, trying his fortunes by adventures of money sent to -different parts of the world. In 1802 he owned one sixth of a small -schooner and its cargo, valued at nine hundred and eleven dollars. During -this long residence in town, his fame had increased. He had become -known among his fellow-citizens as an “able mathematician.”[4] He was -therefore appointed to offices of honor and trust. He was a member of -the school committee of the town. This boy, who had been obliged to -leave school at the age of ten years and three months, was now, at the -age of twenty-five years, appointed to superintend the instruction of -others. He was secretary of the East India Marine Society of Salem. -This society had one of the most interesting collections of East Indian -curiosities that can be found in America. It is now in the possession -of the Essex Institute. The East India Marine Society was composed of -the most influential men in Salem. No one could be enrolled among their -number unless he had sailed, as captain or supercargo of a vessel, -around either Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope. It was intended as a -benevolent society, for the relief of the families of deceased members, -and also for the promotion of the art of navigation. Mr. Bowditch was -one of its most active members. In the early part of this century, the -society was accustomed, on the days of its annual meeting, to have a -public procession. A description of one of these processions may not -be uninteresting to you. I quote the words of an eye-witness[5] of a -celebration that occurred two years later than the period of which I am -speaking; but the date is unimportant, as the ceremony was the same. -“January 4, 1804. This day was the annual meeting of the East India -Marine Society. As the clergy attend in turn, this occasion afforded me -an opportunity to enjoy the day with them. After business, but before -dinner, they moved in procession, but the ice limited the distance. -Each of the brethren bore some Indian curiosity, and the palanquin was -borne by negroes dressed nearly in the Indian manner. A person dressed -in Chinese habits, and masked, passed in front. The crowd of spectators -was great. Several gentlemen were invited to dine. Instrumental music -was provided in the town, for the first time, and consisted of a bass -drum, bassoon, clarinet, and flute (!), and was very acceptable. There -was no singing.” ... “It is a most happy arrangement,” continues this -writer, “to deliver all the papers of this company into the hands of Mr. -Nathaniel Bowditch, lately returned from his voyage to India, that they -may be prepared for public inspection.” - -In July, 1802, Mr. Bowditch bought a part of a small vessel engaged in a -sealing voyage; but he lost, by this adventure, half of his investment. -In September of the same year, he, with three others, bought the new ship -Putnam, built a short time previously, at Danvers. This purchase probably -caused a change in his determination of never going to sea again. - -[Sidenote: SAILS HIS LAST VOYAGE.] - -[Sidenote: ANECDOTE.] - -[Sidenote: STUDIES MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.] - -On the 21st of November he sailed as master, and owner of one small -part of the whole ship and cargo, valued at fifty-six thousand dollars. -Though he went in the capacity of captain, he was determined to do -nothing more than direct the course of the ship. He meant to leave to -the officers under him all the labor usually expected of commanders. He -made an agreement with two skilful persons to take upon themselves these -duties. He did so in order that he might be able to pursue his studies -more uninterruptedly than would have been possible, had he been obliged -to watch every favorable breeze, or the first appearance of a gathering -storm. But, as we shall see, whenever real danger called him to duty, he -then stood firm, and gave his commands like one who was satisfied that -the time had come for him to do so. A few days after leaving the port of -Beverly, he was seen walking “fore and aft” the vessel, with rapid steps, -and deeply absorbed, apparently, in the solution of a problem. The wind -had been blowing freshly for some time; and, while he was meditating, -and forgetful of everything else, the mate of the vessel had been hoping -that he would see the severe squall which was threatening, and was, even -then, skimming fiercely over the troubled water. He feared to suggest to -Mr. Bowditch the importance of taking in sail, because the discipline -on board ship prevents an inferior officer from interfering with the -superior, when the latter is on deck. At length, aroused by the danger -of the vessel, he ventured the remark, “Captain, would it not be better -to take in the topgallant sails?” These words aroused Mr. Bowditch from -his reverie, and he instantly ordered all hands to duty, and fortunately, -by his activity and energy, was enabled to furl the extra sail before -the gust struck the vessel. But this event taught Mr. Bowditch a lesson; -and he gave strict orders to the two officers mentioned above to waive -all ceremony with him, and to take the command of the ship whether he -was on deck or not. This rule was afterwards always observed, except -on difficult occasions; and then Mr. Bowditch assumed the authority of -commanding officer. On these occasions, by his calmness and sagacity -he gained the respect and confidence of those in employment under him. -Before the termination of this voyage, we shall see a striking example -of this. But now let us proceed on our expedition with him, and again -cross the Atlantic, pass around the Cape of Good Hope to the islands -of the Indian Ocean. But I should premise, that, as he had become more -acquainted with mathematics and philosophy, he had imported from Europe -most of the great works on these subjects; and he now was prepared to -devote himself more closely than ever to the darling object of his -life—the attainment of a knowledge of the truths of science. He was -determined, on this voyage, to undertake the thorough study of one work -on the heavens—a book which he had understood was above anything ever -before written by man on that subject. Imagine, if you can, the zeal and -delight with which he must have approached this book upon a subject that -had interested him from earliest years. Doubtless he thought not, then, -of the fame he was to gain from it. The name of it you will like to know. -I shall speak of it again; but, meanwhile, I will merely mention that -it was called “A Treatise on the Mechanism of the Heavens,”—_Mécanique -Céleste_,—and was written, in French, by a mathematician named La Place, -the greatest scientific man, after Newton, of modern times. But this was -not the only work Mr. Bowditch took with him. He had many of the most -important works which had been published on the same subject, they having -been imported for him by a bookseller named Blunt, in payment of services -rendered. - -[Sidenote: STUDIES AT SEA.] - -These various studies of course influenced his Journal. He was an -observer of passing events; but he recorded less of them than on the -preceding voyages. - -By the first record, it appears that on “Sunday, November 21, 1802, at -one o’clock P. M., sailed from Captain Hill’s wharf, in Beverly. At two, -passed Baker’s Island lights, with fine and pleasant breeze.” This fair -weather lasted but a few days, and by far the greater part of the voyage -was uncomfortable, in consequence of the prevalence of rain and wind. On -January 25, 1803, he saw the islands of Tristan d’Acunha, and, whilst -coursing along under easy sail, took several observations of them, and -made a chart of their various positions. - -[Sidenote: ARRIVAL AT SUMATRA.] - -[Sidenote: VISIT TO ISLE OF FRANCE.] - -[Sidenote: PEPPER ISLANDS.] - -On the 2d of May he arrived among the Pepper Islands, near the coast of -Sumatra. He found several American captains there, all actively engaged -in loading their vessels with pepper. He had considerable difficulty -in making any arrangement with the Rajahs of different places; but at -length, having touched, without success, at several ports, he began -to load at Tally-Poo, on the 9th of May. There he continued until the -18th of July, when, by his Journal, it appears that, having wasted a -number of days, expecting that more pepper would be brought to the -shore, he at last was informed by the Rajah he would not be allowed any -more. Knowing that he should meet with equal trouble at every place -on the coast, he concluded to quit it, and call at the Isle of France -on his homeward passage. During their voyage, amid the various shoals -and islands which abound here, they met with no inconvenience and no -interruption, save that they anchored once or twice, towards night, and -on the 25th of July were obliged to heave to, under the fire of two -English ships of war, one named the Royal George, the commander of -which took the liberty of searching, for the purpose of seeing whether -there were any Englishmen on board.[6] The officer on this occasion was -very polite, and the Putnam soon resumed its course, and in seventy-two -hours more was on the open sea, under full sail, with the aid of the -steady trade-winds of that place and season. On the 24th of August the -vessel was in sight of the Isle of France. He there met his old friend -Bonnefoy, whom he had left there on his first voyage, in 1795, and -likewise many American friends. After purchasing some bags of pepper, and -taking on board some provisions, which employed his time for four days, -he sailed, for the last time from any foreign port, on Wednesday, August -31, 1803. The voyage homeward was very disagreeable, in consequence -of much severe weather. Nothing remarkable happened to enliven the -scene; but Mr. Bowditch disregarded the storms and waves. His mind -was calm and tranquil, for he was daily occupied with his “peaceful -mathematics.” He wrote in his Journal but seldom. There is, however, -the following account of the Pepper Islands. “There are several native -ports on the north-western coast of Sumatra, where the Americans trade -for pepper—Analaboo-Sooso, Tangar, Tally-Poo, Muckie, &c., and several -smaller ports, including about fifty miles of the coast. On your arrival -at any of these ports, you contract with the Datoo for the pepper, and -fix the price. If more than one vessel is at the port, the pepper which -daily comes to the scales is shared between them, as they can agree, -or they take it day by day, alternately. Sometimes the Datoo contracts -to load one vessel before any other one takes any, and he holds to his -agreement _as long as he finds it for his interest, and no longer_; for -a handsome present, or an increase in the price, will prevent any more -pepper from being brought in for several days; and the person who has -made the agreement must either quit the port or offer an additional price. - -[Sidenote: PEPPER TRADE.] - -“The pepper season commences in January, when they begin to take from the -vines the small kernels at the bottom. In March, April, and May is the -height of the crop, at which time the pepper taken from the top of the -vines is larger and more solid than that gathered at an earlier period. -Many suppose that the pepper is all gathered in May; but I was in some of -the gardens in July, and found at the top of the vines large quantities -which would be ripe in a few days. The young crop was in considerable -forwardness at the bottom of the vines. Some calculate on two crops, but -from the best information I could procure there is only one. - -“The pepper is generally weighed with American scales and weights, -one hundred and thirty-three and a third pounds to a _peccul_. What -is weighed each day is paid for in the evening, the natives not being -willing to trust their property in the hands of those they deal with. And -they ought to be dealt with in the same manner, it not being prudent to -pay in advance to the Datoo, as it would be often difficult to get either -the pepper or the money again from him. Spanish dollars are the current -coin, but they do not take halves or quarters. They have a pang or piece, -of which we could get but eighty for a dollar at Tally-Poo, though at -other places they give one hundred or one hundred and twenty for the -same.” - -[Sidenote: NEARING THE COAST.] - -[Sidenote: DANGERS OF THE COAST.] - -[Sidenote: SKILL IN NAVIGATION.] - -[Sidenote: ENTHUSIASM OF THE SAILORS.] - -[Sidenote: HOME.] - -During the whole voyage, as I have already stated, the weather had been -very uncomfortable. The approach to the American coast is at all times -hazardous during the winter. The bold and rocky shore, the intense cold -and severe snow-storms, which make the day shorter even than common, -are so many terrors for the sailor. You may judge of the anxiety of the -crew of the Putnam, when, after a tedious absence of more than a year, -they at length, towards the middle of December, 1803, after a long -period of stormy weather, came upon the shoal grounds off Massachusetts -near Nantucket. The sleet and rain had been driving over the ocean -for many days. No sun appeared to guide them by day; no star lighted -up the night. Groping, as it were, in darkness, they coasted along up -the shore, yet not within sight of it, now throwing their sounding-line -upon Nantucket, and soon afterwards upon George’s Shoal. There seemed -no end to the storm. At length, on the 25th of December, they had -approached, according to Mr. Bowditch’s reckoning, from observation -made two days before, near to the outer part of Salem harbor. The night -was fast closing in. Mr. Bowditch was observed to be on deck, anxiously -looking towards the bow of the vessel, as if trying to see something -that would enable him to know more exactly the position of the vessel -and the precise course it was running. With clear and decided tones, -he gave his orders. The seamen heard him, and obeyed promptly. “There -is something in the wind,” whispered one; “the _old man_[7] is above.” -“Stand every man at his post,” is the command; “and look out for land -ahead.” Fierce gusts of wind swept over Massachusetts Bay, bearing the -vessel irresistibly onwards. The snow-storm beat heavily, and at every -moment the darkness increased. At length, for a moment, the clouds of -drifting snow-flakes parted, and Mr. Bowditch and his mate, who were -watching, saw distinctly the light of Baker’s Island. “Light, ho! on -the larboard bow,” was passed from one to the other on board that ship, -in which were many almost breathless with suspense. It was but for a -moment, and again all was obscured. “I am right,” said Mr. Bowditch; “the -direction in which we are now steering will carry us soon into Salem -harbor.” His prediction was fulfilled, and it was an extraordinary proof -of his skill in navigation. He had had no opportunity for observing the -sun or moon for two or three days; yet, so accurately had he marked his -position in the ocean at the last time of observing, that, by steering -in the direction pointed out by the chart, and observing the rate at -which the vessel moved, he had been able to calculate so exactly, that, -after seventy-two hours of darkness, as it were, he came up within sight -of the light-house almost as easily as if he had been steering in open -day, with the object distinctly in view. The old tars could not restrain -their expressions of admiration; and as, at nine o’clock in the evening, -they dropped anchor in safety from the gale that was now beating with -tenfold violence outside of the island, they whispered with one another, -so that he overheard them, “The _old man_ has done well to-night.” It was -the 25th of December, and throughout Christendom the Christmas festival -in commemoration of the birth of the Saviour had been celebrated, and -friends had all been gathered. Sadness marked their countenances at one -home, from which the husband and friend was absent, though long expected. -As the blasts beat through the streets, and as the family clustered -around the bright, shining fire upon the hearth-stone, as the wind -whistled through the casement, the thoughts of the wife were turned from -the fireside to the rough ocean on which her husband was tempest-tossed. -Many weary weeks had she watched; but day after day had the sun gone -down, and, like Rachel, she could not be comforted. She feared that he -was lost. One after another of her friends had left her late at night, -and finally she was alone. Suddenly she springs up from her seat, aroused -by the sound of quick knocking at the street door. She recognizes the -tap, and in a few moments she is hanging on his neck from whom she was -destined never to be long separated, until death removed her from him for -four years, at the end of which time he was placed by death in quietness -at her side. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - Review of the labors, &c., performed by Mr. Bowditch, during - these voyages.—Habits while at sea; studies; desire to teach - others; kindness to sailors and to the sick.—Discovers errors - in a book on navigation.—Origin of “American Practical - Navigator;” success of it; industry of Mr. Bowditch upon - it.—Investigates higher branches of science.—“Mécanique - Céleste.”—Mr. Bowditch reads history.—Learns Spanish, French, - and Portuguese languages.—Anecdotes.—Chosen member of American - Academy.—Receives honors from Harvard College. - - -[Sidenote: A REVIEW.] - -[Sidenote: HABITS AT SEA.] - -[Sidenote: TEACHES THE SAILORS.] - -[Sidenote: CARES FOR THEM WHEN ILL.] - -Thus finished Mr. Bowditch’s career as a sailor, after he had been about -eight years engaged in this pursuit. Let us now review a little, and see -what he was doing during these voyages, and how he occupied his time. He -was very regular in his habits. During the first two voyages he attended -to the duties of mate of the vessel. This, of course, prevented him from -studying as much as he otherwise would have done. He, moreover, as we -have seen, took fewer books with him. But during the next two voyages, -the captain excused him from the watches, and he was able to read with -less interruption. After the deck had been washed in the morning, he -walked for half an hour. He then went into the cabin to study, until the -time arrived at which he was to observe the sun. This was done every day -at noon, in order to tell whereabouts in the ocean a vessel is at the -moment of the observation. Having finished this, he usually dined. After -this he slept a few moments, or took a walk, and then studied again until -tea time. After supper he was again at work until nine, when he used to -walk for some time, cheerfully talking with his comrades. Afterwards he -usually studied until late at night; and in order not to disturb his -fellow-passengers, he did not keep a light in the cabin, but frequently -stood upon the cabin stairway, reading by the light of the binnacle lamp, -where the compass was kept. Whenever the vessel arrived at a port, he -was still engaged, but in a different way, perhaps. The instant he was -freed from the duties of weighing pepper on the coast of Sumatra, he went -to his books. No time was wasted, either in foul or fair weather. It made -no difference to him whether the ship was resting motionless upon the -water, or tossing upon the heaviest swell, he was always a worker. But -there was yet another and still more pleasant trait in his character. -He not only loved study himself, but he was determined to persuade all -others to love it also. During his first voyage, he used to go to the -forecastle, or sailor’s cabin, and carry his books of navigation, and -teach the seamen how to guide a ship by the rules found in these books. -He then went on deck, and explained to each one the method of using the -quadrant and sextant, two instruments used by a sea captain. There was an -old man formerly living in Salem, who, when speaking of this disposition -of Mr. Bowditch, said, “I was the steward onboard the vessel, and Mr. -Bowditch frequently scolded me because I did not come to study with him -more steadily.” It is a fact that every sailor on board the ship during -that voyage became afterwards captain, and probably some of them would -never have risen so high, had it not been for the kindness of their -friend. I like to think of this trait in his character. He delighted in -learning for its own sake, and he was always pleased when he could find -some one upon whom he could bestow all his acquirements. He had no mean -standard of comparison between himself and his fellows, but desired to -give and receive as much good as it was possible for him to bestow or -accept. - -He was beloved for this by all: but his kindness of heart led him not -merely to teach those who knew _less_ than he, but he did all he could -to relieve them when ill. One of them wrote in a letter answering my -inquiries, after alluding to Mr. Bowditch’s willingness to teach others, -“But kindness and attention to the poor seasick cabin-boy are to this day -[April, 1838] uppermost in my memory, and will last when his learning is -remembered no more.” He might have been as learned, without displaying -this regard for others. But he would not then have had such tributes of -love as was displayed by this old sailor, who remembered his kindness -rather than his instruction. - -[Sidenote: STUDY OF MATHEMATICS.] - -[Sidenote: BOWDITCH’S NAVIGATOR.] - -[Sidenote: ORIGIN OF IT.] - -[Sidenote: SUCCESS.] - -[Sidenote: FAVORABLE NOTICE.] - -But let us examine his particular studies pursued while at sea. We have -already seen that from a boy he had liked simple arithmetic, and on -becoming older had studied deeply into mathematics—a kind of learning -similar in character to arithmetic, only much more difficult and -important. During the long voyages to India, he had ample opportunity -for following this branch of science; consequently we find that he was -chiefly occupied with that subject. On the first voyage he discovered -many errors in a book on navigation, some of which were so important, -that in consequence of them, not a few vessels had been shipwrecked. -This erroneous work was originally published in London, by a man named -Hamilton Moore, and it was almost the only one in use among seamen. It -had been reprinted in America, in 1798, by Mr. Blunt, then living in -Newburyport. One edition had been published, and a second was about -to be issued, in 1799, when Mr. Blunt learned, by means of a mutual -friend, that Mr. Bowditch, during his two first voyages, had detected -many of these errors, and was willing to inform him of them. Mr. Blunt -immediately made application to the young navigator, and received the -assistance he wanted. Finding that Mr. Bowditch had within him the -means of rendering essential service, Mr. Blunt proposed to him, when -starting on his fourth voyage,—that is, to India,—to examine all the -tables, and see what number of errors he could find. Mr. Bowditch agreed -to the proposal, and during this voyage his time was much occupied with -this task—a very wearisome, but, as it proved eventually, a profitable -one, as it regards reputation and pecuniary success. The mistakes -were so numerous that he found it much easier to make a new work, and -introduce therein his own improvements: so that Mr. Bowditch, before -the termination of the voyage, decided to make some arrangement for -this purpose. The consequence was, that, instead of publishing a third -edition of Moore’s Navigator, in 1802, the first edition of the “American -Practical Navigator” was published by Mr. Bowditch, under his own name, -Mr. Blunt being proprietor. Thus was laid, at the age of twenty-nine, the -foundation of a work on navigation that has kept constantly before the -public, as one of the best of the kind, either in America or England. -It passed through its tenth edition a short time before Mr. Bowditch’s -death.[8] It soon superseded entirely Mr. Moore’s, and was early -republished in London. And it was not only obtained by every American -seaman, but even English ships sought for Bowditch’s Navigator as their -safety during their long voyages. Many amusing anecdotes are related in -reference to this book. An American captain once took passage in an -English ship from the Isle of France for St. Helena. After, being a few -days out, the passenger, about noon, brought on deck his “Navigator” (one -of Bowditch’s editions) for the purpose of using it. While thus engaged, -the English captain of the vessel walked up and looked at the work. -“Why,” says he, “you use the same work that we do. Pray, where did you -get that?” And great was the surprise of the Englishman, when he learned -that the author of the book he was using every day of his life was the -near neighbor and friend of the person he was talking with. Little did he -imagine that he was dependent upon the efforts of a son of an American -cooper for the information by which he was enabled to go from sea to sea -in comparative safety. But how is it that this work has been able to -remain so long one of the best works of the kind? Because Mr. Bowditch -bestowed very great pains upon it, and with every new edition made all -the improvements possible. He moreover brought all his learning to bear -upon it. To use a common phrase, he put, for the time being, his “whole -heart into” making it as perfect as possible. In the explanations of the -rules he was simple, so that the most ignorant could understand them. -But, in addition to all this, as we have already stated, he introduced -all the new methods which he himself had discovered. One of these was -favorably noticed by a celebrated French astronomer, in a Journal -published in 1808. - -[Sidenote: PEACEFUL MATHEMATICS.] - -But, although his attention was much devoted to this book on navigation, -he evidently considered it as of little moment, compared with more -important objects. During the long voyages he had been studying the -higher branches of the mathematics and their applications to the -calculation of the motions of the heavenly bodies. The interest he felt -in these pursuits had a most pleasing effect upon him. If he were sad or -disturbed, he found quiet and cheerfulness in “his peaceful mathematics.” -As arithmetic had been the darling pursuit of his boyhood, so now the -curious and intricate problems of mathematics, and the sublime theories -of the planets, occupied his best leisure hours. We have seen that, long -before going to sea, he studied French for the purpose of reading a -work on mathematics. He continued to read with much interest the works -of that country. Some of you may know that about the close of the last -century, at the revolution in France, all the nation was aroused; every -branch of learning and of art received new life. The consequence was, -that many men of the highest genius arose, and, being patronized by -government, they put forth to the world extraordinary works of learning. -Most of these, when upon astronomy, Mr. Bowditch procured for himself, -by means of the publisher of the “Navigator.” He was still engaged in -extracting from various works, or, in other words, in filling up his -volumes of manuscripts, though now, from the increase of his property, -he was enabled to buy the originals; and of course his manuscripts were -chiefly his sea journals, and the notes made by himself upon the various -authors he read. But he did not confine himself entirely to science. He -read history, and some works of a literary character, but he never spent -much time upon inferior books. “Why read anything you cannot speak of?” -he used frequently to say. He likewise studied the Spanish, Italian, and -Portuguese languages. - -[Sidenote: METHOD OF STUDYING LANGUAGES.] - -[Sidenote: GERMAN VOCABULARY.] - -His mode of learning languages is instructive. As soon as he determined -to study one, he bought a Bible, Grammar, and Dictionary in that tongue. -After learning a few of the pronouns and auxiliary verbs, he began to -translate, and usually commenced with the first chapter of the Gospel of -St. John, because in the few first verses there are many repetitions. -Having studied them thoroughly, he proceeded to other portions of the -Bible, with which he was most acquainted. He always carried to church -a Bible in the language he was studying, and used it, instead of an -English one, during the services. But he had another plan, which is very -useful to one who has a bad memory. I will now explain to you one of -his vocabularies, or collections of words, with their meanings attached -thereto, so arranged that he could refer much more easily to them than -to a common dictionary. He did not learn German until a long time after -the period of his life of which we are now speaking; but as the German -vocabulary is the most perfect, I will describe it. It is made upon two -large sheets, one foot broad, and more than a foot and a half high, -which, with the inside of the covers, make six pages. The pages are -divided into columns about one and a half inches wide, that is, large -enough to admit, in very small writing, a word with its signification -by its side. Of course the columns are divided for the letters of the -alphabet, in a manner proportioned to the number of pages of each letter -in the dictionary. Having thus prepared his book, whenever he found that -he was obliged, for want of memory, to look at the dictionary more than -once for the meaning of a word, he wrote it in his vocabulary, and, by -the act of writing, strengthened in some measure his memory of that -word; and, moreover, he could find it immediately, and not lose time as -in turning over the leaves of a larger book. The number of words thus -seen at a glance, as it were, is remarkable. In the above-described six -pages, there are eleven thousand German words, all written distinctly, -but in small letters, and without any repetitions, and with as many -abbreviations as he himself chose. I have been thus minute upon this -subject, not because I think that all ought to make vocabularies, but -because some may be benefited by so doing. Moreover, I wished to speak to -you of them as proofs of his perseverance. - -[Sidenote: ACADEMY OF ARTS.] - -[Sidenote: HARVARD COLLEGE HONORS.] - -Two important events took place during this period of Mr. Bowditch’s -life, which it becomes our duty to record. On the 28th day of May, 1799, -he was chosen a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This -society was the first which bestowed upon him the honor of membership -of its body. It is composed of men of science, combined for the purpose -of improving themselves and the community in knowledge. He continued a -member of this body during his life; and in May, 1829, just thirty years -after becoming a member, he was chosen its president, in which office he -was continued until the day of his death. - -[Sidenote: RESULTS OF GOOD USE OF TIME.] - -Another honor, and one which was more pleasant to him than any received -at any time afterwards, was bestowed during this period. In 1802 his ship -was wind-bound in Boston, and he left it for the purpose of attending the -annual commencement at Cambridge College. He knew but few individuals -there, though he had corresponded with some of the professors; and one -of the corporation of the college, Chief Justice Parsons, was one of -his kindest friends. He went alone, and, while listening in the crowd -to the names of those upon whom the honors were conferred, he thought -he heard his own pronounced; but he supposed that he might have been -mistaken, inasmuch as the notice was given in Latin. But how great was -his emotion, when he heard from a friend that his suspicions were well -founded! It was to him the proudest day of his life. And we, who know his -humble origin, his simplicity and modesty, can in some measure understand -the thrill of pleasure that ran through him, when he found himself thus -noticed by the first and oldest university in the land. And why was he -thus noticed? Because he had well improved the hours of his life; because -his days and nights had been spent in activity and earnest study. In -after-life, when his fame was established, and the great societies of -Europe bestowed upon him their diplomas, he always looked upon them as -of small moment, compared with this his first, earliest proof of esteem -from his fellow-men. I will take this opportunity to state that very many -years afterwards he was elected one of the corporation of the college. -This he deemed his highest honor, and his estimate was a just one, for -it placed him among the select few who manage the whole affairs of the -university—a place doubtless coveted by many, but to which few are -called. - -[Sidenote: NEW SCENES.] - -Having now completed his sea life, let us enter upon his new scene of -energy and benevolence as a citizen and father; and our next chapter will -include several years of his residence at Salem. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -_From 1803 to 1817—age, 30-44._ - - Mr. Bowditch translates a Spanish paper; is chosen president - of a Fire and Marine Insurance office.—Habits of life.—Becomes - interested in politics.—Federalists and Democrats.—Great - excitement.—Division between him and old friends in - consequence of his zeal.—Feelings of Mr. Bowditch when war - was declared.—Decision of character.—His charity.—Earnestness - in aiding others; ludicrous instance of the effects of - this.—Boldness towards a truckman.—Zeal for improving the - libraries; unites the two.—Dr. Prince’s church.—Performance - of duties of president of Insurance Office.—Answer to an - overbearing rich man.—Appointed professor of mathematics at - Harvard College; same at West Point.—His modesty.—Hints about - leaving Salem. - - -[Sidenote: KNOWLEDGE OF SPANISH.] - -[Sidenote: ADVANTAGE OF STUDY.] - -[Sidenote: PRESIDENT OF INSURANCE COMPANY.] - -[Sidenote: REGULAR HABITS.] - -Mr. Bowditch, on his arrival from sea, met with one of those events to -which he always referred when any one doubted the expediency of any -kind of knowledge. In his voyages to Portugal and Spain, he had become -acquainted with the Spanish language. It so happened that no one else -in Salem was acquainted with it, and an important paper came to the -care of a sturdy and sensible old sea captain; but it was unfortunately -unintelligible to him, for it was written in this same unknown tongue. -A friend suggested to him that probably Mr. Bowditch would decipher it -for him. The document was handed to Mr. Bowditch, who in a few days -returned it with a free English translation accompanying it. The old -sailor was delighted, and immediately supposed that any one who knew so -much about a foreign language must be a very superior person, and capable -of performing any duties. Moreover, he was delighted with the apparent -generosity of Mr. Bowditch, in making the translation without charge to -his employer. It happened at this time that an insurance office in Salem -was in need of a president. The captain was one of the directors of this -institution, and used all his influence in promoting the election of -his young friend. This influence succeeded, and in 1804, when he was -thirty-one years old, we find Mr. Bowditch installed as president of the -Essex Fire and Marine Insurance Company. In this office he continued, -with entire success, until 1823, when he removed to Boston, and took -charge of other similar but much larger institutions. The relief was -great which he experienced from not being obliged to seek subsistence -for his family by continuing in the sailor’s life. The duties of the -office in which he now engaged _seemed_ to occupy all his time; yet -he did not neglect science. He arose at six in the morning during the -year, and took a walk, either before or after breakfast, of at least -two miles. Afterwards he studied mathematics until nine, and he then -went to the office, where he continued until one. After another walk he -dined, and after a short sleep he again visited his office until tea -time. From tea time until nine in the evening he was at the same place -occupied with business. He was not, however, all the time, during office -hours, actually engaged in the necessary work incident to his position -as president; but he was constantly liable to interruption, as much as -he had been when an apprentice. Yet he found leisure enough for study by -early rising and by regular habits. He used to say, “Before nine o’clock -in the morning I learned all my mathematics.” He kept some of his books -on science at his office, and whenever a moment of leisure occurred, -spent the time in reading them. At home he had no private room for many -years; and, as his family of young children grew up around him, he -studied at his simple pine desk, in the midst of their noise and play. He -was never disturbed, except when they failed in kindness to one another, -and then he could never work until quiet was restored. In truth, the -influence of his studies was felt by his children, whose greatest reward -was to receive from him, in token of his approbation, the drawings of -various constellations upon their arms or forehead. It was a sad day for -them when they did not receive from his pen the representation of the -Belt of Orion, the Great Bear, or of some other beautiful constellation -in the heavens. - -[Sidenote: POLITICAL EXCITEMENT.] - -[Sidenote: PARTY POLITICS.] - -But, in addition to the duties of his office, he became interested in -the political affairs of the day. After the revolution, and the new -government of the country went into operation under the presidency of -General Washington, there had been but little political excitement in -Essex County. There were no great parties, which were destined soon -afterwards to spring up and excite the bitterest animosity between -individuals who had been from birth the warmest friends. It would be -impossible, were it useful, to tell all the causes that led to the -formation of the two great sects in politics, called the Federalists and -Republicans. Suffice it to say, that even during Washington’s connection -with the government, the seeds of this division were beginning to -spring up, and, upon the accession of John Adams, as his successor, the -political rancor between these two parties increased with tenfold energy, -until at length the republican party triumphed in the election of Thomas -Jefferson to the office of President of the United States. In Salem the -violence of party spirit rose as high as in any city of the Union. It -would have been surprising, with his desire for aiding any public cause, -if Mr. Bowditch had not been influenced by the excitements of the day. We -frequently find at the bottom of a page, or at the end of some theorem, -brief memoranda of the results of an election. He was, moreover, for -two years a member of the State Council. He was likewise proposed by -the Federalists as a representative to the General Court, but at that -election they were defeated. - -[Sidenote: PEACEFUL MATHEMATICS.] - -We have scarcely any idea of the violence with which the two parties -contended. Persons who had been, during life, sincere and devoted -friends, were separated by this virulence. Mr. Bowditch suffered as -much as others on this account, and two of his longest and best-tried -friends he did not have any intercourse with for many years. Dr. Bentley -and Captain Prince were these persons, and with both of them you -are already acquainted. It was not until 1817, when President Monroe -visited these Northern States, that harmony was restored between the -two great divisions, and friends once more embraced each other. But, -in the midst of all this excitement with politics, Mr. Bowditch never -neglected the duties of his office, or his studies. In fact, the pursuit -of learning had, as before, a sweet influence over his character. It -still gave calmness when circumstances around him tended to disturb him. -An illustration of this you may find in what follows. In 1812, after -a long series of supposed insults and wrongs from Great Britain, the -American government declared war against that power. Mr. Bowditch was -much distressed by the news, and for two days was so much overcome that -he was unable to study. Friends who knew him had never seen him look -so sad before on any public emergency. He could speak of nothing but -the disasters that he foresaw war would entail upon his country. On the -morning of the third day he got up, and, going down into the parlor, -said to his wife, “It won’t do for me to continue in this way. I _will -not_ think any more about it.” Saying this, he retired again to his -books. The difference in his whole manner was very perceptible. He rarely -afterwards allowed himself to be disturbed by the unfortunate state of -affairs. Such should always be the benign influences of the study of -science and of Nature’s laws. - -[Sidenote: CHARITY.] - -[Sidenote: ANECDOTE.] - -[Sidenote: A RIDICULOUS JUDGE.] - -[Sidenote: KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.] - -Amid all these various engagements, he was full of sympathy for others. -Wherever he saw he could aid with his counsel, he did so; and many widows -and orphans have felt the influence of his charity. This charity showed -itself chiefly in a desire to improve others. There was scarcely one -of those connected with him in friendship upon whom he did not devote -some time for their instruction. To one young lady he taught French, -and another studied Italian with him. If a young man needed funds, he -knew upon whom he could call with a certainty of substantial aid, even -if he had no money of his own to give away, for throughout life it was -one of the remarkable attributes of Mr. Bowditch’s character, that he -could persuade many to open their hearts to the poor, who, upon other -occasions, were deaf to the common feelings of humanity. For one young -person of this kind Mr. Bowditch obtained a subscription sufficient to -enable him to continue at the university, whereas his young friend would -have been unable to do so without assistance. He was always so zealous -in these undertakings, that one scarcely felt under any obligations to -him. It was his delight to help, and every one saw that his heart was -engaged in the cause. His zeal for humanity was at times immoderate, and -the following laughable law case occurred in consequence of it. One day -he was informed that a little girl, who lived with him, had been run over -by some careless driver; and a crowd, which he could perceive at a little -distance from him, was a collection of individuals drawn together on her -account. He immediately ran forward, and getting to the outside of the -circle, began very energetically to make his way into it. In doing so, -he pulled one of the bystanders so forcibly, that the individual, as it -will appear in the sequel, was offended. Arriving, however, by dint of -hard pushing, at the object of his search, he took his little domestic -with him, and led her safely home. On the next day he was much surprised -at receiving a summons from a justice of the peace, to appear before him, -to answer to the charge of assault and battery upon the individual above -mentioned. He answered the call and paid his fine of a few dollars; but -the judge, who had been notorious for always making both parties suffer, -when it was possible for himself to gain thereby, said, on receiving -the fine, “But you say that Mr. —— _pushed_ you, after you had _pulled_ -him.” “I did, sir.” “Very well; then, if you wish to complain of him, -I will fine him likewise.” The ludicrous nature of the whole action -struck Mr. Bowditch so forcibly that he was not unwilling to increase -the folly of it. The plaintiff was then fined, and the affair was ended. -It is but right to say, that the judge was considered, previously to -this, one entirely unfit for the office. Probably no other would have -issued a summons on such an occasion, and the plaintiff was not unjustly -punished for having called upon such a person to aid him in prosecuting -an individual who, in exerting himself to help another, had slightly -disarranged the dress of a bystander. - -Mr. Bowditch’s desire to aid the unfortunate was exhibited on -another occasion, when a poor, overladen horse was the object of his -commiseration. A truckman had been violently beating the animal, in order -to induce him to pull along a very heavy load, which was too large for -his strength. Mr. Bowditch had watched the driver for some time, and at -length he stepped earnestly forward, and in abrupt and decided tones -ordered him to desist. The truckman was much superior to Mr. Bowditch in -personal strength, and was, at first, disposed to ridicule the attempt -of his inferior to restrain him. Full of indignation, Mr. Bowditch cried -out, “If you dare touch that horse again, and if you do not immediately -go and get another to assist him, I will appeal to the law, and you will -see which of us two will conquer.” The man yielded, and Mr. Bowditch went -home. - -[Sidenote: MARINE SOCIETY.] - -The public institutions of the town felt his influence. The East India -Marine Society, of which I have already spoken, improved very much -under his auspices as president. It had fallen considerably during high -political times, and, when he was chosen chief officer, he instilled such -zeal among the younger members of it, and obtained so many new members, -that it revived; and soon after his removal to Boston, the splendid hall -was erected, containing the most remarkable collection of East India -curiosities, of which I spoke in Chapter VI. - -[Sidenote: SALEM LIBRARIES.] - -In the libraries he had always felt very much interest. You already -know what reason he had for being devoted to the Philosophical Library, -for from it he drew most of his knowledge of science. But there was -another, which had been in existence much longer than this, called the -Social Library. The books contained in these two collections were almost -wholly distinct in their characters. In one only works of science were -to be found, while the other was chiefly devoted to literature. Mr. -Bowditch saw that both of them united would be of great service to the -community, for it would not merely combine the books, but the energies -of the proprietors. Consequently it appears that he, with another of the -Philosophical Library proprietors, was chosen a committee for the purpose -of providing for a union. This was happily effected (1810), and the Salem -Athenæum arose from the combination. The rooms over his office were -chosen as the place for their deposit, and for many years he was one of -the most active of the trustees. - -There was another institution with which he was intimately connected -during the whole of the time he lived in Salem. I allude to the church -in which his early friend, Rev. Dr. Prince, officiated. He was one of -the committee of the parish, and, though never a member of the church -strictly so called, he was a constant attendant upon the services, and -had great influence in keeping up the harmony and supporting the true -interests of the congregation. - -[Illustration: DR. BOWDITCH’S RESIDENCE AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.] - -[Sidenote: DEFENDS THE WEAK.] - -In the performance of his duties as president of the insurance company, -he was faithful and prompt in action. He was frequently placed in -circumstances which required great decision of character. At times a -disposition was shown to deceive him; at others, a richer stockholder -would attempt to gain advantages over a poorer one. I well remember an -anecdote in which it is said a purse-proud rich man tried to browbeat Mr. -Bowditch into doing an act which Mr. Bowditch thought would be unjust to -another poorer one. The nabob pleaded his riches, and amount of his stock -in the office, and intimated that he would have his way. “No, sir, you -won’t. I stand here in this place to see justice done, and, as long as -I am here, I will defend the weak.” He seldom met with difficulties of -this kind, for few dared approach him with the intention to be unjust or -untrue. Nothing aroused him so much to an almost lion-like fierceness as -any appearance of wickedness in the transaction of public business. He -had much wisdom, likewise, in the selection of risks, so that the office, -while under his control, succeeded admirably and he left it prosperous. - -[Sidenote: PROFESSORSHIP OF MATHEMATICS.] - -[Sidenote: EXTREME MODESTY.] - -During his residence in Salem he was often invited to seats of honor -and trust. We have already mentioned his political course. In 1806, by -the agency of Chief Justice Parsons, then in the corporation of Harvard -College, he was appointed professor of mathematics in that university. -In 1818 he was requested by President Jefferson, in very flattering -terms, to accept of a similar office in the University of Virginia. In -1820, he was called upon by the secretary of war of the United States, to -consent to an appointment at the Public Military School at West Point. -All of these he refused, as not congenial to his mind. He always declined -talking in public. He would teach all who came to him, but he could not -deliver a public course of lectures. His extreme modesty prevented. For -it will be remembered that he was as remarkable, from his youth, for his -modesty, amounting, in early life, to diffidence, as he was for his other -qualities. Moreover, it should be stated that, at times, he had a certain -hesitation in his mode of speaking, which probably would have prevented -him from addressing easily a public audience. - -In 1818, he was urged to take charge of an insurance office in Boston, -but he preferred living in his native place. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -_From 1803 to 1823—age, 30-50._ - - Papers published by Mr. Bowditch in the Memoirs of the Academy; - account of some of them.—Total eclipse of the sun in 1806; - effect of it.—Anecdote of Chief Justice Parsons.—Meteor that - fell over Weston, Ct.; account of its curious appearance; - effect of these papers upon his fame in Europe.—Chosen member - of most of the learned societies of the Old World.—Quits Salem - to become connected with larger institutions in Boston. - - -[Sidenote: EMPLOYMENT IN POLITICAL TIMES.] - -[Sidenote: TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.] - -[Sidenote: MR. BOWDITCH OBSERVES IT.] - -[Sidenote: EFFECTS OF THE ECLIPSE.] - -It should be remembered, that, during these stormy political times, Mr. -Bowditch was chiefly engaged in making his notes on the great work to -which we have already alluded, La Place’s “Mécanique Céleste,” and that -it was between the years 1800 and 1820, that is, during this same time, -that he wrote twenty-three papers, which were published in the Memoirs -of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Of some of these last I -will give you an account. Of the others, were I to mention them, you -could understand but little. They relate chiefly to observations made -upon the moon; the comets of 1807 and 1811; the eclipses of the sun -which took place in 1806 and 1811; measurements of the height of the -White Mountains, in New Hampshire; observations on the compass; on a -pendulum supported by two points; and the correction of some mistakes -in one of the books studied first by him in early life, called Newton’s -“Principia.” A few of these papers I will try to explain to you, at -least in part. I commence with his observation upon a total eclipse of -the sun, which occurred June 16, 1806. I shall quote nearly the words -of the observer. “On the day of the eclipse the weather was remarkably -fine, scarcely a cloud being visible in any part of the heavens. I -made preparations for the observations in the garden adjoining the -house in which I reside, near the northern part of Summer Street, in -Salem. Having been disappointed in procuring a telescope of a large -magnifying power, I was obliged to make use of that attached to my -theodolite, which gave very distinct vision, though its magnifying -power was small. An assistant was seated near me, who counted the -seconds from a chronometer, and thus enabled me to mark down with a -pencil, the time when the first impression was made on the sun, without -taking my eye from the telescope till four or five seconds had elapsed, -and the eclipse had sensibly increased, after which I examined the -second and minute hands of the chronometer, and took every precaution -to prevent mistakes. Four or five minutes before the commencement of -the eclipse, I began to observe that part of the sun where the first -contact [of the moon’s shadow] was expected to take place; and eight -minutes twenty-eight seconds after ten o’clock, I observed the first -impression. As the eclipse advanced, there did not appear to be so great -a diminution of the light as was generally expected; and it was not -till the sun was nearly covered that the darkness was very sensible. -The last ray of light disappeared instantaneously. The moon was then -seen surrounded by a luminous appearance of considerable extent, such -as has been generally taken notice of in total eclipses of the sun.” A -number of stars became visible. The observer mentions that the light -in the garden was not entirely gone; but in the house candles were -needed, as if it were evening. At thirty-two minutes eighteen seconds -after eleven o’clock,—that is, at a little more than an hour from the -beginning of the eclipse,—the first returning ray of light burst forth -with great splendor. I have heard that the effect upon those who saw it -was surpassingly grand. Suddenly the light of midday seemed to break in -upon the quiet of evening. So completely were all the animal creation -deceived, that the cows returned lowing homeward, and the fowls sought -their roosts, and quietly placed their heads under their wings. All human -beings were looking in mute amazement, and deep silence prevailed, as -the dark shadow of the moon came stealing over the surface of the sun -at noon. There was something fearful when the sun was wholly covered. -Suddenly a bright ray shot forth mid heaven, and fell upon the earth, -and with it arose a loud shout from the assembled crowd. Aged men[9] and -women joined in the chorus, and saluted again the beautiful sunlight. - -This paper, though short, is one of the most important he ever wrote. In -a note to it he first mentions publicly a mistake he had discovered in -the “Mécanique Céleste.” - -[Sidenote: METEORS.] - -[Sidenote: OBSERVATIONS OF ONE OF THEM.] - -In 1815, Mr. Bowditch published another paper, which I may be able to -explain to you in some degree. You have all heard of falling stars, -or meteors, and probably most of you have seen them frequently, when -walking at night, when the sky is clear. Some of these are very small; -they seem at a great distance. They suddenly appear in our heavens, -and as suddenly disappear, and perhaps nothing more is heard or seen -of them. Others, on the contrary, appear larger, and fall to the earth -after having traversed a great portion of the heavens. On the 14th of -December, 1807, one of the most curious exploded, and fell over Weston, -in Connecticut. Mr. Bowditch, in his Memoir, writes thus:— - -“The extraordinary meteor which appeared at Weston, in Connecticut, on -the 14th of December, 1807, and exploded with several discharges of -stones, having excited great attention throughout the United States, -and being one of those phenomena of which few exact observations are -to be found in the history of physical science, I have thought that -a collection of the best observations of its appearance at different -places, with the necessary deductions for determining, as accurately -as possible, the height, direction, velocity, and magnitude of the -body, would not be unacceptable to the Academy, since facts of this -kind, besides being objects of great curiosity, may be useful in the -investigation of the origin and nature of these meteors; and as the -methods of making these calculations are not fully explained in any -treatise of trigonometry common in this country, I have given the -solutions of two of the most necessary problems, with examples calculated -at full length. The second problem is not, to my knowledge, given in any -treatise of spherics. The observations of the meteor, which, after many -inquiries, were found to have been made with sufficient accuracy to be -introduced in the present investigation, were those made at Wenham, about -seven miles north-easterly of Salem, by Mrs. Gardner, a very intelligent -lady, who had an opportunity of observing it with great attention; those -at Weston, by Judge Wheeler and Mr. Staples; and those at Rutland, in -Vermont, by William Page, Esq.” After giving the requisite solutions, -he proceeds: “Some time after the appearance of the meteor, I went -with Mr. Pickering to Mrs. Gardner’s house, at Wenham, where she had -observed the phenomenon. She informed us that on the morning of the -14th of December, 1807, when she arose, she went towards the window of -her chamber, which looks to the westward, for the purpose of observing -the weather, according to her invariable practice for many years past. -The sky was clear, except a few thin clouds in the west. It was past -daybreak, and, by estimation, about half an hour before sunrise, or seven -o’clock. The meteor was immediately observed just over the southern part -of the barn in her farm-yard, nearly in front of the window; its disk -was well defined, and it resembled the moon so much, that, unprepared as -Mrs. G.’s mind was for a phenomenon of that nature, she was not at first -aware that it was not the moon, till she perceived it in motion, when her -first thought (to use her own words) was, ‘Where is the moon going to?’ -The reflection, however, was hardly made, when she corrected herself, and -with her eye followed the body with the closest attention throughout its -whole course. It moved in a direction nearly parallel to the horizon, and -disappeared behind a cloud northward of the house of Samuel Blanchard, -Esq. She supposed the meteor to have been visible about half a minute. - -“The attention of Judge Wheeler was first drawn by a sudden flash of -light, which illuminated every object. Looking up, he discovered, in -the north, a globe of fire just then passing behind the cloud which -obscured, though it did not entirely hide, the meteor. In this situation -its appearance was distinct and well defined, like that of the sun seen -through a mist. It rose from the north, and proceeded in a direction -nearly perpendicular to the horizon, but inclining by a very small angle -to the west, and deviating a little from the plane of a great circle, but -in pretty large curves, sometimes on one side of the plane and sometimes -on the other, but never making an angle with it of more than four or -five degrees. Its apparent diameter was about one half or two thirds the -apparent diameter of the full moon. Its progress was not so rapid as that -of common meteors and shooting stars. When it passed behind the thinner -clouds, it appeared brighter than before; and when it passed the spots -of clear sky, it flashed with a vivid light, yet not so intense as the -lightning of a thunder-storm. Where it was not too much obscured by thick -clouds, a waving, conical train of paler light was seen to attend it, -in length about ten or twelve diameters of the body. In the clear sky -a brisk scintillation was observed about the body of the meteor, like -that of a burning firebrand carried against the wind. It disappeared -about fifteen degrees short of the zenith, and about the same number of -degrees west of the meridian. It did not vanish instantaneously, but -grew, pretty rapidly, fainter and fainter, as a red-hot cannon-ball would -do if cooling in the dark, only with much more rapidity. The whole period -between its first appearance and total extinction was estimated at about -thirty seconds. About thirty or forty seconds after this, three loud and -distinct reports, like those of a four-pounder near at hand, were heard. -Then followed a rapid succession of reports less loud, so as to produce a -continued rumbling. This noise continued about as long as the body was -in rising, and died away, apparently, in the direction from which the -meteor came. Mr. Staples observed that when the meteor disappeared, there -were apparently three successive efforts or leaps of the fire-ball, which -grew more dim at every throe, and disappeared with the last. From the -various accounts which we have received of the appearance of the body, at -different places, we are inclined to believe that the time between the -disappearance and report, as estimated by Judge Wheeler, is too little, -and that a minute is the least time that could have intervened. - -[Sidenote: OBSERVATION OF THEM.] - -[Sidenote: THEIR NATURE.] - -“The observations made at Rutland were procured by the kind offices -of Professor Hall, of Middlebury College, Vermont, to whom Mr. Page -communicated his valuable observations, in a paper expressed in the -following terms: ‘I was at the west door of my house, on Monday morning, -the 14th of December, 1807, about daylight; and perceiving the sky -suddenly illuminated, I raised my eyes and beheld a meteor of a circular -form, in the south-westerly part of the heavens, rapidly descending to -the south, leaving behind it a vivid, sparkling train of light. The -atmosphere near the south part of the horizon was very hazy; but the -passage of the meteor behind the clouds was visible until it descended -below the mountains, about twenty miles south of this place. There were -white, fleecy clouds scattered about the sky, but none so dense as -to obscure the track of the meteor. I now lament that I did not make -more particular observations at the time; and I should probably, until -this day, have considered it to be what is commonly called a “falling -star,” had I not read in the New York papers an account of the explosion -of a meteor, and the falling of some meteoric stones near New Haven, -Connecticut, which, by recurring to circumstances then fresh in my -recollection, I found to be on the same morning that I observed the -meteor at Rutland. I am indebted to my learned friend Dr. Samuel Williams -for his aid and directions in ascertaining the situation of the meteor -when I first observed it, and its course, and also for the order of my -observations: Form, circular; magnitude, less than a quarter of the -diameter of the moon; color, red, vivid light; tail, or train of light, -about eight times the length of its diameter, at the least, projected -opposite to its course.’” - -I quote these to give you some idea of the appearance of this meteor, and -likewise of Mr. Bowditch’s diligence. From the examination of all the -accounts given him, he came to the conclusion that the body moved at the -rate of more than three miles per second, and at the height of eighteen -miles above the surface of the earth. With regard to the magnitude of the -body, the results were less accurate; and the probability is, that all -the body did not fall, but merely passed through the air, and continued -on its course into unknown regions of space.[10] - -[Sidenote: EUROPEAN FAME.] - -[Sidenote: ACADEMIC HONORS.] - -The other papers I shall not mention, because they are upon subjects -difficult to be comprehended. The last appeared in the volumes of the -Memoirs of the Academy published in 1820. All these papers were read by -the astronomers and mathematicians of Europe, and the consequence was, -that Mr. Bowditch was chosen a member of many of the learned societies -instituted there for the promotion of science. In 1818 he was chosen into -the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and in the year following -was enrolled on the list of the Royal Irish Academy. While I am upon -this subject, I would state that he afterwards was elected associate -of the Astronomical Society of London, of the Academies of Berlin and -Palermo, and had a correspondence with most of the astronomers of Europe. -The National Institute of France was about choosing him one of its -candidates for the position of foreign member, only eight of which are -chosen from the whole world. He died before any election was held. - -[Sidenote: LITERARY LABORS.] - -In addition to the papers to the Academy, Mr. Bowditch published several -articles in reviews, &c. One of them is an interesting history of modern -astronomy, which is intended to give us an account of the lives and -doings of the most celebrated astronomers of modern times. Such were his -principal literary labors, and the greater part of them were performed -during his residence in Salem. - -The article on modern astronomy was prepared a few years after his -removal to Boston. To that removal let us now turn. In 1823 overtures -were made to him to control two institutions in Boston, one for life -insurance, the other for marine risks. The offers were too liberal for -him to refuse. His duties to his family compelled him to accept them. On -his determination being known, his fellow-citizens paid him a pleasant -tribute of respect and love by inviting him to a public and farewell -dinner. - -[Sidenote: REMOVAL TO BOSTON.] - -As the family left Salem, Mr. Bowditch and his wife often thought that, -after remaining eight or ten years at Boston, they would return, in order -that their bodies might be laid by the side of those of their ancestors. -But new friends awaited them in Boston; new ties were formed there; and -although they always looked to their native place as the seat of many of -their most beloved associations, they both lived in Boston until their -deaths. - -His engagements of a public nature, during his residence in Boston, were -similar to those he had whilst at Salem. For many years he managed both -of the institutions to which he had been called. But the directors, -finding that the duties of one were sufficient to occupy all his -attention, broke up the Marine Insurance Company, and Mr. Bowditch (or -Dr. Bowditch, as he was now generally called, having received the degree -of Doctor of Laws from Harvard University in 1816) devoted himself to -the life insurance office. This he raised to be one of the greatest -institutions in New England. By an alteration in the charter, proposed -by Dr. Bowditch, this became, in fact, a great savings bank, where -immense sums are now yearly put in trust for widows and orphans. The -only difference in his habits, caused by his removal to Boston, was an -enlargement of his sphere of labor. All objects of public utility still -engaged his attention. - -The system of popular lectures, of which we have now so many, commenced -with the Mechanic Institution of which he was the first president. He -was zealous for the improvement of the Boston Athenæum, and was very -influential towards getting for it large sums of money, and in making it -more liberal in its rules. - -[Sidenote: SERVICES TO HARVARD COLLEGE.] - -An honor was conferred upon him, after his arrival in Boston, which he -thought as high as any ever received. Having had two honorary degrees -from Harvard University, and having been one of the board of overseers -of that institution for many years, he was finally chosen a member of -the corporation, or council of seven men, who guide the whole of the -concerns of that important institution. How different the commencement -and termination of the career of the poor son of a cooper, who at ten -years of age left school, and yet at the end of life was one of the chief -directors in the first literary institution in America! - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - Sketch of the life of La Place, author of the “Mécanique - Céleste.”—Newton’s labors.—Halley’s comet.—The importance of - astronomy to navigation.—Comets; Dr. Bowditch translates the - Mécanique Céleste; difficulties attending the undertaking; - objects he had in view; first volume analyzed; Newton’s error - pointed out. - - -[Sidenote: MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.] - -In a former part of this story of Dr. Bowditch’s life, you will remember -that I stated that on his last voyage he commenced his notes upon the -“Mécanique Céleste” of La Place. It was on the first day of November, -during his disagreeable voyage homewards, in 1803, that he wrote his -first note to the work which was destined to occupy much of his time from -that moment until his death, thirty-five years afterwards, in Boston. -This work certainly deserves some of our attention, if he thought it -worthy of receiving the attention of so many years of his life. A brief -account of the life of the author of the original work may interest you, -and will serve as an introduction to the book itself. - -[Sidenote: LA PLACE.] - -[Sidenote: SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.] - -Pierre Simon La Place was born on the 23d of March, in the year 1749, -at Beaumont, on the borders of the beautiful and fertile country of -ancient Normandy, situated in the north-western part of France. He was -the son of simple peasants in that country, and from his earliest years -was remarkable for the extraordinary powers of memory, and intense -love of study, with which he was endowed. In early life every branch -of learning was delightful to him. He seemed eager to gain knowledge -merely, without regard to the object of his study. But he soon began to -distinguish himself upon the subject of theology. This pursuit, however, -was soon ended, and by some means, of which no details now remain, his -mind was led to mathematics, and from that moment he was devoted to -them. After spending his youth at his native place, and having taught -mathematics there, he, at the age of eighteen years, went to Paris, to -seek a wider sphere in his pursuit of knowledge. Bearing several letters -of recommendation as a youth of great promise, he presented himself at -the abode of D’Alembert, who at that time was the first mathematician -of France, and contended with Euler, at Berlin, for the honor of being -the first in the world. But the letters upon which the youth depended -so much proved of no use. D’Alembert passed them by in silent neglect, -without even deigning to receive at his own house the bearer of them. -But La Place was fully bent upon success, and relying upon the force of -his own genius as a more powerful recommendation than any letters, he -sent to D’Alembert an essay, written by himself, upon a very abstruse -subject relating to mechanics. The professor, struck with its elegance -and the great learning displayed by it, soon afterwards called upon the -writer, and addressed him in these words: “You see, sir, that I think -recommendations are worth but very little; and for yourself they are -wholly unnecessary. By your own writings you can make yourself better -known than by any other means. They are sufficient. I will do all I -can for you.” In a few days after this conversation, the young man -was appointed professor of mathematics in the public military school -at Paris. From this period until the end of his life he was occupied -upon the science which he was thus called, at this early age, to teach -publicly at the capital of France. He became daily more acquainted with -the great men of the nation, and was himself making additions to the -scientific acquirements of the age, thus giving eminent proofs of his -genius. He was chosen member of the French Academy, a society of learned -men united for the purpose of advancing the cause of learning, and he -stood soon very high amongst them. - -[Sidenote: MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.] - -[Sidenote: GENIUS OF LA PLACE.] - -His chief work, the “Celestial Mechanics,”—“_Mécanique Céleste_,”—he -began to publish in 1799, and finished the fourth volume in 1805.[11] -This placed him much above all his contemporaries. In it he had not only -combined many things which he himself had discovered, but likewise gave a -history, as it were, of all that had been done by geometricians from the -time of Sir Isaac Newton until his own day. La Place found many things -detached, but his genius proved that many apparently discordant facts -could be explained by Newton’s theory of universal gravitation. His labor -must have been immense. All Europe rang with the fame of this production, -which was said to be beyond anything ever performed before by man. The -echo of its fame reached America, and Dr. Bowditch obtained the volumes, -as they were successively published. The first two he received in part -payment for his labors on the “Navigator.” - -Soon after his arrival home from his fourth voyage, Dr. Bowditch was -taking his accustomed walk towards the lower part of the town of Salem, -and met his old friend, Captain Prince. They entered into conversation, -and Dr. Bowditch remarked that he had, a short time before, received a -book from France, which he had long wished for, having heard that it was -superior to anything ever before written by man, and which very few were -able to comprehend. This work was that to which I have been alluding, -and it now renders Dr. Bowditch’s own name familiarly known among -mathematicians. - -[Sidenote: SYSTEM OF THE WORLD.] - -Later in life, La Place published a work called the “System of the -World.” In this, which, comparatively speaking, is not difficult to be -read by almost any one, he attempts to give a plain and simple statement -of all that is known in regard to those wise and magnificent laws, -whereby this solar system is kept together in perfect harmony, while at -the same time it is sailing onward through fields of space. - -[Sidenote: LA PLACE A SENATOR.] - -[Sidenote: DR. BOWDITCH’S LABORS.] - -La Place, however, was not a truly noble man, because he was not strictly -just. It is said that he was willing to attribute to himself the -discoveries of others. On Napoleon Bonaparte’s becoming first consul in -France, La Place was made one of the ministers of the state; but he was -soon found to be better fitted for study than for the practical duties -of a public office. Accordingly he retired after a few weeks’ service, -but was made a member of the Senate, of which he became president. -After finishing his political career, he published other works of -great moment; but of those I shall not speak. About the year 1827 he -was seized with an acute disorder, which soon terminated his life. His -last words are remarkable, as conveying the same truth that every wise -man has upon his lips at the hour of death. As he reviewed the amount -of his learning, which was in one respect greater than that of any man -living, he exclaimed, “What we know here is very little, but what we are -ignorant of is immense.” Every man is compelled to become silent and -modest as he sees death approach. La Place was like other common men. He -died as a man, and was buried, and the men of science felt sad that one -so learned and of so strong an intellect should have departed. Endowed -by the Almighty with the loftiest powers of intellect, he stood alone, -and commanded the respect, if he did not always gain the love, of his -associates. Dr. Bowditch, though he regarded La Place as the greatest -mathematician that had ever lived, had little real sympathy with his -character. - -[Sidenote: LAWS OF GRAVITY.] - -[Sidenote: HALLEY’S COMET.] - -[Sidenote: GRANDEUR OF MAN.] - -[Sidenote: MOON’S MOTIONS.] - -We must now try to give you a short account of the “Mécanique Céleste,” -and of Dr. Bowditch’s labors upon it. The original work consists of -five volumes, but Dr. Bowditch lived to finish the translation of and -commentary upon only the first four. There are about fifteen hundred -pages in the original, while there are three thousand eight hundred and -eighteen in the American translation. The object of the original work -may be known from the following introductory remarks by La Place, on -the occasion of printing the first volume, in 1798: “Newton, towards -the end of the last century, published his discovery of the laws of -gravity, or of the power by which the solar system is held together. -Since that period, geometricians have succeeded in bringing under this -law all the known phenomena of the system of the universe. I mean to -bring together those scattered themes and facts upon this subject, so as -to form one whole, which shall embrace all the known results of gravity -upon the motions, forms, &c., of the fluid and solid bodies that compose -our solar system, as well as of those other similar systems that are -spread around in the immensity of space.” You probably all understand -from this quotation the general object of the “Mécanique Céleste.” La -Place likewise informs us that the work is divided into two parts. In the -first he proposes to give the methods for determining the motions of the -heavenly bodies, their forms, the motions of the oceans and seas upon -their surfaces, and finally the movements of rotation of these spheres -about their own axes. In the second part, he promises to apply the rules -which he has given in the first to the planets and the satellites which -move around them, and likewise to the comets. The first part is found in -the first two volumes, the second part occupies the last two. From these -few remarks you will perceive the immense task imposed upon himself -by La Place, and at the same time the grandeur of it. How wonderful, -that a simple man can attempt to mark out the course of the heavenly -bodies, which we see clustering around us at night! But how much more -wonderful does man become, when we find he has the _power_ to foretell -to us the return of comets that have never been seen by any one living -now—comets that have been, during our lives, travelling into the far-off -fields of space! Strange that a simple man can prophesy, to a day, their -return! Many of us now living remember a beautifully bright and clear -comet, which in 1835 appeared, as had been predicted, after an absence -of seventy-six years. It was called Halley’s comet, after its first -discoverer. At first it seemed like a bright speck in the heavens towards -the north; but the next night it was larger. It seemed to approach, with -fearful rapidity, from evening to evening, and, sweeping in majesty -across our western sky, disappeared gradually in its progress towards the -sun, around which it whirled, and again appeared, more faintly visible -than before, just over our eastern horizon, as if to give us one more -glimpse of itself, a strange messenger of the Almighty, before it passed -off on its far-distant journey, not to return until those who were then -young and free as air, are all laid quietly in the grave, or have become -enfeebled and decrepit by the approach of age. Truly, great is God, who -made the comet; but to me man also seems full of grandeur, when I find -him capable of even _foretelling_ the exact passage of such a body. -Yet La Place enables any man to prophesy this; and in his “Mécanique -Céleste” we may find all the methods of investigation necessary for this -object. But he likewise tells us the forms of the planets; he enables -us to measure the ring which surrounds the planet Saturn, and enables -us to decide, at least in some degree the form and mass of the sun. In -this same work he treats of those curious phenomena, which, as we see -them daily, we think of little moment—the flow and ebb of the sea, or, -in other words, high and low tides,—and the causes of them. He treats -of the motion of the earth about its centre, and of the same motions in -the moon and planets. These are the chief objects of the first and second -volumes. The third volume, as we have already hinted, contains questions -of great intricacy, and of immense importance; namely, the exact motions -of the planets around the sun, as affected by all the attractions exerted -upon them by the various bodies of the universe; and the still more -important motions of our moon around the earth. I say important, because -the exact knowledge of the course of this body is of the greatest moment -to every sailor who attempts to go from one country to another over the -trackless ocean. By means of observations upon this planet, the seaman -can sail over distant waters for many months, and be able to return, -when he may wish, to his own home in safety. Hence the importance of -the astronomer to the simple navigator of our planet. The history of -Dr. Bowditch is another proof of the truth of this statement. By his -accurate knowledge of astronomy, by his ability to follow La Place in -his investigations of all the motions of the solar system, he was enabled -to produce a work on navigation which is sought for wherever the English -language is spoken, as it combines the best methods of using the results -of pure astronomy in the art of navigation. The “Practical Navigator” -would never have maintained its hold upon the community as it has done, -if Dr. Bowditch had not been as skilful in mathematics and astronomy as -in the details of navigation. - -[Sidenote: JUPITER’S SATELLITES.] - -[Sidenote: PLANET NEPTUNE.] - -But to return to the “Mécanique Céleste.” The fourth volume contains -similar investigations, namely, the motions of the satellites, or moons, -about the other planets. Our moon’s motions about the earth, and the -revolutions of Jupiter’s satellites are the most important. Jupiter has -four satellites. These were the first that the invention of the telescope -by Galileo revealed to man; and by their frequent revolutions around -the planet, they have in their turn shown to us many of the laws which -govern the whole planetary system, besides many curious and interesting -facts in regard to their own forms and masses. From the eclipses or -disappearances of the first satellite, when it passes on the side of the -planet opposite to that at which the observer from the earth is looking, -it has demonstrated the velocity of light. Finally, the author treats of -the seven moons, or satellites, of Saturn, and likewise of those of the -planet Herschel, about which much less is known.[12] - -[Sidenote: POWERS ACTING UPON COMETS.] - -After attending to these subjects, La Place investigates the powers -which act upon comets, which tend to turn from their courses those -bodies, which, as I have before said, are flying in very many directions -throughout the universe, and which are liable to be moved out of their -direction by the actions of some planets near which they may come. This -was the case with a comet in 1770, whose course was wholly changed by -the planet Jupiter drawing it towards its own body. To investigate the -various laws of these disturbing forces is one subject of this volume. -Some other subjects are treated of, but of these I shall now not speak. - -[Sidenote: NOTES ON MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.] - -From this brief account of the “Mécanique Céleste” you may judge of the -difficulties which the original writer had to overcome in making it, and -of the immense labor requisite. But La Place frequently supposes that -a proposition is perfectly intelligible to his reader because it is so -to him. Having such a powerful mind, he is able to see at a glance that -for which any one else would require a long demonstration, before he -could become thoroughly master of the subject. The consequence of this -is, an obscurity in the work, which has made it doubly difficult of -comprehension. Several years ago, but a long time after Dr. Bowditch -had read and made notes upon the whole work, an English writer said that -there were scarcely twelve men in Europe capable of comprehending it. -Dr. Bowditch, feeling that it was the most valuable work upon astronomy -published in modern times, had undertaken the translation of it, and -had made notes thereupon, for the purpose of “amusing his leisure -hours.” Upon its being known that he had finished the task, the American -Academy offered to publish it. Dr. Bowditch would not allow this, and -reserved the publication until he was able to do so at his own expense. -Let us see, now, what service Dr. Bowditch intended to perform by his -translation and commentary. His first object was to lay before America -the greatest work on the science of astronomy ever published. Secondly, -his aim was to bring that work down to the comprehension of young men, -and students of mathematics, by filling up the places left by La Place -without demonstration. Thirdly, he meant to give the history of the -science of astronomy for the interval between the publication of the -original work and that at which the translation appeared. Fourthly, he -wished to collect together all the discoveries which he had made during -the forty years of his life that he had devoted to science. His first -aim was gained by the translation. His second was completely successful, -for he was assured by correspondents, both in America and Europe, that -he had enabled several to read the immortal work of La Place, who never -would have done so had not Dr. Bowditch published his Commentary. The -royal astronomer at Palermo says, in a printed work published after -the first two volumes of the translation had reached him, “Bowditch’s -Commentary should be translated into Italian;” and Lacroix, a celebrated -French mathematician, advised a young Swiss to read La Place in the -American edition rather than in the original. But what pleased the -commentator more than anything else, were the frequent letters from young -men residing in various parts of America, expressing gratitude for the -benefits they had received from his work. When I think of these, I am -reminded of the epithet bestowed upon Dr. Bowditch since his death, and -by one well capable of judging, namely, “Father of American Mathematics.” -He has given a tone to the study of science which will be long felt. - -In regard to the third object, all critics allow that he was eminently -successful in giving the history of science up to the time proposed. - -Upon the fourth point, we might refer, first, to the immense increase of -bulk of the work, as a proof, but I prefer to mention a few details; and -in order to this, let us examine the Commentary, and let it speak for -itself. But it must be remembered, that, in making this examination, I -must omit many circumstances, because you would not understand or feel -interested in any greater detail. - -[Sidenote: ERRORS IN IT.] - -[Sidenote: PERMANENCE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.] - -[Sidenote: ERROR IN PRINCIPIA.] - -In the first volume he points out two errors of La Place, one of which -relates to the motion of the earth; and the other is of much importance. -It relates to the permanency of our solar system, as it is commonly -called. You all doubtless know that the sun is situated in the centre, -and the planets, with our earth, revolve around this luminary, which -gives light and heat to all. Now, these bodies revolve in certain fixed -“nearly circular” directions, and La Place thought that they would always -continue to do so, and that Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, -Saturn, and Herschel would forever continue to wheel around in their -accustomed orbits. Dr. Bowditch proves, however, that though this may -be true of the three larger planets,—Jupiter, Saturn, and Herschel,—it -is not equally certain, _from the proofs given by La Place_, that our -earth, or any of the other smaller planets, may not fly off into regions -far remote from those in which they have been revolving for ages. This -error had been made the subject of a paper to the American Academy at an -earlier period of his life. But it must not be supposed that there is -any proof that the solar system will not continue to exist for many long -ages. On the contrary, there is no doubt that it will last millions of -years. Dr. Bowditch merely wished to assert that La Place’s argument and -calculation did not prove as much as the French mathematician thought -they did. In this volume Dr. Bowditch likewise alludes to a topic which -he had made the subject of a communication, a long time previously, to -the American Academy; I refer to a mistake in Newton’s “Principia,” -which he discovered when quite young, and had sent an account of to the -president of Harvard College. This gentleman referred the question to the -professor of mathematics, who believed the youth was mistaken. Doubtless -he thought it very strange that a simple youth should presume to correct -anything published by so eminent a man as Newton. The error of the -professor will become less singular when you learn that the same mistake -escaped the notice of all the commentators on the “Principia,”—that -is, for more than a century,—and that the cause of the original -communication being made to the Academy was the attempt of Mr. Emerson, -an Englishman, to prove the correctness of the English philosopher. Every -one, I believe, now allows that Dr. Bowditch was correct, and that a -considerable error would result, in calculating the orbit of a comet, -from using Newton’s calculations. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - Commentary continued; second volume.—Discussion between - the English and French mathematicians; Dr. Bowditch’s - criticisms.—Errors in La Place in regard to the earth, - &c.—Third volume; motions of the moon.—Fourth volume; many - errors discovered in it.—Halley’s Comet.—Curious phenomena of - capillary attraction. - - -[Sidenote: CRITIC OF IVORY AND POISSON.] - -[Sidenote: “I HAVE GOT IT!”] - -In the second volume of the Commentary, Dr. Bowditch makes very copious -notes, in which he shows a perfect knowledge of the works of the chief -mathematicians of Europe. He stands as critic between two of the eminent -men of science of that day—Messrs. Ivory and Poisson, the former an -Englishman, the latter a Frenchman; and in reference, likewise, to a -difficult subject, namely, the revolution or the turning of a fluid mass -upon its own axis, as our earth does. He not merely agrees with Mr. -Poisson, but, by a very simple illustration, proves the total inaccuracy -of Mr. Ivory’s views. I well remember the earnestness with which he -studied this subject. Day after day, he returned to the task of finding -out some “simple case,” with which to prove to the satisfaction of others -the truth of his own view. At length, when he did discover it, he jumped -up in ecstasy, and, rubbing his hands and forehead with delight, walked -about the library-room, crying out, “I have got it!” - -Dr. Bowditch in this volume points out five errors or omissions made by -La Place, some of which are very important. One refers to the form of -our earth, and had been previously communicated to the Academy. There is -another of some moment, relative to the time occupied in the revolution -of one of Saturn’s rings, La Place having made it longer than was true. - -Finally, on the subject of the motion of the earth about its centre of -gravity, he points out an error, in which La Place gives to two numbers -only one third of their true value. - -[Sidenote: OLBERS AND GAUSS.] - -In the third volume, occupied as it is with the motions of the planets -and of the moon, and with all the phenomena accompanying these, Dr. -Bowditch shows much learning, and his power of bringing modern science -to the thorough study of any topic. As in the previous volume, he labors -without fear upon subjects treated of with much earnestness by La Place, -Poisson, and Pontecoulant, in France, and Plana in Italy. - -On the theory of the motions of the moon,—a very difficult and -interesting subject,—Dr. Bowditch makes very copious notes; and the -volume terminates with an appendix of more than two hundred and fifty -pages, in which he gives the history of modern astronomy, in reference -to the calculations of the movements of planets and comets. In this he -speaks of Olbers and Gauss. The former, from having discovered three -planets since the beginning of this century, was called “The fortunate -Columbus of the Heavens.” The latter was one of the most remarkable men -in the world for the rapidity with which he was able to perform the most -tedious and troublesome calculations.[13] - -[Sidenote: ERRORS IN LA PLACE.] - -We come now to the last volume, in printing the thousandth page of which -he died. It was the most difficult to him of the whole, and probably -will raise him higher, in the estimation of the scientific world, than -either of the others. In the first place, I would remark, that either -from the difficulty of the subject, or from the inattention of La Place, -an unusual number of errors was discovered. No less than twenty-four -errors or omissions are pointed out. Many of these seem insignificant, -but often, as may be supposed, they materially affect the calculation. -Most of them refer to the derangements and the motions of Jupiter’s -satellites—a subject which occupies three hundred and fourteen pages of -the volume. The keenness of Dr. Bowditch’s criticism is again perceived -while treating upon a subject in dispute between Plana and La Place. Dr. -Bowditch points out one mistake, and Poisson another, whereby Plana’s -views are proved to coincide entirely with La Place’s, instead of being -opposed to them. - -[Sidenote: NOTE ON HALLEY’S COMET.] - -I find a note upon Halley’s comet, to which I alluded as presenting -a grand spectacle in our western sky a few years since, and I cannot -forbear mentioning the coincidence. Dr. Bowditch, when making his notes -upon the subject of the motions and revolutions of comets, speaks of -Halley’s comet, and mentions all that is known about it, and its probable -appearance. This note was prepared some time before it was printed. It -terminates thus: “Since writing the preceding part of this note the comet -has again appeared, and, _at the time of printing this page, is visible -in the heavens_, not far distant from the place corresponding to the -elements of Mr. Pontecoulant.” - -[Sidenote: CAPILLARY ATTRACTION.] - -[Sidenote: LA PLACE AND POISSON.] - -The work, so far as Dr. Bowditch is concerned, finishes with the most -curious and difficult subject of capillary attraction, or that power -whereby a liquid rises in narrow tubes beyond the level of the fluid -outside, as we see familiarly in sponges, and cloths, and in very minute -glass tubes. You may think this subject of little moment; yet La Place -thought it more curious than almost any other, and he earnestly calls -the attention of mathematicians to it. It is a subject so difficult -of investigation, that it requires the keenest efforts of the best -intellects to rightly understand it. After La Place’s investigations -were published, Gauss considered the subject, and arrived at results -similar to those presented by La Place. But in 1831, Poisson, the first -mathematician then living, of whom we have already spoken, put forth -a work in which he announced many new views. This he thought himself -justified in doing, after taking into consideration certain particulars -which La Place had neglected. Dr. Bowditch received the work while -engaged in printing this volume. He ceased printing, and devoted six -months or more to a thorough perusal of the new French work. The result -was, that he proved that without an exception, unless where an evident -error was made by La Place, the principles of this mathematician, when -fairly carried out, would produce all the results which Poisson had given -as new in his work. By this labor Dr. Bowditch proved that Poisson’s -so-called new theory of capillary attraction was founded in error. This -is decidedly the most important work of the translator. It places him -much higher than before in the scale of mathematical rank. - -I would willingly give a further analysis, but I forbear, because it -would not be interesting to you. It was in correcting this, his noblest -task, in the full strength of his intellect, that he was destined to die. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - Sketch of the life of La Grange, the equal of La Place; love - Dr. Bowditch had for this person’s character; comparison - between him and La Place; also between him and Dr. - Bowditch.—Conclusion of the Memoir - - -[Sidenote: BOWDITCH AND LA GRANGE.] - -During this history I frequently have spoken of different individuals; -but there is one about whom little mention has been made, but of whose -life I wish to give you a short account, as his character resembles very -much that of Dr. Bowditch. His mind and heart were always regarded by the -American mathematician with feelings of respect and love, such as he felt -towards no other mathematician whose works he had studied. An equal of La -Place, it seems not improper to mention him; and I know you will excuse -the slight interruption in my story when you perceive how the noble -nature of La Grange seems to harmonize with, and to illustrate, as it -were, the life of Dr. Bowditch. - -[Sidenote: LIFE OF LA GRANGE.] - -[Sidenote: HIS INTELLECT AND MODESTY.] - -[Sidenote: LA GRANGE AND LA PLACE.] - -[Sidenote: LA GRANGE AND BOWDITCH.] - -[Sidenote: DEATH OF LA GRANGE.] - -Joseph Louis La Grange, one of the most famous geometricians of modern -times, was born at Turin, January 25, 1736. He was one of eleven -children of parents who became very poor, so that Joseph had in early -life to gain his own subsistence. When young, he devoted himself to -the classics, and read Latin constantly. At seventeen his taste for -abstruse mathematics and geometry first showed itself; and from this -period he continued studying by himself, without aid. In two years he -had acquired a knowledge of all that was known upon the science, and -began to correspond with the scientific men of other lands. In 1755 -he sent to Euler, then the greatest mathematician in the world, and -residing in Berlin, an answer to a problem proposed by Euler, ten years -before, to the learned men of Europe, and which they had been unable -to solve. He was appointed professor of mathematics at Turin, at the -age of nineteen years, and soon afterwards originated the Academy of -Sciences at that place. In their Memoirs he published papers in which -he not merely criticised Euler and D’Alembert and others, but brought -forward some very curious new views of science, discovered by himself. -Europe soon resounded with his praises, and he was chosen member of all -the learned societies. In 1766, he was called to the court of Frederick -the Great, King of Prussia, to take the place of Euler, who was summoned -by the Emperor of Russia to St. Petersburg. Frederick wrote to him thus: -“Come to my court, for it is right that the greatest mathematician in -Europe should be near the greatest king.” He accepted the situation thus -offered, and remained there until Frederick died; and soon afterwards -he was invited by the French government to go to Paris. From this time, -with slight interruptions, his fame continued to increase, and every -one delighted to honor him; for his labors did honor to his adopted -country. One of the most beautiful compliments, perhaps, ever paid to -man, was the message sent by the French government to the old father of -La Grange at Piedmont, when that country fell, by a revolution, under -French influence. “Go,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs to his -ambassador, “go to the venerable father of the illustrious La Grange, -and say to him, that, after the events that have just taken place, the -French government look to him as the first object of their interest.” -The answer of the old man was touching: “This day is the happiest of my -life, and my son is the cause of it!” And thrice blessed must be such a -son, for he fills the last hours of his father’s life with peace. When -Bonaparte came into power, new honors were showered upon him. But what -was it that charmed Dr. Bowditch in the character of La Grange? It was -the combination of a giant intellect with extreme modesty and simplicity, -a sincere love of truth, and almost feminine affections. He was a pure -being, whose intellect equalled La Place’s, but who at the same time was -full of the utmost gentleness and strict justice. He was at Berlin during -the earlier part of La Place’s career in Paris. In after-life, the two -were friends. Both were great geniuses; both were capable of the highest -flights of thought, and of bringing down to the comprehension of mankind -the vast and wise laws impressed by God on the system of the universe. -La Place became interested in political life. La Grange stood aside, -quiet and pleased with his own high thoughts. If his fellows wished him -to take upon himself any public duties, he took them cheerfully, and -as cheerfully resigned them. La Place courted honors; La Grange meekly -received them. La Place sometimes assumed the fruits of other men’s -labors to cover himself with their glory. In the heart of La Grange sat -humility, justice, and philanthropic love. In fact, La Grange was full -of the loftiest qualities and genius combined. La Place had the latter. -His genius alone recommended him to the scientific men around him. Such -were two men whose works Dr. Bowditch read with the greatest pleasure. He -often spoke with great feeling of the noble traits in the character of -La Grange. The features and form of the head of Dr. Bowditch resembled -those of the great Italian. I have often thought that, as they were like -each other in countenance, so their dispositions and fortunes in life -were more nearly similar than is usual in this world. Both were born -poor, and early had to seek subsistence for themselves. Each devoted -himself early to the science of mathematics, and both became eminent in -it. Love of truth and a longing for it were strong traits in both; order -and regularity of life, and simplicity of food and regimen, belonged -to them equally. Above all, a sincere reverence for goodness, for true -modesty and delicate refinement, and a fine respect for the female sex, -were strikingly manifest in both. Both were moderate in their desires, -and both had the highest good of humanity at heart. Each sought for quiet -and retirement from the turmoil of life in his “peaceful mathematics.” -As the lives of both were beautiful, so was the serenity of their death -scenes. La Grange was attacked near the end of March, 1813, by a severe -fever, and the symptoms soon became alarming. He saw the danger he was -in, but still preserved his serenity. “I am studying,” says he, “what -is passing within me, as if I were now engaged in some great and rare -experiment.” On the 8th of April, his friends Messrs. Lacépède, Monge, -and Chaptal visited him, and in a long conversation which he entered -into with them, he showed that his memory was still unclouded, and his -intellect as bright as ever. He spoke to them of his actual condition, -of his labors, of his success, of the tenor of his life, and expressed -no regret at dying, except at the idea of being separated from his wife, -whose kind attentions had been unremittingly bestowed upon him. He soon -sank and died. Three days afterwards his body was deposited in the -Pantheon, as it is called, the burial-place for the great men of France; -and La Place and his friend Lacépède delivered their tributes of praise -and admiration over his grave. So peaceful and calm was the death of Dr. -Bowditch, whose life I have been trying to place before you. - -[Sidenote: MRS. BOWDITCH.] - -Dr. Bowditch’s health had been generally good, though he never was -robust. In 1808 he was dangerously ill with a cough, and by the advice -of a physician, he took a journey in an open chaise. He was driven -towards Pawtucket and Providence, thence in a westerly direction through -Hartford and New Haven to Albany, and back again across the interior of -Massachusetts, as far as the fertile valley of the Connecticut River. -Thence passing upwards, he crossed on the southern borders of Vermont and -New Hampshire to Newburyport, and back to Salem. This journey restored -him, and he never afterwards suffered much from cough, and generally -enjoyed good health until his last illness. - -In 1834 his wife died. His heart was borne down by the loss. She had -been to him always a loving and a tender companion, faithful and true -even to the minutest points. She had watched all his labors. She had -urged him onward in the pursuit of science, by telling him that she -would find the means of meeting any expense by her own economy in her -care of the family. She had watched the progress of his greatest work, -which, with his dying hands, he afterwards dedicated to her memory. She -had listened with delight to all the praises that had come to him from -his own countrymen and from foreign lands; and now, when he was full -of honor and yet active in business, she was called to leave him. With -her the real charm of life departed, and many sad hours would have been -the consequence, if his sense of duty and devotion to science had not -prevented them. He attended now more closely to active engagements. He -always spoke of his wife with extreme fondness, and sometimes his tears -would flow in spite, apparently, of his efforts to restrain them. There -was a degree of sadness, however, which was perceptible only to his -family, that settled upon Dr. Bowditch during the last four years of -life, in consequence of this deprivation. - -[Sidenote: LAST ILLNESS.] - -[Sidenote: FAREWELL TO FRIENDS.] - -[Sidenote: LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN.] - -In the latter part of the summer and early days of autumn of 1837, -he began to feel that he was losing strength, and had occasionally -pains of great severity. He continued to attend to the duties of his -office, however, without yielding to his suffering. In January, 1838, -he submitted to medical advice; but it was of no avail. He sank rapidly -under a severe and torturing disease, which, for the last fortnight of -life, deprived him of the power of eating or even of drinking anything, -except a small quantity of wine and water. Until the last moment of his -life, he was engaged in attending to the duties of the Life Office, and -to the publication of his Commentary on the “Mécanique Céleste.” During -this time, after he lost the power of visiting State Street, he used to -walk into his library, and there sit down among his beloved books, and -pass the hours in gentle conversation with his friends, of each one of -whom he seemed anxious to take a last farewell. He received them daily, -in succession, during the forenoon; and towards those whom he loved -particularly he showed his tenderness by kissing them when they met and -when they parted. His conversation with them was of the most pleasant -kind. He told them of his prospects of death, of his past life, and of -his perfect calmness and reliance on God. He spoke to them of his love -of moral worth. “Talents without goodness I care little for,” said he to -one of them. With his children he was always inexpressibly affectionate. -“Come, my dears,” said he, “I fear you will think me very foolish, but I -cannot help telling you all how much I love you; for whenever any of you -approach me, I feel as if I had a fountain of love, which gushes out upon -you.” He spoke to them at the dead of the night, when he awoke, pleasant -as a little child, yet with the bright, clear mind of a philosopher. He -told them of his life, of his desire always to be innocent, to be active -in every duty, and in the acquirement of knowledge, and then alluded to a -motto that he had impressed upon his mind in early life, that a good man -must have a happy death. On one of these occasions he said, “I feel now -quiet and happy, and I think my life has been somewhat blameless.” - -[Sidenote: WORDS OF COMFORT.] - -It was noon, and all was quiet in his library. A bright ray of light -streamed through the half-closed shutter. He was calm and free from -pain. One of his children bade him good by for a time. Stretching out -his hand and pointing to the sunlight, he said, “Good by, my son; the -work is done; and if I knew I were to be gone when the sun sets in the -west, I would say, ‘Thy will, O God, be done.’” Observing some around him -weeping, while he was quiet, he quoted his favorite passage from Hafiz, -one of the sweetest of the poets of Persia:— - - “So live, that, sinking in thy last long sleep, - Calm thou mayst smile while all around thee weep.” - -On another occasion, when one who was near him had a sad countenance, he -told her to be cheerful; and then, taking Bryant’s Poems he read the four -last verses of that exquisite little poem called “The Old Man’s Funeral.” -It is so beautiful in itself, that I want you to read it; and perhaps you -may like to see how he thought it applied to his own condition. I have -placed in parentheses his remarks. - -[Sidenote: THE OLD MAN’S FUNERAL.] - - THE OLD MAN’S FUNERAL. - - I saw an aged man upon his bier; - His hair was thin and white, and on his brow - A record of the cares of many a year— - Cares that were ended and forgotten now. - And there was sadness round, and faces bowed, - And women’s tears fell fast, and children wailed aloud. - - Then rose another hoary man, and said, - In faltering accents, to that weeping train, - “Why mourn ye that our aged friend is dead? - Ye are not sad to see the gathered grain, - Nor when their mellow fruit the orchards cast, - Nor when the yellow woods shake down the ripened mast. - - “Ye sigh not when the sun, his course fulfilled, - His glorious course, rejoicing earth and sky, - In the soft evening, when the winds are stilled, - Sinks where his islands of refreshment lie, - And leaves the smile of his departure spread - O’er the warm-colored heaven and ruddy mountain head. - - “Why weep ye then for him, who, having won - The bound of man’s appointed years, at last, - Life’s blessings all enjoyed, life’s labors done, - Serenely to his final rest has passed? [I cannot agree to the next - two lines.] - While the soft memory of his virtues yet - Lingers like twilight hues when the bright sun is set. - - “His youth was innocent, [yes, I believe mine was innocent; - not guilty, certainly,] his riper age - Marked with some act of goodness every day, [no, not every - day—sometimes,] - And watched by eyes that loved him, calm and sage, [O, yes, watched - by eyes that loved him; and O, how calm, but I cannot add - sage,] - Faded his late declining years away. - Cheerful he gave his being up, and went - To share [he hopes] the holy rest that waits a life [he hopes] well - spent. - - “That life was happy; every day he gave - Thanks for the fair existence that was his; [yes, every morning, - when I awoke and saw the beautiful sun rise, I thanked God - that he had placed me in this beautiful world,] - For a sick fancy made him not her slave, - To mock him with her phantom miseries. - No chronic tortures racked his aged limb, - For luxury and sloth had nourished none for him. [Yes, that is all - true.] - - “And I am glad that he has lived thus long, - And glad that he has gone to his reward; - Nor deem that kindly nature did him wrong, - Softly to disengage the vital cord, [O, how softly, how sweetly, is - the cord disengaging!] - When his weak hand grew palsied, and his eye - Dark with the mists of age, it was his time to die.” [Yes, it was his - time to die; remember this; do not look sad or mournful; it - is his time to die.] - -[Sidenote: LOVE OF FLOWERS AND MUSIC.] - -One of the pleasant effects of his illness was his new love for flowers. -He had never shown any great pleasure in them during life, although -a rose, or lily of the valley, was frequently in his vest during the -summer. One day during his illness, Miss —— sent him a nosegay, in the -centre of which was a white camellia japonica. “Ah! how beautiful!” he -exclaimed; “tell her how much I am pleased; place them where I can see -them. Tell her that the japonica is to me the emblem of her spotless -heart.” Music, too, as it had been his delight in early life, now served -to soothe his last hours. One evening, when surrounded by his family, and -he was free from all pain, the door of the library was suddenly opened, -and his favorite tune of Robin Adair was heard coming from some musical -glasses in the entry. Its plaintiveness was always delightful to him: and -after listening to it till it died away, he exclaimed, “O, how beautiful! -I feel as if I should like to have the tune that I have loved in life -prove my funeral dirge.” - -[Sidenote: HIS DEATH.] - -It was on the 15th of March, 1838, that, being too feeble to walk, he was -drawn for the last time into the library. On the next day he was confined -to the bed. On that day an incident took place which I cannot forbear to -mention. He had called his daughter his Jessamine, and about twenty-four -hours before his death she obtained for him that delicate white flower. -He took it and kissed it many times. He then returned it with these -words: “Take it, my love; it is beautiful; it is the queen of flowers. -Let it be for you, forever, the emblem of truth and of purity. Let it be -the Bowditch arms. Place it in your mother’s Bible, and by the side of La -Place’s bust, and to-morrow, if I am alive, I will see it.” - -In the evening he drew a little water into his parched mouth. “How -delicious!” he murmured. “I have swallowed a drop from - - ‘Siloa’s brook, that flowed - Fast by the oracle of God.’” - -On the morrow, 17th of March, 1838, he died. Had he lived nine days -more, he would have exactly completed his sixty-fifth year. On the next -Sabbath he was laid quietly by the side of his wife Mary. Snow-flakes -fell gently upon the coffin as it was carried into Trinity Church vaults. - -There both the bodies remained until a few years since, when they were -removed to Mount Auburn. - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] You will know better, by and by, about the Revolutionary War. I will -merely state now, that this war was between America and Great Britain, -in order to free ourselves from the power of England. The reason why the -British King had anything to do with America was this: Many years ago, a -number of people came over from England, and settled in this country; and -of course the small colony needed the aid of the government from which it -originated. After a time the people here wanted to govern themselves, and -they therefore went to battle about it, because England would not grant -them all their wishes. This contest, which lasted for several years, was -terminated by the United States becoming free from the power of Great -Britain. - -[2] It is now in existence, and was kept in his library during his -lifetime, and for many years afterwards. His library, at the time of -his death, consisted of several thousand books, which, during his long -life, he had collected. Yet, to my mind, the little Almanac is the most -valuable book of the whole, because it was the first evidence he gave of -his perseverance, and of the tendencies of his mind. It is now, with his -other manuscripts, preserved in the Public Library of the City of Boston. - -The manuscripts and his whole library were given to the city when the -opening of Devonshire Street, in continuation of Winthrop and Otis Place, -required the removal of the house where they had been preserved from the -time of Mr. Bowditch’s death. - -[3] This was the famous battle of the Nile. It won for Nelson the title -of “Baron of the Nile.” - -[4] From Rev. Dr. Bentley’s manuscript Journal. - -[5] Dr. Bentley’s Journal, above cited. - -[6] This and similar acts committed by Great Britain were the prominent -causes of the war between the United States and England in 1812. - -[7] An expression of which sailors make use when speaking of the captain -of the vessel, and on this occasion overheard by Mr. Bowditch, as two -sailors whispered one to another, as they passed him on the deck. - -[8] It is still (1869) used in the American, and often in the English -marine service. The twenty-eighth edition was only recently published; -about seventy-five thousand copies have been issued since the first -edition was printed under the special direction of Mr. Bowditch. - -[9] Chief Justice Parsons, it is said, used to say that moment was one -of the most exciting of his life; and he could not forbear throwing up -his hat and joining in the shout with which the boys saluted the first -returning light of the sun. - -[10] Since the first edition of this memoir, the whole subject of -meteoric stones has been more thoroughly investigated by astronomers. -Professor Loomis, of New Haven, says (Elements of Astronomy, 1869, -page 209), “In the year 1833, shooting stars appeared in extraordinary -numbers, on the morning of November 14. It was estimated that they fell -at the rate of five hundred and seventy-five per minute. Most of these -meteors moved in paths, which, if traced backward, would meet in a point -near Gamma, in the constellation Leo. A similar exhibition took place -on the 12th of November, 1799, and there are recorded ten other similar -appearances at about the same period of the year. - -“There was a repetition of this remarkable display of meteors on the -morning of November 14, 1866, when the number amounted to one hundred -and twenty-six per minute; also November 14, 1867, when the number of -meteors for a short time amounted to two hundred and twenty per minute; -and November 14, 1868, the display was about equally remarkable.” - -Professor Loomis concludes that “these meteors belong to a system -of bodies describing an elliptic orbit about the sun, and making a -revolution in thirty-three years.” - -The Weston meteor, or aerolite, observed by Dr. Bowditch, is mentioned -by Professor Loomis, as one of “great brilliancy.” “The entire weight of -the fragments discovered was at least three hundred pounds.... The length -of the visible path of this meteor exceeded one hundred miles. It moved -about fifteen miles per second.” - -[11] A fifth was printed several years afterwards, on which Mr. Bowditch -made some notes, and which he meant to have published, but death -prevented him from so doing. - -[12] Since the first edition of this memoir, one of the most -extraordinary results ever obtained in astronomy by the use of these same -methods of investigation has been made known. Messrs. Leverrier, a French -astronomer, and Adams of England, calculated very exactly the general -characteristics and course of a planet, which, from the disturbances of -the courses of other well-known planets, was _supposed_ to exist. In -1846, Leverrier requested a German astronomer to point his telescope, at -a certain time, towards a certain part of the heavens, and there was the -long-suspected planet, previously never seen! It was named Neptune. It is -sixty times larger than our earth, and its orbit is nearly thirty times -farther distant from the sun. - -[13] Within the last few years numerous other smaller bodies (asteroids) -have been discovered—not less than eighty being now known. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Nat the Navigator, by Henry Ingersoll Bowditch - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAT THE NAVIGATOR *** - -***** This file should be named 61092-0.txt or 61092-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/0/9/61092/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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Bowditch. - </title> - - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - -<style type="text/css"> - -a { - text-decoration: none; -} - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -hr { - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - clear: both; - width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -p { - margin-top: 0.5em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -table { - margin: 1em auto 1em auto; - max-width: 40em; - border-collapse: collapse; -} - -td { - padding-left: 2.25em; - padding-right: 0.25em; - vertical-align: top; - text-indent: -2em; - text-align: justify; -} - -.tdc { - text-align: center; - padding-top: 1em; - padding-left: 0.25em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.tdpg { - vertical-align: bottom; - text-align: right; - padding-left: 0.25em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.caption { - text-align: center; - margin-bottom: 1em; - font-size: 90%; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.center { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.chapter { - margin: 1.5em 10%; -} - -.chapter p { - font-size: 90%; - text-indent: -2em; - padding-left: 2em; -} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.footnotes { - margin-top: 1em; - border: dashed 1px; -} - -.footnote { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - font-size: 0.9em; -} - -.footnote .label { - position: absolute; - right: 84%; - text-align: right; -} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: none; -} - -.larger { - font-size: 150%; -} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - right: 4%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; -} - -.poetry-container { - text-align: center; - margin: 1em auto; - max-width: 30em; -} - -.poetry { - display: inline-block; - text-align: left; -} - -.poetry .stanza { - margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; -} - -.poetry .verse { - text-indent: -3em; - padding-left: 3em; -} - -.poetry .indent1 { - text-indent: -2em; -} - -.poetry .indent4 { - text-indent: 1em; -} - -.right { - text-align: right; -} - -.sidenote { - width: 20%; - padding: 0.5em; - margin-left: 1em; - margin-bottom: 0.25em; - float: right; - clear: right; - font-size: smaller; - color: black; - background: #eeeeee; - border: dashed 1px; -} - -.smaller { - font-size: 80%; -} - -.smcap { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; -} - -.titlepage { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 3em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -@media handheld { - -img { - max-width: 100%; - width: auto; - height: auto; -} - -.poetry { - display: block; - margin-left: 1.5em; -} - -.chapter { - margin: 1.5em 5%; -} -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Nat the Navigator, by Henry Ingersoll Bowditch - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Nat the Navigator - A Life of Nathaniel Bowditch. For Young Persons - -Author: Henry Ingersoll Bowditch - -Release Date: January 3, 2020 [EBook #61092] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAT THE NAVIGATOR *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> -<img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="700" height="420" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Dr. Bowditch’s Study in Later Years.</span></p> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p class="center"><i>NAT THE NAVIGATOR.</i></p> - -<p class="titlepage larger">A LIFE<br /> -<span class="smaller">OF</span><br /> -NATHANIEL BOWDITCH.</p> - -<p class="center">FOR YOUNG PERSONS.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> -<img src="images/house.jpg" width="300" height="250" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The House in which he lived when a little Child.</p> -</div> - -<p class="titlepage">BOSTON:<br /> -LEE AND SHEPARD.<br /> -1870.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by<br /> -LEE AND SHEPARD,<br /> -In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.</p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">ELECTROTYPED AT THE<br /> -BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,<br /> -No. 19 Spring Lane.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Boston</span>, December, 1869.</p> - -<p>Moved by feelings I could scarcely comprehend, while, at -the same time, they were most sweet to me, I was led to talk -with the pupils of the Warren Street Chapel on the Sunday -afternoon after my father died. The subjects were his active -and good life and happy death. I am aware that some of -my nearest friends thought it strange that my heart, on the -occasion of his death, was filled with a kind of joy rather -than with sadness. To them I could merely say, that an -event so calm, and under such circumstances of suffering -as he then was, suggested to me nothing like real sorrow. -I wished my young companions to feel as I did, and that, in -their minds, a quiet death following a good life should be -clothed with beauty, and that they might thus be led to believe -that, in accordance with the Scotch proverb, “A gude -life makes a gude end. At least it helps weel.” Horace Mann -was present during the address. Being deeply interested -in the education of the young, he requested me to prepare -for his Common School Journal a sketch similar to that I -had spoken. In accordance with that desire, a memoir was -prepared, and after its publication the Warren Street Chapel -Association requested that it should be put, with some -revision, into this form. And as it was originally prepared -for, and dedicated to, the pupils of that institution,</p> - -<p class="center">SO I NOW DEDICATE IT<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">ANEW TO THE</span><br /> -<br /> -GIRLS AND BOYS OF WARREN STREET CHAPEL.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdpg smaller">PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a><br /><i>From 1773 to 1784—under 10 years of age.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Birth.—Childhood</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">11</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a><br /><i>From 1784 to 1795—between the ages of 10 and 21.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>His apprenticeship, his habits.—Studies Chambers’s - Cyclopædia.—Results of his studies; gains the - respect of all.—Dr. Bentley, Dr. Prince, and Mr. - Reed, do him kindness; by their means allowed - access to “The Philosophical Library.”—He - makes philosophical instruments.—Calculates an - Almanac at the age of fourteen.—Studies algebra: - delight he experienced from this new pursuit.—Learns - Latin.—Reads works by Sir Isaac Newton.—Studies - French</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">23</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a><br /><i>From 1784 to 1796—age, 10-22.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Apprenticeship continued.—Favorite of his companions.—Learns - music; neglects his studies for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> - time.—Gets into bad society; his decision in freeing - himself from it.—Engages in a survey of the - town of Salem.—Sails on his first voyage to the - East Indies; extracts from his Journal during this - voyage; arrival at the Isle of Bourbon; return - home</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">37</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /><i>From 1796 to 1797—age, 23-4.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Second voyage.—Visits Lisbon.—Island of Madeira; - festival and games there.—Anecdotes of - his skill as an accountant.—Doubles Cape of Good - Hope.—Albatrosses.—Arrival at Manilla.—Extracts - from Journal.—Curious boat.—Earthquake.—Voyage - home</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">46</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a><br /><i>From 1797 to 1800—age, 24-7.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Marriage.—Third voyage; visits Spain.—Dangers.—Earl - St. Vincent’s fleet.—Arrival at Cadiz.—Observatory - at Cadiz.—Sails for Alicant.—Passage - through the Straits of Gibraltar.—Privateers; - chased by one; anecdotes of Mr. B.’s love of - study shown then.—Hears news of the death of - his wife; consoles himself with mathematical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> - studies.—More troubles with privateers.—Leaves - Alicant.—Advantages derived from his visit to - Spain.—Fourth voyage; to India.—Extracts from - Journal on viewing a ship that was engaged in the - slave trade.—Arrival at Java; introduction to the - governor; respect formerly paid to him.—Anecdote - of English navy officers.—Goes to Batavia - and Manilla.—Observations of Jupiter while becalmed - near the Celebean Islands.—Voyage home</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_V"> 62</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /><i>From 1800 to 1803—age, 27-30.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Second marriage; character of his wife.—Mr. Bowditch - engages in commerce for two years.—School - committee.—East India Marine Society; a description - of the annual meeting of this society.—Mr. - Bowditch becomes part owner of ship Putnam, - and sails for India.—Anecdote, occurrence a few - days after leaving Salem.—Studies during the - long voyage.—Begins to study and make notes - upon La Place’s “Mécanique Céleste.”—Arrival - off Sumatra; difficulties there.—Boarded by English - man-of-war.—Revisits Isle of France.—Journal - extracts about modes of procuring pepper; - seasons for it, &c.—Incident on approaching Salem - harbor.—Decision of Mr. Bowditch</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">80</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Review of the labors, &c., performed by Mr. Bowditch, - during these voyages.—Habits while at sea; - studies; desire to teach others; kindness to sailors - and to the sick.—Discovers errors in a book on - navigation.—Origin of “American Practical Navigator;” - success of it; industry of Mr. Bowditch - upon it.—Investigates higher branches of science.—“Mécanique - Céleste.”—Mr. Bowditch reads history.—Learns - Spanish, French, and Portuguese - languages.—Anecdotes.—Chosen member of American - Academy.—Receives honors from Harvard - College</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">99</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /><i>From 1803 to 1817—age, 30-44.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Mr. Bowditch translates a Spanish paper; is chosen - President of a Fire and Marine Insurance Office.—Habits - of life.—Becomes interested in politics.—Federalists - and Democrats.—Great excitement.—Division - between him and old friends in consequence - of his zeal.—Feelings of Mr. Bowditch - when war was declared.—Decision of character.—His - charity.—Earnestness in aiding others; ludicrous - instance of the effects of this.—Boldness towards - a truckman.—Zeal for improving the libraries;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> - unites the two.—Dr. Prince’s church.—Performance - of duties of President of Insurance - Office.—Answer to an overbearing rich man.—Appointed - Professor of Mathematics at Harvard - College; same at West Point.—His modesty.—Hints - about leaving Salem</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">115</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /><i>From 1803 to 1823—age, 30-50.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Papers published by Mr. Bowditch in the Memoirs of - the Academy; account of some of them.—Total - eclipse of the sun in 1806; effect of it.—Anecdote - of Chief Justice Parsons.—Meteor that fell over - Weston, Ct.; account of its curious appearance; - effect of these papers upon his fame in Europe.—Chosen - member of most of the learned societies of - the Old World.—Quits Salem to become connected - with larger institutions in Boston</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">131</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Sketch of the life of La Place, author of the “Mécanique - Céleste.”—Newton’s labors.—Halley’s - comet.—The importance of astronomy to navigation.—Comets; - Dr. Bowditch translates the Mécanique - Céleste; difficulties attending the undertaking; - objects he had in view; first volume analyzed; - Newton’s error pointed out</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">149</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Commentary continued; second volume.—Discussion - between the English and French mathematicians; - Dr. Bowditch’s criticisms.—Errors in La Place in - regard to the earth, &c.—Third volume; motions - of the moon.—Fourth volume; many errors discovered - in it.—Halley’s comet.—Curious phenomena - of capillary attraction</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">169</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /><i>Death, March 17, 1838, aged 65.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Sketch of the life of La Grange, the equal of La - Place; love Dr. Bowditch had for La Grange’s character; - comparison between him and La Place; also - between him and Dr. Bowditch.—Conclusion of the - Memoir</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">176</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> - -<h1>NAT THE NAVIGATOR.</h1> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/line.jpg" width="150" height="20" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1773 to 1784—under 10 years of age.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="center">Birth.—Childhood.</p> - -</div> - -<p>Nathaniel Bowditch, whose history I -shall relate to you, was one whose character -and actions presented many circumstances -which cannot fail of being interesting to you. -He died more than thirty years ago, in Boston; -and, from having been a poor and ignorant -boy, he became a man known all over -the world for his great learning, while at the -same time he was beloved for the goodness -of his heart and the integrity of his character. -May the perusal of his history excite -some of you to imitate his virtues and his -energy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">BIRTHPLACE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">EARLY SCHOOL DAYS.</div> - -<p>He was born in Salem, a town about fourteen -miles from Boston, the capital city of -our State of Massachusetts. His birthday -was March 26, 1773. His father was at -first a cooper, and afterwards a shipmaster. -He and his wife were exceedingly poor, and -they had many children. Nat was the fourth -child. He had two sisters and three brothers. -When he was about two and a half years old, -his parents removed to a very small wooden -house in Danvers, about three miles from -Salem; and here the boy attended school for -the first time, and began to show those generous -feelings, and that love of learning, -which he displayed so much in after-life. A -few years ago the old school-house in which he -learned to spell and read remained entire. It -was an old-fashioned building, with a long, -slanting roof, which, at the back of the -house, nearly reached the ground. Its single -chimney, with many curious and pretty corners, -then rose in the middle of the roof, as -it had for ninety years. Around the dwelling -is a grass plat, upon which he used, when a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -child like yourselves, to play with his schoolmates. -It was planted with shrubs, such as -the farmers most need. The house in which -he lived still stands nearly opposite that in -which the school was kept. This house formerly -had but two rooms in it, and all its -furniture was of the simplest kind.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> -<img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="700" height="375" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">HIS FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.</p> -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">BROTHERS AND SISTERS.</div> - -<p>I visited the relations of the schoolmistress. -She died many, many years ago; but her -niece, when I asked about Nat Bowditch, told -me how her aunt used to love him for his -earnestness in pursuing his studies, and for -his gentleness, while under her care. He was -“a nice boy,” she used to say. While in -Danvers, his father was most of the time at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -sea, he having been obliged to give up his -trade and become a sailor when the Revolutionary -War broke out.<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Nat lived, during -his father’s absence, very happily with his -mother and his brothers and sisters. During -the whole of his after-life, he used to delight to -go near the small house in which he had dwelt -so pleasantly. The family was “a family of -love.” He had a brother William, to whom -he was very much attached. He was more -grave and sober than Nat; for the latter, with -all his devotion to study, was full of fun,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -frolic, and good nature. But William was -equally, and perhaps more, gentle. The -brothers frequently studied together from an -old family Bible, and on Sundays, when they -were quite small, their grandmother, who was -a very excellent woman, used to place this -large book, with its wooden covers and bright -brazen clasps, upon the foot of her bed; and -hour after hour did those two boys trace, with -their fingers upon the map, the forty years’ -wanderings of the Israelites, before they came -into the long-looked-for land of Canaan.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">GRANDMOTHER’S BIBLE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">HIS MOTHER.</div> - -<p>I have said that Nat frequently went to look -upon the house in which he had lived; and so -he often called upon the family in which this -old Bible was kept, in order that he might see -the volume which he had so loved when a -boy. It reminded him of the delightful home -of his childhood, where his dear and worthy -mother tried to make him good, in order that -he might become an honor to her and to the -people. His mother was one who was extremely -kind; yet she was by no means afraid -to correct her children, if she found them doing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -wrong. Nat sometimes suffered, because, -like every boy, he sometimes did wrong; but -generally the mother found that he could be -easily guided by her love. I seem to see her -now, taking her little son, and leading him to -the window of the cottage in Danvers, to see -the beautiful new moon just setting in the -west, while, at the same time, she kisses and -blesses him, and talks to him of his absent -father, and they both send up earnest wishes -for his safe and speedy return. She was very -careful to instil into all her children the importance -of truth. “Speak the truth always, -my boy,” said she. She likewise loved religion, -and she was very liberal in her feelings -towards those who differed from her upon this -subject. Nevertheless, believing that the -Episcopal kind of worship was the most correct, -she educated all her children in that -form. An anecdote which Nat, when he became -a man, often related, will show you how -much influence her instructions in this particular -had upon him. Among the Episcopalians -the prayers are read, and the people repeat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -aloud, some answer. One day Nat called his -brothers and sisters around him, and, taking -his mother’s Book of Prayer, with a sober face -began to read aloud from it, while his brothers -made the answers. They had continued -some minutes amusing themselves in this way, -when their mother entered the room. She -was very much troubled at first, as she supposed -they were ridiculing the services she -held as sacred. “My sons,” said she, “I am -pleased to see you read that book; but you -should never do so in a careless manner.” -They told her that, though playing, they did -not think to do any harm, or to show any disrespect.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">EARLY POVERTY.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">CHEERFULNESS UNDER IT.</div> - -<p>The family was very poor; so poor, indeed, -that sometimes they had nothing to eat, for -several successive days, but common coarse -bread, with perhaps a little pork. Wheat -bread was almost never allowed to any one -of them. Their clothing, too, was at times -very thin. Frequently, during the whole winter, -the boys wore their summer jackets and -trousers. At times, Nat’s schoolmates used to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -laugh at him because he wore such a thin dress, -when they were wearing their thickest winter -clothing. But he was not afraid of their merriment, -nor made angry by it; on the contrary, -he laughed heartily at them for supposing -him unable to bear the cold. He knew -that no good would be gained by complaints, -and that he would distress his mother if he -made any; he therefore bore contentedly his -want of clothing, and tried even to make himself -merry with those who ridiculed him.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LOVE OF ARITHMETIC.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">DIFFICULTIES.</div> - -<p>At the age of seven years, and after returning -to Salem, he went to a school kept by a -man named Watson. Master Watson was one -who had sufficient learning for those times; -though the boys who now go to school in Boston -would think it very strange if a master -did not attempt to teach more than he did. -None of the scholars had a dictionary. Master -Watson was a good man, but he suffered -much from headache, and therefore he was -liable to violent fits of anger; and when thus -excited, as it generally happens in such cases, -he was guilty of injustice. An instance of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -this, young Bowditch met with, not long after -he entered the school. From early life, Nat -had liked ciphering, or arithmetic; and thinking -that at school he would be able to learn -something more about this than he had previously -gained from his brothers, while at -home, during the long winter evenings, he requested -the master to allow him to study it. -As he seemed too young, this request was -not granted. But, being determined to study -what pleased him so much, he obtained a letter -from his father, in which Mr. Bowditch -requested Master Watson to allow his son to -pursue his favorite study. The schoolmaster, -on receiving the message, was very angry, and -said to his pupil, “Very well. I’ll give you -a sum that will satisfy you;” and immediately -prepared a question that he thought Nat would -be unable to answer, and which he could not -have answered had he not studied at home. -But the boy had learned before sufficiently to -enable him to perform the task; and, having -done so, he ran gayly to the desk, expecting -to be praised for his exact performance of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -duty. You may imagine his surprise at being -saluted with these words: “You little rascal, -who showed you how to do this sum? I shall -punish you for attempting to deceive me.” -The poor lad’s heart swelled and beat violently. -He blushed and trembled from fear -of punishment, but still more at the suspicion -which his instructor had expressed, that he -had been guilty of telling a lie. Filled with -anger and alarm, he stammered out, “<em>I</em> did it, -sir.” But his master would not believe him, -and was about to strike him, when an elder -brother interfered, and stated that Nat knew -very well how to perform the task, for he himself -had previously taught him enough to enable -him to do it. Our young arithmetician -thus escaped the punishment; but he never -could forget that he had been accused of falsehood. -His pious and truth-loving mother had -so firmly fastened in his mind the holiness of -truth, that he rarely, if ever, thought of deviating -from it; and during his life he considered -that any one who even suspected him of -falsehood had done him the greatest injury.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -How well it would be if all of our boys loved -truth as he did!</p> - -<div class="sidenote">APPRENTICED TO SHIP-CHANDLER.</div> - -<p>This was the only serious difficulty he met -with while at this school. He was the same -lively lad at everything he undertook as he -had been previously. He was beloved by his -comrades for his good nature, and was always -engaged in useful employment or innocent -amusements. When he was about ten years -of age, his father became poorer than ever; -and moreover, in consequence of loss of regular -employment and of the little property -which he possessed, he gave himself up to -habits of intoxication. From having been a -brave man, he became a coward, and, unable -to look at the distress of his family, made -their poverty many times more burdensome -by habits which wholly unfitted him for active -duties. Under these circumstances, his son, -at the age of ten years and three months, left -school, and soon afterwards was bound an -apprentice to Messrs. Ropes and Hodges, who -kept a ship-chandler’s shop in Salem.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">EARLY CHARACTER.</div> - -<p>As this was one of the important times in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -his life, I think I will finish this chapter with -only two remarks, for the boys and girls who -may be reading this. You see a lively and -good-natured boy, who, before he was ten -years old, showed great love of truth, much -perseverance, a warm desire for study, particularly -of arithmetic; and lastly, you perceive -him under the influence of a good mother, -who tries to excite in him all just and holy -sentiments. Particularly does she point out -to him truth as one grand aim of his existence. -Now, I wish you to remember these facts, and -see where they eventually led him; and if you -remember, you may be induced to imitate -him, at least in some respects.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1784 to 1795—between the ages of 10 and 21.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>His apprenticeship, his habits.—Studies Chambers’s Cyclopædia.—Results -of his studies; gains the respect -of all.—Dr. Bentley, Dr. Prince, and Mr. Reed, do -him kindness; by their means allowed access to “The -Philosophical Library.”—He makes philosophical instruments.—Calculates -an Almanac at the age of -fourteen.—Studies algebra: delight he experienced -from this new pursuit.—Learns Latin.—Reads works -by Sir Isaac Newton.—Studies French.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">CHANGE OF ABODE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">WORK AT THE SHOP.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">THOUGHTFULNESS FOR OTHERS.</div> - -<p>Doubtless it was with a sorrowing heart -that Nat left his own dear home and his kind -mother to take up his abode among strangers; -for he was to live at the house of his employer, -Mr. Hodges. But if he did feel sad, -he was not one to neglect a duty in consequence -of sorrow. The shop in which he was -employed was situated very near the wharves,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -in the lower part of the town of Salem. We -do not see many such stores now in Boston; -though something similar is sometimes found -in small country towns. In it a great variety -of goods was sold, especially everything -which would be useful to a sailor. Pork and -nails, hammers and butter, were kept in adjacent -barrels. The walls were hung with all the -tools needed in the seafaring life. There was -a long counter in it, at one end of which Nat -had his little desk. When not engaged with -customers, he used to read and write there. -He always kept a slate by his side, and, when -not occupied by the duties of the shop, he -was usually busied with his favorite pursuit -of arithmetic. In the warm weather of summer, -when there was little business, and the -heat was uncomfortable, he was often seen, by -the neighbors, engaged in ciphering, while -resting his slate upon the half door of the -shop; for in those days the shop doors were -made in two parts, so that frequently the lower -half was shut, while the upper was open. -Thus he was always actively employed, instead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -of being idle, as is too frequently the -case with boys in similar circumstances. Even -on the great holidays of Fourth of July and -“General Training,” he did not leave his studies -for the purpose of going to see the parade, -but remained at the shop, laboring to improve -himself; or, if the shop was closed, he was in -his little garret-room at his employer’s house. -Study and reading were beginning to be his -only recreation. Frequently, after the store -was closed at night, he remained until nine or -ten o’clock. Many long winter nights he -passed in a similar manner, at his master’s -house by the kitchen fire. While here, he did -not become morose or ill-natured; but frequently, -when the servant girl wished to go to -see her parents, who lived one or two miles -off, he took her place by the side of the cradle -of his master’s child, and rocked it gently -with his foot, while busily occupied at his -books. I think this was one of the sweetest -incidents in his early days. It was the germ -of his benevolence in after-life. A truly great -man is kind-hearted as well as wise. Nat began<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -thus early his course of genuine humanity -and science. So must you do if you would -imitate him.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">HIGHER STUDIES.</div> - -<p>As he became older, he became interested -in larger and more important works; and of -these, fortunately, he found an abundant supply. -His employer lived in the house of -Judge Ropes, and Nat had permission to use -the library of this gentleman as much as he -wished. In this collection he found one set -of books which he afterwards valued very -much. He tried to buy a copy of it when he -was old, having a similar feeling towards it -that he bore towards his grandmother’s Bible. -It was Chambers’s Cyclopædia. As you may -judge from the name Cyclopædia, these books, -consisting of four very large volumes, contained -much upon a great many subjects. It -is like a dictionary. He read every piece in -it, and copied into blank books, which he -obtained for the purpose, everything he -thought particularly interesting, especially all -about arithmetic. Previously, he had studied -navigation, or the methods whereby the sailors<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -are enabled to guide their ships across the -ocean. In this Cyclopædia he found much -upon this subject; also upon astronomy, or -the knowledge of the stars and other heavenly -bodies; and upon mensuration, or the -art with which we are enabled to measure -large quantities of land or water.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">ALMANAC FOR 1790.</div> - -<p>But he was not satisfied with merely studying -what others did. He made several dials and -curious instruments for measuring the weather, -&c. He likewise, at the age of fourteen -years, made an Almanac for 1790, so accurately -and minutely finished, that it might have been -published. Whilst engaged upon this last, -he was more than usually laborious. The first -rays of the morning saw him at labor, and he -sat up, with his rushlight, until late at night. -If any asked where Nat was, the reply was, -“He is engaged in making his Almanac.” He -was just fourteen years of age when he finished -it.<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">BEGINS ALGEBRA.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">HIS DELIGHT IN IT.</div> - -<p>August 1, 1787,—that is, at the age of fourteen,—he -was introduced to a mode of calculating -which was wholly new to him. His -brother came home from his school, where he -had been learning navigation, and told him -that his master had a mode of ciphering by -means of letters. Nat puzzled himself very -much about the matter, and imagined a variety -of methods of “ciphering with letters.” -He thought that perhaps A added to B made -C, and B added to C made D, and so on; -but there seemed to him no use in all this. -At length he begged his brother to obtain for -him the book. The schoolmaster readily lent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -it; and it is said that the boy did not sleep -that night. He was so delighted with reading -about this method, or algebra, as it is called, -that he found it impossible to sleep. He afterwards -talked with an old English sailor, -who happened to know something about the -subject, and received some little instruction -from him. This person afterwards went to his -own country; but just before he left Salem, -he patted Nat upon the head, and said, “Nat, -my boy, go on studying as you do now, and -you will be a great man one of these days.” -You will see, before finishing this story, that -the prophecy of the old sailor was amply fulfilled.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">DRS. PRINCE AND BENTLEY AID HIM.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">DR. KIRWAN’S LIBRARY.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">COPIES BOOKS.</div> - -<p>But all this labor, this constant exertion, -combined with his kind and cheerful disposition, -must, you will readily believe, have given -him friends. He became known as a young -man of great promise; as one more capable -than his elders of deciding many questions, -particularly all those in which any calculations -were to be made. Consequently, when about -seventeen or eighteen years old, he was often<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -called upon, by men much older than himself, -to act as umpire in important matters. All -these he attended to so willingly and skilfully, -that those whom he assisted became very -much attached to him. He thus gained the -respect not merely of common persons, less -learned than himself, but his industry, his -fidelity to his employers, his talents, attracted -the notice of men well known in the community. -Among these were two clergymen of -Salem. At the church of Rev. Dr. Prince he -attended for divine worship; and Dr. Bentley -rarely passed the store without stepping in -to talk with his young friend. Nat availed -himself of the learning of Dr. Bentley, and -often visited his room in order to converse -with him. Dr. Prince, the other clergyman -above alluded to, had studied much the subjects -that the apprentice was pursuing, and -he was very glad to see a young man zealous in -the same pursuits. There was another individual -who kept an apothecary’s shop; and it -was he, who, with the aid of the two clergymen, -opened to our young student the means of continuing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -his favorite studies with more success -than he had ever anticipated. Mr. Reed—for -that was his name—likewise gave him permission -to use all his books, of which he had a -great many. But the chief means of study, -to which I allude, was the permission to take -books from a library which had been formed -by a number of gentlemen of the town. The -kindness of the proprietors of this library was -never forgotten by the young apprentice; and -in his will, made fifty years afterwards, he left -a thousand dollars to the Salem Athenæum, in -order to repay the debt of gratitude which he -felt he had incurred. But you may want to -know something about the formation of this -library, and the books of which it was composed. -Some time during the Revolutionary -War, alluded to in Chapter I., Dr. Kirwan, an -Irishman and a learned man, put the greater -part of his library on board a ship, in order -to have it carried across the Irish Channel. -While on the voyage, the vessel was taken by -an American ship of war, and the books were -carried into Beverly, and were afterwards sold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -at auction in Salem. Of all in the world, -these books were perhaps those most needed by -the apprentice. He had been studying those -sciences chiefly, concerning which there were -very few works printed in America; and suddenly -he found himself allowed free access to -all the important books which had been printed -in Europe upon these same subjects. You -may readily imagine how eagerly he availed -himself of the opportunity thus afforded him. -Every two or three days he was seen with a -number of volumes under his arm, going -homeward; and on his arrival there, he read -and <em>copied all</em> he wanted to study at that time, -or refer to afterwards. He made, in this way, -a very large collection of manuscripts, which -formed a part of his library. Thus, by his -own exertions, he, at the early age of eighteen, -became acquainted with the writings of most -of the learned men of Europe; and he did -this at the time when he was engaged almost -constantly in his store, for he made it a strict -rule never to allow any study or reading, -however interesting, to interfere with his duties<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -to his employers. He rarely forgot this. -The following incident impressed it so strongly -upon his memory, that it influenced all his -subsequent life.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">ATTENTION TO BUSINESS.</div> - -<p>One day a customer called and purchased a -pair of hinges at a time when the young clerk -was deeply engaged in solving a problem in -mathematics. He thought he would finish -before charging the delivery of them upon the -books; but when the problem was solved, he -forgot the matter altogether. In a few days -the customer called again to pay for them, -when Mr. Hodges himself was in the shop. -The books were examined, and gave no account -of this purchase. The clerk, upon being applied -to, at once recollected the circumstance, -and the reason of his own forgetfulness. -From that day he made it an invariable rule to -finish every matter of business that he began, -before undertaking anything else. Perhaps -some of you may remember the story; and -when you think of leaving anything half finished, -you may repeat to yourselves, “Charge -your hinges, and finish what you begin.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">STUDIES LATIN.</div> - -<p>Having been instructed in the elements of -algebra, Nat soon found that there were books -written upon it in other languages, which he -knew he ought to read, if he intended to learn -as much as he could about algebra. One of -these books was written in a tongue which is -called a dead language, in consequence of its -having ceased to be spoken by the people of -the country in which it was originally used. -It was in Latin. This language usually requires -many years of study, if one wishes to -read it well, even when he has good instructors. -Our hero, however, never thought of -the difficulties he had to surmount, but commenced, -alone, the study of it, June, 1790, -that is, when seventeen years old. He -was soon in trouble. He could not understand -his Latin book on mathematics. He -asked many who had been at college, but they -were puzzled by the peculiar expressions as -much as he was. At length, however, by the -aid of his friend Dr. Bentley, and afterwards -of a German who gave him lessons, he succeeded -in mastering the greatest work in modern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -times, written by Sir Isaac Newton, who, -you know, was one of the most famous philosophers -who have ever lived in this world. Nat -discovered in one part of it a mistake, which, -several years afterwards, he published; but -he was deterred from doing so at first, because -a very much older person than he, a professor -in Harvard College, said that the apprentice -was mistaken.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">STUDY OF FRENCH.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">GOOD RESULTS.</div> - -<p>But Latin was not the only language that he -learned. Finding in the Kirwan library -many books upon mathematics written in -French, he determined to learn that tongue -likewise. Accordingly, at the age of nineteen -(May 15, 1792), he began to study it. -Fortunately, he was able to make an arrangement -with a Frenchman living in Salem, who -wished to learn English. Mr. Jordy agreed -to teach the apprentice French, on condition -that Nat would teach him English. For sixteen -months they met regularly, a certain -number of times a week; and the consequences -were very important to the youth’s -future success in life. One circumstance took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -place, during this study of French, which I -think it important to mention. Nat, desiring -only to learn to <em>read</em> a French book, supposed -that it would be unnecessary to spend time in -learning accurately to <em>pronounce</em> the words. -These, as is the case in the English tongue, -are often pronounced very differently from the -manner in which we should be led to speak -them, if we judged from their mode of spelling. -His master protested against teaching -without reference to the pronunciation; and, -after much arguing, Nat yielded to the wishes -of his instructor, and he studied the language -in such a way that he could converse with a -Frenchman, as well as read a French book. -You will soon see the good that resulted.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1784 to 1796—age, 10-22.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Apprenticeship continued.—Favorite of his companions.—Learns -music; neglects his studies for a time.—Gets -into bad society; his decision in freeing himself -from it.—Engages in a survey of the town of Salem.—Sails -on his first voyage to the East Indies; extracts -from his Journal during this voyage; arrival at the -Isle of Bourbon; return home.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">STUDY AND BUSINESS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">A GOOD COMPANION.</div> - -<p>Though so interested in his studies, Nat -tried, as we have seen, never to neglect a -known duty. Whenever any one came to the -store, he was ready to leave study in order to -attend to him. And he did this cheerfully, -and with so bright a smile that all were -pleased to meet him. His young companions -loved him, for he was not one of those vain -persons who think themselves more important -than others because they are more learned.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -On the contrary, what he knew himself he liked -to impart to others. He was a member of a -juvenile club for the discussion of different -subjects. In this association his opinion had -much weight, because he rarely spoke, and -never unless he had something of importance -to say.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LOVE OF MUSIC.</div> - -<p>Some of his comrades were very fond of -music. He had originally a great taste for it. -Music, at that time, was less cultivated than -it is now; and generally, those who practised -it were fond of drinking liquor, and often became -drunkards. Nat’s love of the flute led -him, at times, to meet with several young men -of this class. In fact, he was so much delighted -with their company, that he began to -forget his studies. Day after day he spent -his leisure hours in their society; and, for a -time, all else was neglected. At length he -began to think somewhat in this way: “What -am I doing? forgetting my studies in order -to be with those whose only recommendation -is, that they love music? I shall be very -likely to fall into their habits if I continue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -longer with them. I will not do so.” He -soon afterwards left their society.</p> - -<p>The simple, old-fashioned flute on which he -played at these meetings is still preserved. -It is a silent monitor to his descendants, urging -them to performance of duty, in spite of -the allurements of pleasure.</p> - -<p>May every boy who reads this remember it, -and try, if ever led into temptation as the -apprentice was, to say, “I will not,” with the -same determined spirit that he did.</p> - -<p>The time was fast approaching when he -was about to leave the business of shopkeeping, -and enter upon the more active duties of -life. It is true that, to a certain extent, he -had been engaged in active life ever since entering -his apprenticeship. At the age of ten -he had left the home of his mother, and had -been obliged to depend much upon himself. -His father’s habits had finally prevented him -from being of service to the family. The -mother had died; the family had been broken -up; and Nat had thus, at an early age, been -thrown upon the world. After having remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -with Ropes & Hodges until they -gave up business, he entered the shop of -Samuel C. Ward, which was a similar establishment; -and there he remained until he -was twenty-one years old. He then quitted, -forever, this employment.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SURVEY OF SALEM.</div> - -<p>In 1794, by a law of the state, every town -was obliged to have an accurate survey and -measurement made of its limits. Captain -Gibaut and Dr. Bentley were appointed by the -Selectmen in Salem to superintend this business. -Believing that the calculating powers -of the apprentice would be useful to them, -he was made assistant; and during the -summer of 1794 he was occupied with this -business. Thus we see how his studies -already began to be useful to him. For his -pay, he received one hundred and thirty-five -dollars. Towards the end of the summer, Mr. -Derby, a rich ship-owner in Salem, wished -Captain Gibaut to take command of a vessel -to Cadiz, and thence round the Cape of Good -Hope to the East Indies. Captain Gibaut -consented, and he asked Nat to go with him as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -clerk. Nat agreed to the terms; but, owing to -some difficulty with Mr. Derby, Captain Gibaut -resigned to Captain H. Prince. Young -Bowditch was unknown to the latter; but at the -suggestion of Mr. Derby, who had heard of the -talents and industry of the clerk, the same arrangements -were continued by Captain Prince.</p> - -<p>A new era in his life was now beginning; -and let us look a moment at him. He is now -twenty-one years of age. He is already more -learned than many much older than himself, -in consequence of his untiring industry and -his devotion to study and to duty. Yet he is -modest and retiring. He is still full of fun -and frolic at times, and always ready for acts -of kindness. Above all, he is a good youth; -no immorality has stained him. His love -of truth had been given him by his mother; -and since her death he has loved it still more. -It is to him a bright light, as it were, to guide -him. Cannot we foresee his career?</p> - -<div class="sidenote">FIRST VOYAGE TO INDIA.</div> - -<p>On January 11, 1795,—that is, when he -was a few months more than twenty-one years -of age,—he sailed from Salem in the ship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -Henry. Though he went as clerk, he was -prepared to undertake the more active duties -of sailor and mate of the vessel. Thinking -that he should be too much occupied to be -able to read, he took very few books; and -therefore he devoted much more time to observations -of the heavenly bodies, the state of -the weather, &c., while at sea, and upon the -manners and habits of the nations he visited. -Though he had not been educated as a sailor-boy, -his studies had led him to understand the -most important part of a seaman’s life, the art -of guiding the vessel from one shore to another, -across the ocean. In other words, he had -studied much on navigation, and copied books -upon that subject.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">JOURNAL—MOTTO.</div> - -<p>The Journal which he kept during the voyage -is quite long. One of the first lines you -meet, on opening the book, is the motto which -he chose for himself. It is in Latin, and -means, that <em>he would do what he thought to be -right, and not obey the dictates of any man</em>. -He notes the events of every day, most of -which are similar; but occasionally something -unusual occurs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">SLAVERY.</div> - -<p>February 7, 1795, he writes thus: “At ten -A. M., spoke a ship, twenty-five days out, -from Liverpool, bound to Africa. We discovered -her this morning, just before sunrise, and -supposed her to be a frigate.” They discovered -soon that it was a negro slave-ship, and -he exclaims thus: “God grant that the detestable -traffic which she pursues may soon -cease, and that the tawny sons of Africa may -be permitted quietly to enjoy the blessings of -liberty in their native land.”</p> - -<p>“February 22. We remember with gratitude -that this is the anniversary of the birth -of our beloved Washington—the man who -unites all hearts. May he long continue a -blessing to his country and to mankind at -large!”</p> - -<p>During the passage to the Isle of Bourbon, -situated, as you know, east of the southern -extremity of Africa, he frequently alludes to -his native land in terms of respect and love. -On May 8, the ship arrived in the harbor of -Bourbon. Perhaps you may like to see his -description of the town.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">BOURBON.</div> - -<p>“May 9. After dinner, Captain P., Mr. -B., and I, went to see the town. It is a fine -place. All the streets run in straight lines -from the shore, and cross one another at right -angles. There is a church here, with a priest -to officiate. I went into it. We afterwards -went into the republican garden. It is a beautiful -place, though at present much neglected. -The different walks are made to meet in the -centre, and form the figure of a star, each one -of the rays of which is formed by thirty-four -mango trees, placed from twelve to fourteen -feet apart. All the houses of the island are -built very low; they have no chimneys. They -are two stories high (about ten feet), have -lattice windows, outside of which are wooden -ones to keep off the sun and rain. The floors -are made of the wood of the country, on -which they rub wax, as the women of America -do on their furniture. It makes them very -slippery.” There are other places of which -he speaks, and in them he finds flower-gardens -in abundance, intermixed with groves of coffee -and orange trees, &c.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> - -<p>He afterwards alludes to the poor slaves, -who, it appeared, suffered as much there as -they do in some other places at the present -day.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">HABITS THERE.</div> - -<p>He visits the people of the place, and finds -them superstitious and vicious. Alluding to -the vice he found there, he writes, “I was -reminded of the beautiful words of Solomon, -in the Proverbs.” This was not the only occasion -on which he remembered his Bible; -and it seemed always to have a kindly influence -over him. On one occasion, several -young men argued with him about its truth; -and, having heard them patiently, he put his -hand over his heart: “Talk no more about it. -I know that the Bible is true; that it is capable -of doing to me the greatest good. I know -so by the feelings I have here.”</p> - -<p>After remaining in this place until July 25, -he set sail for home, and arrived in Salem -January 11, 1796, having been absent exactly -twelve months.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1796 to 1797—age, 23-4.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Second voyage.—Visits Lisbon.—Island of Madeira; -festival and games there.—Anecdotes of his skill as -an accountant.—Doubles Cape of Good Hope.—Albatrosses.—Arrival -at Manilla.—Extracts from Journal.—Curious -boat.—Earthquake.—Voyage home.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">AT SEA AGAIN.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">SECOND VOYAGE.</div> - -<p>After remaining at home about two -months, he again sailed in the same ship, -and with Captain Prince. On the 26th of -the following March, they prepared to sail -from Salem harbor; but, being prevented by -contrary winds from getting out of the bay, -the anchor was dropped during the night, and -on the following morning, under fair but -strong breezes, Mr. Bowditch was again on -his way across the wide Atlantic. His course -was towards Lisbon, situated at the mouth of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -the River Tagus, in Portugal. The first part -of the voyage was unpleasant, because cloudy -and stormy weather prevailed most of the -time; but during the latter part, under pleasant -and mild breezes from the south, the ship -rode gayly onwards, and, on the morning of -April 24, the vessel was within sight of -Lisbon, with its beautiful and romantic country -behind it. Lisbon is the chief city of -Portugal, and presents a very superb appearance -when viewed from a vessel which is entering -the harbor. It is the principal commercial -place in the kingdom. Its inhabitants -are among the richest. In consequence of its -being the place of residence of the kings of -Portugal, many magnificent country-seats, or -villas, are seen on all the vine-covered hills of -the adjacent country.</p> - -<p>The stay at this city was short, and the opportunities -for visiting the interesting places -in it very limited. Mr. Bowditch seems not -to have been particularly pleased with its appearance. -At the time he was there, probably, -much less attention was paid to the cleanliness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -of the streets than there is now. But -he spent the 28th and 29th of April in walking -about the city, and says in his Journal, -that he “found nothing remarkable.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LISBON, INCIDENT.</div> - -<p>It was at Lisbon that Mr. Bowditch discovered -the advantage of having learned to <em>speak</em> -French, to which I alluded at the close of the -second chapter. Though a Portuguese port, -the custom-house officers understood French; -and no one on board but he could speak any -other language than the English. The consequence -was, that he acted as interpreter, which -was, of course, a great help to the captain. -This incident made a deep impression upon -his mind; and in after-life, when a person in -conversation expressed a doubt about the importance -of any kind of knowledge, because -for the time it seemed useless, he would reply, -“O, study everything, and your learning -will, some time or other, be of service. I -once said that I would not learn to <em>speak</em> -French, because I thought that I should never -leave my native town; yet, within a few years -afterwards, I was in a foreign port, and I became<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -sole interpreter of the ship’s crew, in -consequence of my power to speak this language.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">MADEIRA.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">GAMES.</div> - -<p>On the 30th, having taken on board a quantity -of wine, they again were ready for sea; -but, owing to bad weather, they did not sail -until the 6th of May, when the ship dropped -down the river. On the 6th it was on its -way to the Island of Madeira, which is a small -island, situated about three hundred and sixty -miles from the northern part of Africa. At -eleven o’clock, May 15, the island was discovered; -and, under full sail, the ship swept -along the shore until nine in the evening, -when they hailed a pilot, who came on board, -from the town of Funchal. Mr. Pintard, the -American consul of the place, greeted them -very cordially. The ship spent six days -there, taking in more wine,—for which the -country is famous,—and sailed from it on -Thursday morning, May 26, 1796. During -this residence at Mr. Pintard’s, Mr. Bowditch -saw some feats of horsemanship, about which -you may like to hear. They are thus described<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -in his Journal: “A ring being suspended -by a small wire, about ten feet from -the ground, at the entrance of the gate of the -public garden, a horseman attempted to strike -it, and carry it off, while upon full gallop. -If he gained the prize, he was attended by the -master of ceremonies, mounted on a small -colt fantastically adorned with ribbons, &c., -with a most deformed mask, who generally -gave him a reward fully proportioned to the -merit of the action; perhaps a whistle, a small -flower, or some little image. During the -next day, no business was done by the inhabitants; -but the whole of it was devoted to -amusements similar to those of the preceding. -Again there were masquerades, and some -of the richest men in the place joined with -the crowd, masked like the people. Others -were very richly dressed, like Turks, East Indians, -&c. One of them wore a head-dress -worth, it was said, forty or fifty thousand dollars.” -From this description, slight as it is, -we may see the difference in the customs between -these inhabitants of Madeira and the -Americans.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">ANECDOTE.</div> - -<p>Captain Prince relates the following anecdotes, -which occurred during their residence -at Madeira. I shall use Captain Prince’s -words.</p> - -<p>“I was one day walking with an American -shipmaster at Madeira, who, in the course of -conversation, asked me who that young man -(alluding to Mr. Bowditch) was. I replied, -that he was clerk of the ship under my command, -and remarked that he was a great calculator. -‘Well,’ said the gentleman, ‘I can -set him a sum that he can’t do.’ I answered -that I did not believe it. The gentleman then -proposed a wager of a dinner to all the American -masters in port, that he could set him -such a sum. The wager was accepted by me, -and we repaired to the hotel, where we found -Mr. B. alone. The gentleman was introduced, -and the question stated to Mr. Bowditch, -with the interrogatory, Can you do it? -The reply was, Yes. The great sum which -had puzzled the brains of the gentleman and -all his friends at home, for a whole winter, was -done in a few minutes. I remember the question.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -It was this: To dig a ditch around an -acre of land, how deep and how wide must -that ditch be, to raise the acre of land one -foot?</p> - -<div class="sidenote">KNOWLEDGE OF NAVIGATION.</div> - -<p>“One day, Mr. Bowditch and myself received -a visit from a Mr. Murray, a Scotchman, -who was at that port, having under his charge -a valuable cargo of English goods, and who -made many inquiries concerning the Americans. -He asked particularly what passage we -had made against the north-east monsoon, and -remarked that it was very surprising that the -Americans should come so far, and undertake -such difficult voyages, with so little knowledge -as they possessed of the science of navigation. -In reply to his remark, I told him that I had -on board twelve men, all of whom were as -well acquainted with working lunar observations -for all the practical purposes of navigation, -as Sir Isaac Newton would be, should he -come on earth. Mr. M. asked how my crew -came by that knowledge. I told him, in the -same manner that other men came by theirs. -He thought it so wonderful, that (as he afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -told me) he went down to the landing-place, -on Sunday, to see my <em>knowing</em> crew -come on shore. During all this conversation, -Mr. Bowditch remained silent, sitting with his -slate pencil in his mouth, and as modest as a -maid. Mr. Kean, a broker, who was also -present, observed to Murray, ‘Sir, if you -knew what I know concerning that ship, you -would not talk quite so fast.’ ‘And what do -you know?’ asked Murray. ‘I know,’ replied -Kean, ‘that there is more knowledge of navigation -on board that American ship (the Astræa) -than there has been in all the ships that -ever came into Manilla Bay.’”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">TEACHES THE SAILORS.</div> - -<p>Mr. Bowditch, during this and the previous -voyage, had been in the habit of teaching -navigation to the sailors; so that it is probable -that, considering the number of persons then -on board who really understood practical -navigation, Mr. Kean was not so extravagant -in his remark as at first sight he seems to be.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LUNAR RAINBOW.</div> - -<p>May 26, as we have already said, he sailed -for India. On July 1, the Island of Trinidad -was within sight. They did not stop there,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -but keeping on their course steadily, two days -afterwards crossed the Tropic of Capricorn, in -the Southern Hemisphere. On the 17th, during -the night, it having rained during the day, -the young sailor observed, what we rarely see -in this part of the world and on land, but -which is not uncommon at sea, a beautiful -lunar rainbow. It is caused in the same -manner as those rainbows which are seen after -a summer shower in the daytime, when the -sun is just coming out brightly, and the -clouds, which cause the bow to be formed, are -passing away afar off in the opposite part of -the heavens. But the difference between the -solar and lunar rainbows is very great. The -solar is grander and has more brilliant coloring, -while the lunar bow has a more delicate -outline and lighter tints.</p> - -<p>August 1, the Journal says, “All the latter -part of these twenty-four hours, fine -breezes and pleasant, smooth sea. Ever since -crossing the Cape [of Good Hope], we have -seen a great number of albatrosses, but no -fish.” These birds are the largest of marine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -birds. They at times fly and swim (for they -are web-footed) to a great distance from land, -living upon the fish and other things which -may fall in their way. It is said that, as they -come gently rising over the waves of the sea, -they present a very pleasing sight to the sailor -who has been for many months upon the ocean, -separated from living things.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">PHOSPHORESCENT LIGHT.</div> - -<p>For some weeks afterwards, the ship met -with severe weather, until September 7, when, -according to previous expectation, they saw -the land of the Island of Java. The day before -their arrival at that place, a curious phenomenon -was observed, the account of which I -will copy from the Journal. “At seven P. M., -the water, as for the two nights past, became -of a perfect milk color, through the whole extent -of the horizon. We drew a bucket of it -in order to determine whether there was anything -in it to account for the curious phenomenon. -When seen by candlelight, nothing -could be observed; but, when carried into a -dark place, it appeared full of small, bright, -cylindric substances, of the nature of a jelly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -about the size of a small wire, and a quarter -of an inch long. Some large jellies floated on -the water at the same time, and looked like -long pieces of wood. The sky all this time -was perfectly clear; not a cloud to be seen. -About three A. M. the water began to take its -usual color. Next morning we examined the -water which had appeared so shining in the -night; but nothing could be discovered in it, -although it was viewed in a very dark place. -In the forenoon the sea appeared somewhat -colored, of a greenish hue; but some of it, being -taken up and carried from the light, appeared -colorless.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">ISLAND OF JAVA.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ARRIVAL AT MANILLA.</div> - -<p>The next morning the high lands of the -Island of Java came in sight on the horizon, -at the distance of about twenty miles towards -the east. The Journal kept during his passage -through the Straits of Sunda is interesting, because -the greatest care was necessary to keep -the ship off from the shoals which abound there. -The current runs at times very swiftly, the -strait being between the large islands of Sumatra -and Java, and on the 9th, the force of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -current, and strong headwinds, compelled the -captain to cast anchor two or three times. -Finally, on the 17th, the ship was fairly out -of the Straits of Sunda and Straits of Banca, -having been ten days, during sultry weather, -toiling, with much danger, amid coral reefs -and shoals. The remainder of the voyage -along by the coast of Borneo to the city of -Manilla, the capital of the chief of the Philippine -Islands, was more speedy. At six in the -morning of Sunday, October 2, 1796, the -Island of Luzon was in sight towards the east, -about eighteen miles off. That same evening -they cast anchor in Manilla Bay, it being a -little more than six months since the sailor -had left his home in Salem.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">COSTUMES OF THE PEOPLE.</div> - -<p>The following are some extracts from his -Journal while in the city. Under date of -October 4, he says, “No coffee can be procured -here; the Spaniards, not being very -fond of it, cultivate the cocoa instead. The -common drink of the natives is sweetmeats -and water, which beverage, they say, is wholesome -and agreeable. Large quantities of wax<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -are produced here; but it is very dear, owing -to the great consumption of it in the churches, -of which there are a great number in Manilla -and its environs. There are a few bishops in -the island, and one archbishop, whose power -is very great. The priests are very powerful, -every native wearing the image of the Virgin -Mary, a cross, or some such thing. No books -are allowed to be imported contrary to their -religion. The commandant who makes the -visit examines every vessel.... The inhabitants -of the city and suburbs are very -numerous, amounting to nearly three hundred -thousand. In the Philippines there are about -two or three millions. A great number are -Chinese; and in general they are a well-made -people. Their common dress is a shirt, and -trousers, or jackets and trousers. The women -have great numbers of handkerchiefs -about them, so as to be entirely covered. -The natives are well used by the Spaniards, -the King of Spain, in all his public papers, -calling them his children.” From these extracts -you may judge of Mr. Bowditch’s mode<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -of studying a people when residing with -strangers. He afterwards speaks of their -games, &c.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SINGULAR BOAT.</div> - -<p>The following description of a boat appears -on record of October 5: “At twelve, set sail -for Cavite in one of the passage-boats, which -is very inconvenient for passengers; being -nearly three hours before arriving at Cavite, -during which time I was basking in the sun. -Their boats and manner of sailing are very -curious. Having generally light winds, they -make their mat sails very large, and the boats, -made of the bodies of trees, are very long and -narrow; so that there would be great danger -of upsetting, if it were not for “out-riggers,” -which they have on each side, consisting of -two bamboos about eight or ten feet long, -whose ends are joined to another long bamboo, -running lengthwise of the boat. The lee one, -on a flaw of wind, sinks a little in the water, -and, being buoyant, keeps the boats from upsetting; -and on the weather [that is, towards -the wind] ones the persons in the boat are -continually going out and in, according to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -force of the breeze. In a fresh breeze there -will be six or eight men at the end of the -bamboo, there being ropes leading from the -top of the mast to different parts of the bamboo, -to support them as they go. By this -means they keep the boat always upright, and -make it sail very fast, in a good breeze going -five or six knots.” After this, a good account -is given of the mode of counting used by the -Malays.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">EARTHQUAKE.</div> - -<p>“November 5. About two P. M. there -came on, without any preceding noise, a very -violent shock of an earthquake. It commenced -towards the north, and ran very nearly -in a southerly direction. It continued nearly -two minutes; everything appeared in motion. -When it happened, the captain and myself -were sitting reading, and we immediately ran -out of the house. All the natives were down -on their knees, in the middle of the streets, -praying and crossing themselves. It was the -most violent earthquake known for a number -of years. It threw down a large house about -half a league from the city, untiled one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -their churches, and did considerable damage -to the houses about the city and its suburbs. -Nothing of it was felt on board the shipping.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">HOME AGAIN.</div> - -<p>On Monday, December 12, having sold their -wines and laden their vessel with sugar, indigo, -pepper, and hides, the party set sail -from Manilla, heartily tired with the vices and -superstitions of the place. Retracing their -course through the Straits of Sunda, with -much difficulty they regained the Indian Ocean, -and then, setting full sail, they once more -looked towards home.</p> - -<p>In coming round the Cape of Good Hope, -the wind was very favorable. During their -passage, several ships were met with, all of -whom told them of home, and of the beginning -of troubles between America and France, -and England. Finally, at six A. M., they saw -Cape Ann towards the north-west, and at two -P. M., May 22, 1797, the vessel was riding at -anchor in Salem harbor, having been about -half round the world, and nearly fourteen -months from Salem.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1797 to 1800—age, 24-7.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Marriage.—Third voyage; visits Spain.—Dangers.—Earl -St. Vincent’s fleet.—Arrival at Cadiz.—Observatory -at Cadiz.—Sails for Alicant.—Passage through -the Straits of Gibraltar.—Privateers; chased by one; -anecdotes of Mr. B.’s love of study shown then.—Hears -news of the death of his wife; consoles himself -with mathematical studies.—More troubles with privateers.—Leaves -Alicant.—Advantages derived from his -visit to Spain.—Fourth voyage; to India.—Extracts -from Journal on viewing a ship that was engaged in the -slave trade.—Arrival at Java; introduction to the governor; -respect formerly paid to him.—Anecdote of -English navy officers.—Goes to Batavia and Manilla.—Observations -of Jupiter while becalmed near the -Celebean Islands.—Voyage home.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">TRADES FOR HIMSELF.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">FIRST MARRIAGE.</div> - -<p>During these two voyages, Mr. Bowditch -had been engaged in trade for himself; and -having thereby gained a little property, he -wished to remain at home and enjoy the blessings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -of domestic life, from which he had been -separated at the age of ten years, when he left -the abode of his parents. In accordance with -this wish, on the 25th day of March, 1798, -he married an excellent and intelligent woman, -named Elizabeth Boardman. But in -a few months he was again called to a seafaring -life. His young and beautiful wife was -already beginning to show symptoms of that -disease which eventually removed her from her -husband and friends. It was a hard struggle -for the tenderly attached couple to separate; -but duty called the husband, and obedience to -duty was always his watchword. Accordingly, -by August 15, 1798, he was prepared for sea, -in the same ship, with the same owner, Captain -Derby, and his friend Captain Prince. -On this occasion he went as joint supercargo. -It was on the 21st of August—nearly five -months from the date of his marriage—that -he bade adieu to his wife. He never saw her -again. Full of devotedness to him, she, however, -urged him to do what he thought right, -unconscious that she should never more embrace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -him. During his absence she died at -the age of eighteen years.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">VOYAGE TO SPAIN.</div> - -<p>One of the objects of the present voyage -was to go to Cadiz, the chief southern port in -Spain. It was rather dangerous at this time -for any vessel to sail towards Europe, as the -revolution in France had taken place only a -short time before, and most of the nations of -Europe were beginning to rise against that -country; but as Spain was united with -France, an English fleet was hovering about -the Straits of Gibraltar. The consequence -was, that it was of great importance to avoid -all vessels, for fear of meeting a privateer.</p> - -<p>On the 19th of September, after nearly a -month’s voyage, they came within sight of the -shores of Spain; and at seven A. M. the next -day, they discovered the English fleet, under -command of Earl St. Vincent, several leagues -to the eastward of them. On this same -day they were boarded by the captain of -an American vessel, who informed them that -the privateers were very numerous in the -straits.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">CADIZ.</div> - -<p>By Mr. Bowditch’s Journal we learn the -following:—</p> - -<p>“On Thursday afternoon, 20th of September, -the winds continued light and variable to -the westward. Captain Prince steered directly -for Earl St. Vincent’s fleet, and at two P. M. -the Hector, of seventy-four guns, Captain -Camel, sent his lieutenant on board, ordering -us to bear down to him. Captain Prince -went aboard, was treated politely, and received -a passport to enter Cadiz.” On the -21st, at four P. M., anchor was cast in that -harbor.</p> - -<p>The state in which poor Spain was at this -time was miserable enough. There was but -one newspaper in the whole kingdom, and that -was printed at Madrid. Everything was degraded -about that once noble and brave-hearted -people. Upon the appearance of Cadiz the -Journal says thus: “The streets of the city, -although narrow, are very neatly paved, and -swept every day, so that they are very clean. -They have broad, flat stones at the sides. All -the houses are of stone, with roofs but little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -sloping. There are fortifications all around -the city.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">BATTLE OF THE NILE.</div> - -<p>“September 29, 1798. This day news -came of the destruction of the French fleet in -the Mediterranean Sea, by Lord Nelson.”<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> -Of this event you will read in history at some -future time; but it was deemed very important -at that time by the whole world. It was -one of the most formidable checks received -by the French after they had begun to overrun -Europe.</p> - -<p>This news, of course, was very interesting -to our voyager; but, although excited by the -political and military contests of the day, he -did not forget the subject to which, from earliest -years, he had devoted himself. You will -perceive from the following extracts from his -Journal, that he now was studying astronomy. -In fact, he had been reading, during his previous -voyages, many of the greatest works on -mathematics and astronomy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">OBSERVATORY AT CADIZ.</div> - -<p>“November 12. During our residence in -Cadiz we formed an acquaintance with Count -Mallevante, who, before the revolution, commanded -a French frigate at Martinico, and at -present is a post-captain in the Spanish navy. -He carried us to the New Observatory, built -on the Island of Cadiz, where we were shown -all the instruments they had mounted. There -were not any of them very new. The person -who went with us was named Cosmo de Churruca. -I promised to send him, on my arrival -in America, the works of Dr. Holyoke on -Meteorology. I gave him my method of -working a lunar observation, which he was to -print at the end of the Nautical Almanac.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">FRENCH PRIVATEERS.</div> - -<p>“At half past four P. M., got under way, -and beat out of the harbor of Cadiz, in company -with three other American vessels, which -sailed under the protection of the Astræa.” -They were destined for Alicante, and consequently -their course lay through the Straits of -Gibraltar, up along the south-eastern coast of -Spain. On the afternoon of the 14th, they -fell in again with the English fleet, which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -with those under their convoy, consisted of -forty-five vessels. As the fleet was steering -in the same direction, they kept company with -it, being all bound for the Straits of Gibraltar. -Next day they saw another convoy of twenty -vessels, and two of those accompanying the -Astræa joined it. The Astræa was obliged to -fall behind, because the remaining vessel -under its protection sailed too slowly. On -the 18th the whole convoy entered the Straits, -except one, which was chased by French privateers, -ten of which could be counted in full -view; but, on the approach of the Astræa, the -enemy retreated.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">FEARLESSNESS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">DANGERS FROM PIRATES.</div> - -<p>The moon was shining brightly on the night -of the 19th of November, 1799. Many times -had the bell broken over the silent sea from -the ship’s deck, telling of the passing hours, -when suddenly the crew of the Astræa was -called to quarters, for a suspicious sail was -seen bearing down towards them. The cannon, -of which nineteen were on board, were -all cleared for action, and every sailor, placed -at his post, watched anxiously as the privateer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -came rapidly towards them. Captain Prince -assigned to Mr. Bowditch a station in the -cabin, through which the powder was to be -passed to the deck. When all on deck was -ready, and that deep and solemn silence which -always comes over every part of a ship that is -just approaching the enemy, was beginning to -creep over those on board the Astræa, the -captain stepped for a moment into the cabin -to see if everything was in order; and “there -sat Mr. Bowditch at the cabin table, with his -slate and pencil in hand, and with the cartridges -lying by his side.” Entirely absorbed -with his problem, he forgot all danger, thus -showing that his love of science, even when in -imminent peril, was superior to all feelings of -fear. This anecdote, doubtless, will amuse -you. It reminds me of the geometrician -Archimedes, who lived two hundred years -before Christ, who, as some of you may know, -was slain by the soldiers of the Roman General -Marcellus, when they sacked the city of -Syracuse. Archimedes had labored much for -his countrymen during the siege, but finally,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -it is said, became so engaged in his studies -that he did not know that the soldiers had -taken possession of the town until they attacked -and killed him. Fortunately, in the -case of Mr. Bowditch, no evil ensued. Captain -Prince could not restrain himself, but -burst into a loud laugh, and asked Mr. Bowditch -whether he could make his will at that -moment; to which question Mr. Bowditch -answered, with a smile, in the affirmative. -Captain Prince adds, “But on all occasions -of danger he manifested great firmness, and, -after the affair of the privateer (which, by the -by, did not molest us), he requested to be stationed -at one of the guns, which request was -granted him.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SORROW RELIEVED BY STUDY.</div> - -<p>In this way they continued cruising along -the beautiful Mediterranean, but perpetually -exposed to danger. Now they come within -sight of the high lands of Malaga, and shortly -they fly away from some pirate on the broad -sea. Now they are quietly sailing along -under the warm and sunny skies of an Andalusian -climate, and again, in the course of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> -few hours, are driven by the current and tempest -far away to the south-west. Finally, after -a tedious passage, the ship was moored, on -Friday evening, November 23, in the harbor -of Alicante. After considerable difficulty and -delay because the city authorities were afraid -of disease being brought into the place by -the crews of the ships, they were at length -allowed to go on shore. Here melancholy -tidings awaited our voyager. By a Salem -vessel that had arrived at Cadiz, news came -of the death of his wife some time in the preceding -October. He made no complaints, -however, but quietly sought to interest his -mind in his favorite pursuit of astronomy. -He always did so whenever any trouble came -upon him. In this way he consoled himself, -and was not a burden to others by allowing -his sorrows to disturb them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">INSOLENCE OF PRIVATEERS.</div> - -<p>January 24, 1799, having finished loading -the ship with brandy, they would have sailed, -had not the wind prevented. On February -11th they were still detained by head winds; -but now, to their discomfort, they saw a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -French privateer cruising off in the bay at the -mouth of the harbor. It was evidently waiting -to intrap some one of the American -vessels. On the next day the daring of the -privateer commander arose to such a height, -that he rowed in his barge all around the -American fleet, and insulted some of the -seamen. Towards evening of February 13, -Mr. Bowditch narrowly escaped serious difficulty -with them, as the privateer barge and -the American boat coming from shore came -in contact; but the former received the most -damage, and Mr. Bowditch got safely on board -the Astræa. On the 14th, the brigand of the -sea departed, and his ship was soon seen gradually -losing itself in the distance over the blue -Mediterranean.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">TO INDIA.</div> - -<p>On the next day the convoy sailed. It consisted -of five vessels, and by twenty-four -hours of favorable breezes they were brought -within thirty miles of the coast of Barbary; -and, after some trouble in consequence of -being obliged to take in tow those of the convoy -which sailed more slowly, the Astræa was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -fairly out from the Straits of Gibraltar by -February 24, that is, three days from the time -of leaving Alicante.</p> - -<p>During half the passage home, some of the -convoy were in company with them. They -had rough seas; but on the 6th of April, at -ten o’clock at night, Mr. Bowditch arrived in -Salem harbor, having been absent nearly nine -months.</p> - -<p>This visit to Spain was of service to him -in many respects. He there obtained many -books on astronomy and navigation, and some -celebrated works on history, all of which he -studied with care on his voyage home. He, -moreover, had gained some knowledge by his -visit to the Observatory.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">STUDIES DURING THE VOYAGE.</div> - -<p>He was not destined to remain at home a -long while; but the Astræa having been sold -to a merchant in Boston, Mr. Bowditch sailed -with Captain Prince from that city on the -23d of the following July, bound for India. -It was a long, and to most persons a tedious -voyage that he was about to undertake; but -to Mr. Bowditch it was the means of improvement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -While the ship was sailing quietly -along, or sinking lazily from one swell of the -sea to another, or being tossed about by the -most violent gale, Mr. Bowditch was still -laboring at his books. During this voyage, -as during the preceding, he did not perform -much duty, except when in port, and, consequently, -on board ship he had a great deal of -time to be devoted to study. And he worthily -filled every moment with reading and -study to improve himself or others. During -this voyage, as in previous ones, he taught -the sailors practical navigation. Very few -incidents worth mentioning occurred during -the voyage; but on the 15th of September, -1799, we find the following in his Journal: -“The ship in sight yesterday soon proved to be -an English Guineaman. As we came up with -him he fired a gun to leeward, which we returned. -As we came nearer, he fired one to -windward. We returned the compliment and -nearly hulled him. When within hail, he -ordered our boat out, which Captain Prince -refused, telling him to come on board if he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -wanted anything. Finally, he requested Captain -Prince to haul out our boat, as his was -calking, which we could plainly see. Mr. -Carlton went on board with the clearance, -and the surgeon came aboard of us, and, after -examining our papers and acting in a manner -becoming a Guineaman, they made sail.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SLAVE SHIP FROM GUINEA.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.</div> - -<p>In order to understand this allusion to the -Guineaman, you should know that, at the time -we are reading of, the greater part of English -merchants, especially those of Liverpool, -were engaged in the horrid traffic called the -Slave Trade. Immense numbers of vessels -were annually sent from Liverpool and other -places in England for the sole purpose of -sailing to the coast of Africa, there to get a -cargo of the poor natives, whom they carried to -the West Indian Islands and America, in order -that they might be sold, as slaves, into perpetual -bondage. Men, women, and children, -were taken indiscriminately, and crammed -together, like bales of cotton or any other -goods, between the decks of the vessels. You -may imagine that those who could engage in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -such abominable proceedings must have lost all -the feelings of humanity. They were used to -blood and rapine; hence you can understand -the reason why Mr. Bowditch uses the term -of reproach that he does. I thank Heaven—and -I feel sure you will agree with me—that, -by the efforts of devoted men and women in -England and elsewhere, that trade has been -formally abolished by Great Britain, and that -every man who now sets his foot on British soil -becomes free. Thank God, also, that our late -civil war has destroyed every vestige of -American slavery, and that we can claim, that -no slave can now breathe on the soil of England -or America. But to return to the Astræa.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">BATAVIA.</div> - -<p>On December 17 they arrived at Batavia, -the chief city of the Island of Java. The -following will give you some idea of the place -and persons in it:—</p> - -<p>“Upon our arrival, after making our report -to the custom-house, we proceeded to the -Saabandar, who introduced us to the governor -and the governor-general, who is commander-in-chief, -and formerly lived in all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -splendor of an Asiatic monarch. At present -the outward marks of respect are far less than -they were twenty or thirty years ago. In -former times he was attended by his guards, -preceded by two trumpeters. Every carriage -was forced to stop, and the persons within -obliged to dismount, under the penalty of one -hundred ducatoons (about one hundred and -sixty-seven dollars). Captain —— refused -even to stop his carriage, and forced his -coachman to drive on. The officers of an -English squadron lying at Batavia, in order to -show their contempt of the procession, formed -a party similar to that attending the governor, -only, instead of the aids with their staves, one -of the officers bore a staff with a cow’s horn -tipped with gold, and another an empty -bottle. The rest of the officers of the fleet -met this procession, and made their respects -to it, as the natives did to the governor. At -present, all these practices are brought into -contempt, so that none now stop for any officers -of government.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">THE PLANET JUPITER.</div> - -<p>The Astræa remained but four days at Batavia,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -the captain finding that he could not fill -his vessel with coffee, as he intended. Consequently, -after taking a fresh supply of provisions -and of water, they weighed anchor, and -bore towards the north, with the intention of -visiting Manilla, as on his second voyage. -Traversing the Straits of Macassar, they -passed slowly up through the China Sea, and -anchored in Manilla Bay on the 14th of February, -1800. During this passage we find -Mr. Bowditch still occupied in the study of -science. When floating, becalmed, among -the islands, during the quiet night, he is -observing the appearance of the planet Jupiter, -and studying the motions of its beautiful -satellites. As he was thus occupied, he -thought of the immense power of that Being -who first put the bright planet in its appropriate -place, and caused it to revolve around our -sun, while its own little satellites, like four -moons, were to keep it company, silently and -grandly, in its mysterious course.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">DEATH OF WASHINGTON.</div> - -<p>After remaining at Manilla long enough to -get a cargo, the ship was prepared for home.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -On the 23d of March it sailed, and during a -passage of six months very little occurred to -interrupt Mr. Bowditch’s daily labors. It -arrived on the 16th of September, 1800. -About a fortnight before this,—September 2, -a ship was observed to windward, which -bore down upon them. By the captain they -were informed of the melancholy news (as -Mr. Bowditch says in his Journal) “of the -death of our beloved Washington. Thus,” -continues he, “has finished the career of that -illustrious man, that great general, that consummate -statesman, that elegant writer, that -real patriot, that friend to his country and to -all mankind!”</p> - -<p>During these different voyages Mr. Bowditch -gained more property. Having obtained, likewise, -what was much better, a reputation, -among his fellow-citizens, as a man of great -learning, perseverance, extraordinary skill in -the transaction of business, and unyielding -uprightness, he determined to remain at home. -He therefore bade farewell to the sailor’s life, -as he supposed, forever.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1800 to 1803—age, 27-30.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Second marriage; character of his wife.—Mr. Bowditch -engages in commerce for two years.—School committee.—East -India Marine Society; a description of the annual -meeting of this society.—Mr. Bowditch becomes -part owner of ship Putnam, and sails for India.—Anecdote, -occurrence a few days after leaving Salem.—Studies -during the long voyage.—Begins to study and -make notes upon La Place’s “Mécanique Céleste.”—Arrival -off Sumatra; difficulties there.—Boarded by -English man-of-war.—Revisits Isle of France.—Journal -extracts about modes of procuring pepper; seasons -for it, &c.—Incident on approaching Salem harbor.—Decision -of Mr. Bowditch.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">SECOND MARRIAGE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">CHARACTER OF HIS WIFE.</div> - -<p>On the 28th of October, 1800, Mr. Bowditch -married his cousin, Mary Ingersoll. She -was destined to live with him thirty-four -years, and was the source of much of his -happiness in life. She was a person in some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -respects as remarkable as her husband. She -was possessed of excellent judgment, unwearying -kindness and love. She had also an elastic -cheerfulness which scarcely anything could -subdue, and very strong religious feelings. -She was constantly trying to aid him. Instead -of seeking for enjoyment in display, she -preferred economical retirement, and great -but respectable frugality, in order that her husband -might pursue more thoroughly and easily -his favorite studies, and might purchase books -of science. Instead of collecting beautiful -furniture, she called her visitors to see the -new works of learning that her husband had -imported from foreign lands. Yet, with all -this devoted love, with all this reverence for -his talents and virtues, she remained his true -friend, and never shrunk from fully expressing -her own opinion upon every matter of -duty; and if, perchance, she differed from -him, she maintained her side of the question -with the zeal of a saint. It has been often -said, that, had Mr. Bowditch been united with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -a woman of a different temperament, he would -have been an entirely different person. He -loved study, it was true; but none enjoyed -more than he the delights of a family circle. -None needed more than he did the kindness of -a wife and children. She lived with him -thirty-four years, and on the 17th of April, -1834, she died of consumption, after long and -severe suffering.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">REPUTATION AT HOME.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">EAST INDIA MARINE SOCIETY.</div> - -<p>But I am anticipating my story. For two -years after his arrival from his last voyage, -Mr. Bowditch remained at home, and engaged -as a merchant in commerce. We find him -generally, in connection with his old friend -Captain Prince, trying his fortunes by adventures -of money sent to different parts of the -world. In 1802 he owned one sixth of a -small schooner and its cargo, valued at nine -hundred and eleven dollars. During this long -residence in town, his fame had increased. -He had become known among his fellow-citizens -as an “able mathematician.”<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -was therefore appointed to offices of honor -and trust. He was a member of the school -committee of the town. This boy, who had -been obliged to leave school at the age of ten -years and three months, was now, at the age -of twenty-five years, appointed to superintend -the instruction of others. He was secretary -of the East India Marine Society of Salem. -This society had one of the most interesting -collections of East Indian curiosities that can -be found in America. It is now in the possession -of the Essex Institute. The East -India Marine Society was composed of the -most influential men in Salem. No one could -be enrolled among their number unless he had -sailed, as captain or supercargo of a vessel, -around either Cape Horn or the Cape of Good -Hope. It was intended as a benevolent society, -for the relief of the families of deceased -members, and also for the promotion of the -art of navigation. Mr. Bowditch was one of -its most active members. In the early part -of this century, the society was accustomed, -on the days of its annual meeting, to have a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -public procession. A description of one of -these processions may not be uninteresting to -you. I quote the words of an eye-witness<a name="FNanchor_5" id="FNanchor_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> -of a celebration that occurred two years later -than the period of which I am speaking; but -the date is unimportant, as the ceremony was -the same. “January 4, 1804. This day was -the annual meeting of the East India Marine -Society. As the clergy attend in turn, this -occasion afforded me an opportunity to enjoy -the day with them. After business, but before -dinner, they moved in procession, but -the ice limited the distance. Each of the -brethren bore some Indian curiosity, and the -palanquin was borne by negroes dressed nearly -in the Indian manner. A person dressed in -Chinese habits, and masked, passed in front. -The crowd of spectators was great. Several -gentlemen were invited to dine. Instrumental -music was provided in the town, for -the first time, and consisted of a bass drum, -bassoon, clarinet, and flute (!), and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -very acceptable. There was no singing.” ... -“It is a most happy arrangement,” -continues this writer, “to deliver all the -papers of this company into the hands of Mr. -Nathaniel Bowditch, lately returned from his -voyage to India, that they may be prepared for -public inspection.”</p> - -<p>In July, 1802, Mr. Bowditch bought a part -of a small vessel engaged in a sealing voyage; -but he lost, by this adventure, half of his investment. -In September of the same year, -he, with three others, bought the new ship -Putnam, built a short time previously, at -Danvers. This purchase probably caused a -change in his determination of never going to -sea again.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SAILS HIS LAST VOYAGE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ANECDOTE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">STUDIES MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.</div> - -<p>On the 21st of November he sailed as master, -and owner of one small part of the whole -ship and cargo, valued at fifty-six thousand -dollars. Though he went in the capacity of -captain, he was determined to do nothing more -than direct the course of the ship. He meant -to leave to the officers under him all the labor -usually expected of commanders. He made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -an agreement with two skilful persons to take -upon themselves these duties. He did so in -order that he might be able to pursue his -studies more uninterruptedly than would have -been possible, had he been obliged to watch -every favorable breeze, or the first appearance -of a gathering storm. But, as we shall see, -whenever real danger called him to duty, he -then stood firm, and gave his commands like -one who was satisfied that the time had come -for him to do so. A few days after leaving -the port of Beverly, he was seen walking -“fore and aft” the vessel, with rapid steps, -and deeply absorbed, apparently, in the solution -of a problem. The wind had been -blowing freshly for some time; and, while he -was meditating, and forgetful of everything -else, the mate of the vessel had been hoping -that he would see the severe squall which was -threatening, and was, even then, skimming -fiercely over the troubled water. He feared -to suggest to Mr. Bowditch the importance of -taking in sail, because the discipline on board -ship prevents an inferior officer from interfering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -with the superior, when the latter is on -deck. At length, aroused by the danger of -the vessel, he ventured the remark, “Captain, -would it not be better to take in the topgallant -sails?” These words aroused Mr. Bowditch -from his reverie, and he instantly ordered all -hands to duty, and fortunately, by his activity -and energy, was enabled to furl the extra sail -before the gust struck the vessel. But this -event taught Mr. Bowditch a lesson; and he -gave strict orders to the two officers mentioned -above to waive all ceremony with him, and to -take the command of the ship whether he was -on deck or not. This rule was afterwards -always observed, except on difficult occasions; -and then Mr. Bowditch assumed the authority -of commanding officer. On these occasions, -by his calmness and sagacity he gained the -respect and confidence of those in employment -under him. Before the termination of -this voyage, we shall see a striking example -of this. But now let us proceed on our expedition -with him, and again cross the Atlantic, -pass around the Cape of Good Hope to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -the islands of the Indian Ocean. But I should -premise, that, as he had become more acquainted -with mathematics and philosophy, he -had imported from Europe most of the great -works on these subjects; and he now was -prepared to devote himself more closely than -ever to the darling object of his life—the -attainment of a knowledge of the truths of -science. He was determined, on this voyage, -to undertake the thorough study of one work -on the heavens—a book which he had understood -was above anything ever before written -by man on that subject. Imagine, if you -can, the zeal and delight with which he must -have approached this book upon a subject that -had interested him from earliest years. Doubtless -he thought not, then, of the fame he was -to gain from it. The name of it you will like -to know. I shall speak of it again; but, -meanwhile, I will merely mention that it was -called “A Treatise on the Mechanism of the -Heavens,”—<cite lang="fr">Mécanique Céleste</cite>,—and was -written, in French, by a mathematician named -La Place, the greatest scientific man, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -Newton, of modern times. But this was not -the only work Mr. Bowditch took with him. -He had many of the most important works -which had been published on the same subject, -they having been imported for him by a -bookseller named Blunt, in payment of services -rendered.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">STUDIES AT SEA.</div> - -<p>These various studies of course influenced -his Journal. He was an observer of passing -events; but he recorded less of them than on -the preceding voyages.</p> - -<p>By the first record, it appears that on -“Sunday, November 21, 1802, at one o’clock -P. M., sailed from Captain Hill’s wharf, in -Beverly. At two, passed Baker’s Island -lights, with fine and pleasant breeze.” This -fair weather lasted but a few days, and by far -the greater part of the voyage was uncomfortable, -in consequence of the prevalence of rain -and wind. On January 25, 1803, he saw the -islands of Tristan d’Acunha, and, whilst -coursing along under easy sail, took several -observations of them, and made a chart of -their various positions.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">ARRIVAL AT SUMATRA.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">VISIT TO ISLE OF FRANCE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">PEPPER ISLANDS.</div> - -<p>On the 2d of May he arrived among the -Pepper Islands, near the coast of Sumatra. -He found several American captains there, all -actively engaged in loading their vessels with -pepper. He had considerable difficulty in -making any arrangement with the Rajahs of -different places; but at length, having touched, -without success, at several ports, he began to -load at Tally-Poo, on the 9th of May. There -he continued until the 18th of July, when, by -his Journal, it appears that, having wasted a -number of days, expecting that more pepper -would be brought to the shore, he at last was -informed by the Rajah he would not be allowed -any more. Knowing that he should meet -with equal trouble at every place on the coast, -he concluded to quit it, and call at the Isle of -France on his homeward passage. During -their voyage, amid the various shoals and -islands which abound here, they met with no -inconvenience and no interruption, save that -they anchored once or twice, towards night, -and on the 25th of July were obliged to -heave to, under the fire of two English ships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -of war, one named the Royal George, the -commander of which took the liberty of searching, -for the purpose of seeing whether there -were any Englishmen on board.<a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> The officer -on this occasion was very polite, and the Putnam -soon resumed its course, and in seventy-two -hours more was on the open sea, under -full sail, with the aid of the steady trade-winds -of that place and season. On the 24th -of August the vessel was in sight of the Isle -of France. He there met his old friend Bonnefoy, -whom he had left there on his first -voyage, in 1795, and likewise many American -friends. After purchasing some bags of pepper, -and taking on board some provisions, -which employed his time for four days, he -sailed, for the last time from any foreign port, -on Wednesday, August 31, 1803. The voyage -homeward was very disagreeable, in consequence -of much severe weather. Nothing -remarkable happened to enliven the scene;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -but Mr. Bowditch disregarded the storms and -waves. His mind was calm and tranquil, for -he was daily occupied with his “peaceful -mathematics.” He wrote in his Journal but -seldom. There is, however, the following -account of the Pepper Islands. “There are -several native ports on the north-western coast -of Sumatra, where the Americans trade for -pepper—Analaboo-Sooso, Tangar, Tally-Poo, -Muckie, &c., and several smaller ports, including -about fifty miles of the coast. On -your arrival at any of these ports, you contract -with the Datoo for the pepper, and fix -the price. If more than one vessel is at the -port, the pepper which daily comes to the -scales is shared between them, as they can -agree, or they take it day by day, alternately. -Sometimes the Datoo contracts to load one -vessel before any other one takes any, and he -holds to his agreement <em>as long as he finds it -for his interest, and no longer</em>; for a handsome -present, or an increase in the price, -will prevent any more pepper from being -brought in for several days; and the person<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -who has made the agreement must either quit -the port or offer an additional price.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">PEPPER TRADE.</div> - -<p>“The pepper season commences in January, -when they begin to take from the vines the -small kernels at the bottom. In March, -April, and May is the height of the crop, at -which time the pepper taken from the top of -the vines is larger and more solid than that -gathered at an earlier period. Many suppose -that the pepper is all gathered in May; but I -was in some of the gardens in July, and found -at the top of the vines large quantities which -would be ripe in a few days. The young crop -was in considerable forwardness at the bottom -of the vines. Some calculate on two crops, -but from the best information I could procure -there is only one.</p> - -<p>“The pepper is generally weighed with -American scales and weights, one hundred and -thirty-three and a third pounds to a <i>peccul</i>. -What is weighed each day is paid for in the -evening, the natives not being willing to trust -their property in the hands of those they -deal with. And they ought to be dealt with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -in the same manner, it not being prudent -to pay in advance to the Datoo, as it would be -often difficult to get either the pepper or the -money again from him. Spanish dollars are -the current coin, but they do not take halves -or quarters. They have a pang or piece, of -which we could get but eighty for a dollar at -Tally-Poo, though at other places they give -one hundred or one hundred and twenty for -the same.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">NEARING THE COAST.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">DANGERS OF THE COAST.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">SKILL IN NAVIGATION.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ENTHUSIASM OF THE SAILORS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">HOME.</div> - -<p>During the whole voyage, as I have already -stated, the weather had been very uncomfortable. -The approach to the American coast -is at all times hazardous during the winter. -The bold and rocky shore, the intense cold -and severe snow-storms, which make the day -shorter even than common, are so many terrors -for the sailor. You may judge of the anxiety -of the crew of the Putnam, when, after a -tedious absence of more than a year, they at -length, towards the middle of December, -1803, after a long period of stormy weather, -came upon the shoal grounds off Massachusetts -near Nantucket. The sleet and rain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -had been driving over the ocean for many -days. No sun appeared to guide them by -day; no star lighted up the night. Groping, -as it were, in darkness, they coasted along up -the shore, yet not within sight of it, now -throwing their sounding-line upon Nantucket, -and soon afterwards upon George’s Shoal. -There seemed no end to the storm. At length, -on the 25th of December, they had approached, -according to Mr. Bowditch’s reckoning, -from observation made two days before, -near to the outer part of Salem harbor. The -night was fast closing in. Mr. Bowditch was -observed to be on deck, anxiously looking -towards the bow of the vessel, as if trying to -see something that would enable him to know -more exactly the position of the vessel and -the precise course it was running. With -clear and decided tones, he gave his orders. -The seamen heard him, and obeyed promptly. -“There is something in the wind,” whispered -one; “the <em>old man</em><a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> is above.” “Stand every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -man at his post,” is the command; “and look -out for land ahead.” Fierce gusts of wind swept -over Massachusetts Bay, bearing the vessel irresistibly -onwards. The snow-storm beat heavily, -and at every moment the darkness increased. -At length, for a moment, the clouds of -drifting snow-flakes parted, and Mr. Bowditch -and his mate, who were watching, saw distinctly -the light of Baker’s Island. “Light, -ho! on the larboard bow,” was passed from -one to the other on board that ship, in which -were many almost breathless with suspense. -It was but for a moment, and again all was -obscured. “I am right,” said Mr. Bowditch; -“the direction in which we are now steering -will carry us soon into Salem harbor.” His prediction -was fulfilled, and it was an extraordinary -proof of his skill in navigation. He had -had no opportunity for observing the sun or -moon for two or three days; yet, so accurately -had he marked his position in the ocean at the -last time of observing, that, by steering in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -direction pointed out by the chart, and observing -the rate at which the vessel moved, he had -been able to calculate so exactly, that, after -seventy-two hours of darkness, as it were, he -came up within sight of the light-house almost -as easily as if he had been steering in -open day, with the object distinctly in view. -The old tars could not restrain their expressions -of admiration; and as, at nine o’clock in -the evening, they dropped anchor in safety -from the gale that was now beating with tenfold -violence outside of the island, they whispered -with one another, so that he overheard -them, “The <em>old man</em> has done well to-night.” -It was the 25th of December, and throughout -Christendom the Christmas festival in commemoration -of the birth of the Saviour had -been celebrated, and friends had all been gathered. -Sadness marked their countenances at -one home, from which the husband and friend -was absent, though long expected. As the -blasts beat through the streets, and as the -family clustered around the bright, shining -fire upon the hearth-stone, as the wind whistled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -through the casement, the thoughts of -the wife were turned from the fireside to the -rough ocean on which her husband was tempest-tossed. -Many weary weeks had she -watched; but day after day had the sun gone -down, and, like Rachel, she could not be comforted. -She feared that he was lost. One -after another of her friends had left her late -at night, and finally she was alone. Suddenly -she springs up from her seat, aroused by the -sound of quick knocking at the street door. -She recognizes the tap, and in a few moments -she is hanging on his neck from whom she -was destined never to be long separated, until -death removed her from him for four years, -at the end of which time he was placed by -death in quietness at her side.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Review of the labors, &c., performed by Mr. Bowditch, -during these voyages.—Habits while at sea; studies; -desire to teach others; kindness to sailors and to the -sick.—Discovers errors in a book on navigation.—Origin -of “American Practical Navigator;” success of -it; industry of Mr. Bowditch upon it.—Investigates -higher branches of science.—“Mécanique Céleste.”—Mr. -Bowditch reads history.—Learns Spanish, French, -and Portuguese languages.—Anecdotes.—Chosen member -of American Academy.—Receives honors from -Harvard College.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">A REVIEW.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">HABITS AT SEA.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">TEACHES THE SAILORS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">CARES FOR THEM WHEN ILL.</div> - -<p>Thus finished Mr. Bowditch’s career as a -sailor, after he had been about eight years -engaged in this pursuit. Let us now review -a little, and see what he was doing during -these voyages, and how he occupied his time. -He was very regular in his habits. During -the first two voyages he attended to the duties -of mate of the vessel. This, of course, prevented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -him from studying as much as he otherwise -would have done. He, moreover, as -we have seen, took fewer books with him. -But during the next two voyages, the captain -excused him from the watches, and he was -able to read with less interruption. After -the deck had been washed in the morning, he -walked for half an hour. He then went into -the cabin to study, until the time arrived at -which he was to observe the sun. This was -done every day at noon, in order to tell -whereabouts in the ocean a vessel is at the -moment of the observation. Having finished -this, he usually dined. After this he slept a -few moments, or took a walk, and then -studied again until tea time. After supper he -was again at work until nine, when he used to -walk for some time, cheerfully talking with -his comrades. Afterwards he usually studied -until late at night; and in order not to disturb -his fellow-passengers, he did not keep a light -in the cabin, but frequently stood upon the -cabin stairway, reading by the light of the -binnacle lamp, where the compass was kept.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -Whenever the vessel arrived at a port, he was -still engaged, but in a different way, perhaps. -The instant he was freed from the duties of -weighing pepper on the coast of Sumatra, he -went to his books. No time was wasted, -either in foul or fair weather. It made no -difference to him whether the ship was resting -motionless upon the water, or tossing upon -the heaviest swell, he was always a worker. -But there was yet another and still more -pleasant trait in his character. He not only -loved study himself, but he was determined to -persuade all others to love it also. During -his first voyage, he used to go to the forecastle, -or sailor’s cabin, and carry his books of navigation, -and teach the seamen how to guide a -ship by the rules found in these books. He -then went on deck, and explained to each one -the method of using the quadrant and sextant, -two instruments used by a sea captain. There -was an old man formerly living in Salem, who, -when speaking of this disposition of Mr. Bowditch, -said, “I was the steward onboard the -vessel, and Mr. Bowditch frequently scolded me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -because I did not come to study with him more -steadily.” It is a fact that every sailor on -board the ship during that voyage became -afterwards captain, and probably some of -them would never have risen so high, had it -not been for the kindness of their friend. I -like to think of this trait in his character. -He delighted in learning for its own sake, and -he was always pleased when he could find -some one upon whom he could bestow all his -acquirements. He had no mean standard of -comparison between himself and his fellows, -but desired to give and receive as much -good as it was possible for him to bestow or -accept.</p> - -<p>He was beloved for this by all: but his -kindness of heart led him not merely to teach -those who knew <em>less</em> than he, but he did all he -could to relieve them when ill. One of them -wrote in a letter answering my inquiries, after -alluding to Mr. Bowditch’s willingness to teach -others, “But kindness and attention to the -poor seasick cabin-boy are to this day [April, -1838] uppermost in my memory, and will last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -when his learning is remembered no more.” -He might have been as learned, without displaying -this regard for others. But he would -not then have had such tributes of love as -was displayed by this old sailor, who remembered -his kindness rather than his instruction.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">STUDY OF MATHEMATICS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">BOWDITCH’S NAVIGATOR.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ORIGIN OF IT.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">SUCCESS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">FAVORABLE NOTICE.</div> - -<p>But let us examine his particular studies -pursued while at sea. We have already seen -that from a boy he had liked simple arithmetic, -and on becoming older had studied deeply -into mathematics—a kind of learning similar -in character to arithmetic, only much more -difficult and important. During the long voyages -to India, he had ample opportunity for -following this branch of science; consequently -we find that he was chiefly occupied with that -subject. On the first voyage he discovered -many errors in a book on navigation, some of -which were so important, that in consequence of -them, not a few vessels had been shipwrecked. -This erroneous work was originally published -in London, by a man named Hamilton Moore, -and it was almost the only one in use among -seamen. It had been reprinted in America,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -in 1798, by Mr. Blunt, then living in Newburyport. -One edition had been published, -and a second was about to be issued, in 1799, -when Mr. Blunt learned, by means of a mutual -friend, that Mr. Bowditch, during his two -first voyages, had detected many of these -errors, and was willing to inform him of them. -Mr. Blunt immediately made application to -the young navigator, and received the assistance -he wanted. Finding that Mr. Bowditch -had within him the means of rendering essential -service, Mr. Blunt proposed to him, when -starting on his fourth voyage,—that is, to India,—to -examine all the tables, and see what -number of errors he could find. Mr. Bowditch -agreed to the proposal, and during this -voyage his time was much occupied with this -task—a very wearisome, but, as it proved -eventually, a profitable one, as it regards reputation -and pecuniary success. The mistakes -were so numerous that he found it much -easier to make a new work, and introduce -therein his own improvements: so that Mr. -Bowditch, before the termination of the voyage,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -decided to make some arrangement for -this purpose. The consequence was, that, instead -of publishing a third edition of Moore’s -Navigator, in 1802, the first edition of the -“American Practical Navigator” was published -by Mr. Bowditch, under his own name, -Mr. Blunt being proprietor. Thus was laid, -at the age of twenty-nine, the foundation of a -work on navigation that has kept constantly before -the public, as one of the best of the kind, -either in America or England. It passed -through its tenth edition a short time before -Mr. Bowditch’s death.<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> It soon superseded entirely -Mr. Moore’s, and was early republished -in London. And it was not only obtained by -every American seaman, but even English ships -sought for Bowditch’s Navigator as their safety -during their long voyages. Many amusing -anecdotes are related in reference to this book.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -An American captain once took passage in an -English ship from the Isle of France for St. -Helena. After, being a few days out, the -passenger, about noon, brought on deck his -“Navigator” (one of Bowditch’s editions) for -the purpose of using it. While thus engaged, -the English captain of the vessel walked up -and looked at the work. “Why,” says he, -“you use the same work that we do. Pray, -where did you get that?” And great was the -surprise of the Englishman, when he learned -that the author of the book he was using -every day of his life was the near neighbor -and friend of the person he was talking with. -Little did he imagine that he was dependent -upon the efforts of a son of an American -cooper for the information by which he was -enabled to go from sea to sea in comparative -safety. But how is it that this work has been -able to remain so long one of the best works -of the kind? Because Mr. Bowditch bestowed -very great pains upon it, and with every -new edition made all the improvements possible. -He moreover brought all his learning to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -bear upon it. To use a common phrase, he -put, for the time being, his “whole heart -into” making it as perfect as possible. In -the explanations of the rules he was simple, so -that the most ignorant could understand them. -But, in addition to all this, as we have already -stated, he introduced all the new methods -which he himself had discovered. One of -these was favorably noticed by a celebrated -French astronomer, in a Journal published in -1808.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">PEACEFUL MATHEMATICS.</div> - -<p>But, although his attention was much devoted -to this book on navigation, he evidently -considered it as of little moment, compared -with more important objects. During the -long voyages he had been studying the higher -branches of the mathematics and their applications -to the calculation of the motions of the -heavenly bodies. The interest he felt in these -pursuits had a most pleasing effect upon him. -If he were sad or disturbed, he found quiet -and cheerfulness in “his peaceful mathematics.” -As arithmetic had been the darling -pursuit of his boyhood, so now the curious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -and intricate problems of mathematics, and the -sublime theories of the planets, occupied his -best leisure hours. We have seen that, long -before going to sea, he studied French for the -purpose of reading a work on mathematics. -He continued to read with much interest the -works of that country. Some of you may -know that about the close of the last century, -at the revolution in France, all the nation was -aroused; every branch of learning and of art -received new life. The consequence was, that -many men of the highest genius arose, and, -being patronized by government, they put -forth to the world extraordinary works of -learning. Most of these, when upon astronomy, -Mr. Bowditch procured for himself, by -means of the publisher of the “Navigator.” -He was still engaged in extracting from various -works, or, in other words, in filling up -his volumes of manuscripts, though now, from -the increase of his property, he was enabled -to buy the originals; and of course his manuscripts -were chiefly his sea journals, and the -notes made by himself upon the various authors<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> -he read. But he did not confine himself -entirely to science. He read history, and -some works of a literary character, but he -never spent much time upon inferior books. -“Why read anything you cannot speak of?” -he used frequently to say. He likewise -studied the Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese -languages.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">METHOD OF STUDYING LANGUAGES.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">GERMAN VOCABULARY.</div> - -<p>His mode of learning languages is instructive. -As soon as he determined to study one, -he bought a Bible, Grammar, and Dictionary -in that tongue. After learning a few of the -pronouns and auxiliary verbs, he began to -translate, and usually commenced with the -first chapter of the Gospel of St. John, because -in the few first verses there are many -repetitions. Having studied them thoroughly, -he proceeded to other portions of the Bible, -with which he was most acquainted. He always -carried to church a Bible in the language -he was studying, and used it, instead of -an English one, during the services. But -he had another plan, which is very useful -to one who has a bad memory. I will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -now explain to you one of his vocabularies, -or collections of words, with their meanings -attached thereto, so arranged that he could -refer much more easily to them than to a common -dictionary. He did not learn German -until a long time after the period of his life -of which we are now speaking; but as the -German vocabulary is the most perfect, I will -describe it. It is made upon two large sheets, -one foot broad, and more than a foot and a -half high, which, with the inside of the covers, -make six pages. The pages are divided into -columns about one and a half inches wide, -that is, large enough to admit, in very small -writing, a word with its signification by its -side. Of course the columns are divided for -the letters of the alphabet, in a manner proportioned -to the number of pages of each -letter in the dictionary. Having thus prepared -his book, whenever he found that he was -obliged, for want of memory, to look at the -dictionary more than once for the meaning of -a word, he wrote it in his vocabulary, and, by -the act of writing, strengthened in some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -measure his memory of that word; and, moreover, -he could find it immediately, and not -lose time as in turning over the leaves of a -larger book. The number of words thus seen -at a glance, as it were, is remarkable. In the -above-described six pages, there are eleven -thousand German words, all written distinctly, -but in small letters, and without any repetitions, -and with as many abbreviations as he -himself chose. I have been thus minute upon -this subject, not because I think that all ought -to make vocabularies, but because some may -be benefited by so doing. Moreover, I wished -to speak to you of them as proofs of his perseverance.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">ACADEMY OF ARTS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">HARVARD COLLEGE HONORS.</div> - -<p>Two important events took place during this -period of Mr. Bowditch’s life, which it becomes -our duty to record. On the 28th day -of May, 1799, he was chosen a member of -the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. -This society was the first which bestowed -upon him the honor of membership of its -body. It is composed of men of science, -combined for the purpose of improving themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -and the community in knowledge. -He continued a member of this body during -his life; and in May, 1829, just thirty years -after becoming a member, he was chosen its -president, in which office he was continued -until the day of his death.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">RESULTS OF GOOD USE OF TIME.</div> - -<p>Another honor, and one which was more -pleasant to him than any received at any time -afterwards, was bestowed during this period. -In 1802 his ship was wind-bound in Boston, -and he left it for the purpose of attending -the annual commencement at Cambridge -College. He knew but few individuals there, -though he had corresponded with some of the -professors; and one of the corporation of -the college, Chief Justice Parsons, was one -of his kindest friends. He went alone, and, -while listening in the crowd to the names of -those upon whom the honors were conferred, -he thought he heard his own pronounced; but -he supposed that he might have been mistaken, -inasmuch as the notice was given in Latin. -But how great was his emotion, when he -heard from a friend that his suspicions were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -well founded! It was to him the proudest -day of his life. And we, who know his humble -origin, his simplicity and modesty, can -in some measure understand the thrill of -pleasure that ran through him, when he found -himself thus noticed by the first and oldest -university in the land. And why was he -thus noticed? Because he had well improved -the hours of his life; because his days and -nights had been spent in activity and earnest -study. In after-life, when his fame was established, -and the great societies of Europe -bestowed upon him their diplomas, he always -looked upon them as of small moment, compared -with this his first, earliest proof of -esteem from his fellow-men. I will take this -opportunity to state that very many years -afterwards he was elected one of the corporation -of the college. This he deemed his -highest honor, and his estimate was a just one, -for it placed him among the select few who -manage the whole affairs of the university—a -place doubtless coveted by many, but to -which few are called.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">NEW SCENES.</div> - -<p>Having now completed his sea life, let us -enter upon his new scene of energy and -benevolence as a citizen and father; and our -next chapter will include several years of his -residence at Salem.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1803 to 1817—age, 30-44.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Mr. Bowditch translates a Spanish paper; is chosen president -of a Fire and Marine Insurance office.—Habits of -life.—Becomes interested in politics.—Federalists and -Democrats.—Great excitement.—Division between him -and old friends in consequence of his zeal.—Feelings -of Mr. Bowditch when war was declared.—Decision of -character.—His charity.—Earnestness in aiding others; -ludicrous instance of the effects of this.—Boldness towards -a truckman.—Zeal for improving the libraries; -unites the two.—Dr. Prince’s church.—Performance -of duties of president of Insurance Office.—Answer to -an overbearing rich man.—Appointed professor of -mathematics at Harvard College; same at West Point.—His -modesty.—Hints about leaving Salem.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">KNOWLEDGE OF SPANISH.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ADVANTAGE OF STUDY.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">PRESIDENT OF INSURANCE COMPANY.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">REGULAR HABITS.</div> - -<p>Mr. Bowditch, on his arrival from sea, met -with one of those events to which he always -referred when any one doubted the expediency -of any kind of knowledge. In his voyages<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -to Portugal and Spain, he had become -acquainted with the Spanish language. It so -happened that no one else in Salem was acquainted -with it, and an important paper came -to the care of a sturdy and sensible old sea -captain; but it was unfortunately unintelligible -to him, for it was written in this same -unknown tongue. A friend suggested to him -that probably Mr. Bowditch would decipher it -for him. The document was handed to Mr. -Bowditch, who in a few days returned it with -a free English translation accompanying it. -The old sailor was delighted, and immediately -supposed that any one who knew so much -about a foreign language must be a very superior -person, and capable of performing any -duties. Moreover, he was delighted with -the apparent generosity of Mr. Bowditch, in -making the translation without charge to -his employer. It happened at this time that -an insurance office in Salem was in need of -a president. The captain was one of the -directors of this institution, and used all -his influence in promoting the election of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -his young friend. This influence succeeded, -and in 1804, when he was thirty-one years -old, we find Mr. Bowditch installed as president -of the Essex Fire and Marine Insurance -Company. In this office he continued, with -entire success, until 1823, when he removed -to Boston, and took charge of other similar -but much larger institutions. The relief was -great which he experienced from not being -obliged to seek subsistence for his family by -continuing in the sailor’s life. The duties of -the office in which he now engaged <em>seemed</em> to -occupy all his time; yet he did not neglect -science. He arose at six in the morning during -the year, and took a walk, either before -or after breakfast, of at least two miles. Afterwards -he studied mathematics until nine, -and he then went to the office, where he continued -until one. After another walk he -dined, and after a short sleep he again visited -his office until tea time. From tea time -until nine in the evening he was at the same -place occupied with business. He was not, -however, all the time, during office hours,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -actually engaged in the necessary work incident -to his position as president; but he was -constantly liable to interruption, as much as he -had been when an apprentice. Yet he found -leisure enough for study by early rising and -by regular habits. He used to say, “Before -nine o’clock in the morning I learned all my -mathematics.” He kept some of his books on -science at his office, and whenever a moment -of leisure occurred, spent the time in reading -them. At home he had no private room -for many years; and, as his family of young -children grew up around him, he studied -at his simple pine desk, in the midst of -their noise and play. He was never disturbed, -except when they failed in kindness to -one another, and then he could never work -until quiet was restored. In truth, the influence -of his studies was felt by his children, -whose greatest reward was to receive from -him, in token of his approbation, the drawings -of various constellations upon their arms or -forehead. It was a sad day for them when -they did not receive from his pen the representation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -of the Belt of Orion, the Great Bear, -or of some other beautiful constellation in the -heavens.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">POLITICAL EXCITEMENT.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">PARTY POLITICS.</div> - -<p>But, in addition to the duties of his office, -he became interested in the political affairs of -the day. After the revolution, and the new -government of the country went into operation -under the presidency of General Washington, -there had been but little political excitement -in Essex County. There were no -great parties, which were destined soon afterwards -to spring up and excite the bitterest -animosity between individuals who had been -from birth the warmest friends. It would be -impossible, were it useful, to tell all the causes -that led to the formation of the two great -sects in politics, called the Federalists and -Republicans. Suffice it to say, that even during -Washington’s connection with the government, -the seeds of this division were beginning -to spring up, and, upon the accession of -John Adams, as his successor, the political -rancor between these two parties increased -with tenfold energy, until at length the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -republican party triumphed in the election -of Thomas Jefferson to the office of President -of the United States. In Salem the violence -of party spirit rose as high as in any city of -the Union. It would have been surprising, -with his desire for aiding any public cause, if -Mr. Bowditch had not been influenced by the -excitements of the day. We frequently find -at the bottom of a page, or at the end of some -theorem, brief memoranda of the results of an -election. He was, moreover, for two years a -member of the State Council. He was likewise -proposed by the Federalists as a representative -to the General Court, but at that -election they were defeated.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">PEACEFUL MATHEMATICS.</div> - -<p>We have scarcely any idea of the violence -with which the two parties contended. Persons -who had been, during life, sincere and -devoted friends, were separated by this virulence. -Mr. Bowditch suffered as much as -others on this account, and two of his longest -and best-tried friends he did not have any -intercourse with for many years. Dr. Bentley -and Captain Prince were these persons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> -and with both of them you are already acquainted. -It was not until 1817, when President -Monroe visited these Northern States, -that harmony was restored between the two -great divisions, and friends once more embraced -each other. But, in the midst of all -this excitement with politics, Mr. Bowditch -never neglected the duties of his office, or his -studies. In fact, the pursuit of learning had, -as before, a sweet influence over his character. -It still gave calmness when circumstances -around him tended to disturb him. An illustration -of this you may find in what follows. -In 1812, after a long series of supposed insults -and wrongs from Great Britain, the American -government declared war against that power. -Mr. Bowditch was much distressed by the -news, and for two days was so much overcome -that he was unable to study. Friends -who knew him had never seen him look so -sad before on any public emergency. He -could speak of nothing but the disasters that -he foresaw war would entail upon his country. -On the morning of the third day he got up, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -going down into the parlor, said to his wife, -“It won’t do for me to continue in this way. -I <em>will not</em> think any more about it.” Saying -this, he retired again to his books. The difference -in his whole manner was very perceptible. -He rarely afterwards allowed himself -to be disturbed by the unfortunate state of -affairs. Such should always be the benign -influences of the study of science and of Nature’s -laws.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">CHARITY.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ANECDOTE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">A RIDICULOUS JUDGE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.</div> - -<p>Amid all these various engagements, he was -full of sympathy for others. Wherever he -saw he could aid with his counsel, he did so; -and many widows and orphans have felt the -influence of his charity. This charity showed -itself chiefly in a desire to improve others. -There was scarcely one of those connected -with him in friendship upon whom he did not -devote some time for their instruction. To -one young lady he taught French, and another -studied Italian with him. If a young man -needed funds, he knew upon whom he could -call with a certainty of substantial aid, even -if he had no money of his own to give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -away, for throughout life it was one of the -remarkable attributes of Mr. Bowditch’s character, -that he could persuade many to open -their hearts to the poor, who, upon other -occasions, were deaf to the common feelings -of humanity. For one young person of this -kind Mr. Bowditch obtained a subscription -sufficient to enable him to continue at the university, -whereas his young friend would have -been unable to do so without assistance. He -was always so zealous in these undertakings, -that one scarcely felt under any obligations to -him. It was his delight to help, and every -one saw that his heart was engaged in the -cause. His zeal for humanity was at times -immoderate, and the following laughable law -case occurred in consequence of it. One day -he was informed that a little girl, who lived -with him, had been run over by some careless -driver; and a crowd, which he could perceive -at a little distance from him, was a collection -of individuals drawn together on her account. -He immediately ran forward, and getting to -the outside of the circle, began very energetically<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -to make his way into it. In doing so, he -pulled one of the bystanders so forcibly, that -the individual, as it will appear in the sequel, -was offended. Arriving, however, by dint of -hard pushing, at the object of his search, he -took his little domestic with him, and led her -safely home. On the next day he was much -surprised at receiving a summons from a justice -of the peace, to appear before him, to -answer to the charge of assault and battery -upon the individual above mentioned. He -answered the call and paid his fine of a few -dollars; but the judge, who had been notorious -for always making both parties suffer, when it -was possible for himself to gain thereby, said, -on receiving the fine, “But you say that Mr. -—— <em>pushed</em> you, after you had <em>pulled</em> him.” -“I did, sir.” “Very well; then, if you wish -to complain of him, I will fine him likewise.” -The ludicrous nature of the whole action -struck Mr. Bowditch so forcibly that he was -not unwilling to increase the folly of it. The -plaintiff was then fined, and the affair was -ended. It is but right to say, that the judge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -was considered, previously to this, one entirely -unfit for the office. Probably no other -would have issued a summons on such an -occasion, and the plaintiff was not unjustly -punished for having called upon such a person -to aid him in prosecuting an individual -who, in exerting himself to help another, -had slightly disarranged the dress of a bystander.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bowditch’s desire to aid the unfortunate -was exhibited on another occasion, when -a poor, overladen horse was the object of his -commiseration. A truckman had been violently -beating the animal, in order to induce -him to pull along a very heavy load, which -was too large for his strength. Mr. Bowditch -had watched the driver for some time, and at -length he stepped earnestly forward, and in -abrupt and decided tones ordered him to desist. -The truckman was much superior to -Mr. Bowditch in personal strength, and was, -at first, disposed to ridicule the attempt of -his inferior to restrain him. Full of indignation, -Mr. Bowditch cried out, “If you dare<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -touch that horse again, and if you do not -immediately go and get another to assist him, -I will appeal to the law, and you will see -which of us two will conquer.” The man -yielded, and Mr. Bowditch went home.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">MARINE SOCIETY.</div> - -<p>The public institutions of the town felt -his influence. The East India Marine Society, -of which I have already spoken, improved -very much under his auspices as president. -It had fallen considerably during high political -times, and, when he was chosen chief -officer, he instilled such zeal among the -younger members of it, and obtained so many -new members, that it revived; and soon after -his removal to Boston, the splendid hall was -erected, containing the most remarkable collection -of East India curiosities, of which I -spoke in Chapter VI.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SALEM LIBRARIES.</div> - -<p>In the libraries he had always felt very -much interest. You already know what reason -he had for being devoted to the Philosophical -Library, for from it he drew most of -his knowledge of science. But there was -another, which had been in existence much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -longer than this, called the Social Library. -The books contained in these two collections -were almost wholly distinct in their characters. -In one only works of science were to -be found, while the other was chiefly devoted -to literature. Mr. Bowditch saw that both of -them united would be of great service to the -community, for it would not merely combine -the books, but the energies of the proprietors. -Consequently it appears that he, with another -of the Philosophical Library proprietors, was -chosen a committee for the purpose of providing -for a union. This was happily effected -(1810), and the Salem Athenæum arose from -the combination. The rooms over his office -were chosen as the place for their deposit, and -for many years he was one of the most active -of the trustees.</p> - -<p>There was another institution with which he -was intimately connected during the whole of -the time he lived in Salem. I allude to the -church in which his early friend, Rev. Dr. -Prince, officiated. He was one of the committee -of the parish, and, though never a -member of the church strictly so called, he -was a constant attendant upon the services, -and had great influence in keeping up the harmony -and supporting the true interests of the -congregation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;"> -<img src="images/illus3.jpg" width="420" height="700" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Dr. Bowditch’s Residence at the Time of his Death.</span></p> -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">DEFENDS THE WEAK.</div> - -<p>In the performance of his duties as president -of the insurance company, he was faithful -and prompt in action. He was frequently -placed in circumstances which required -great decision of character. At times a -disposition was shown to deceive him; at -others, a richer stockholder would attempt to -gain advantages over a poorer one. I well remember -an anecdote in which it is said a purse-proud -rich man tried to browbeat Mr. Bowditch -into doing an act which Mr. Bowditch -thought would be unjust to another poorer -one. The nabob pleaded his riches, and -amount of his stock in the office, and intimated -that he would have his way. “No, sir, -you won’t. I stand here in this place to see -justice done, and, as long as I am here, I will -defend the weak.” He seldom met with difficulties -of this kind, for few dared approach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -him with the intention to be unjust or untrue. -Nothing aroused him so much to an almost -lion-like fierceness as any appearance of wickedness -in the transaction of public business. -He had much wisdom, likewise, in the selection -of risks, so that the office, while under -his control, succeeded admirably and he left it -prosperous.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">PROFESSORSHIP OF MATHEMATICS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">EXTREME MODESTY.</div> - -<p>During his residence in Salem he was often -invited to seats of honor and trust. We have -already mentioned his political course. In -1806, by the agency of Chief Justice Parsons, -then in the corporation of Harvard College, -he was appointed professor of mathematics in -that university. In 1818 he was requested -by President Jefferson, in very flattering -terms, to accept of a similar office in the University -of Virginia. In 1820, he was called -upon by the secretary of war of the United -States, to consent to an appointment at the -Public Military School at West Point. All -of these he refused, as not congenial to his -mind. He always declined talking in public. -He would teach all who came to him, but he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -could not deliver a public course of lectures. -His extreme modesty prevented. For it will -be remembered that he was as remarkable, -from his youth, for his modesty, amounting, -in early life, to diffidence, as he was for his -other qualities. Moreover, it should be stated -that, at times, he had a certain hesitation in -his mode of speaking, which probably would -have prevented him from addressing easily a -public audience.</p> - -<p>In 1818, he was urged to take charge of an -insurance office in Boston, but he preferred -living in his native place.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>From 1803 to 1823—age, 30-50.</i></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Papers published by Mr. Bowditch in the Memoirs of the -Academy; account of some of them.—Total eclipse of -the sun in 1806; effect of it.—Anecdote of Chief Justice -Parsons.—Meteor that fell over Weston, Ct.; account -of its curious appearance; effect of these papers -upon his fame in Europe.—Chosen member of most of -the learned societies of the Old World.—Quits Salem to -become connected with larger institutions in Boston.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">EMPLOYMENT IN POLITICAL TIMES.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">MR. BOWDITCH OBSERVES IT.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">EFFECTS OF THE ECLIPSE.</div> - -<p>It should be remembered, that, during these -stormy political times, Mr. Bowditch was -chiefly engaged in making his notes on the -great work to which we have already alluded, -La Place’s “Mécanique Céleste,” and that it -was between the years 1800 and 1820, that is, -during this same time, that he wrote twenty-three -papers, which were published in the -Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -and Sciences. Of some of these last I will -give you an account. Of the others, were I -to mention them, you could understand but -little. They relate chiefly to observations -made upon the moon; the comets of 1807 and -1811; the eclipses of the sun which took -place in 1806 and 1811; measurements of the -height of the White Mountains, in New -Hampshire; observations on the compass; on -a pendulum supported by two points; and -the correction of some mistakes in one of the -books studied first by him in early life, called -Newton’s “Principia.” A few of these papers -I will try to explain to you, at least in part. -I commence with his observation upon a total -eclipse of the sun, which occurred June 16, -1806. I shall quote nearly the words of the -observer. “On the day of the eclipse the -weather was remarkably fine, scarcely a cloud -being visible in any part of the heavens. I -made preparations for the observations in the -garden adjoining the house in which I reside, -near the northern part of Summer Street, in -Salem. Having been disappointed in procuring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -a telescope of a large magnifying power, -I was obliged to make use of that attached to -my theodolite, which gave very distinct vision, -though its magnifying power was small. An -assistant was seated near me, who counted the -seconds from a chronometer, and thus enabled -me to mark down with a pencil, the time when -the first impression was made on the sun, -without taking my eye from the telescope till -four or five seconds had elapsed, and the -eclipse had sensibly increased, after which I -examined the second and minute hands of the -chronometer, and took every precaution to -prevent mistakes. Four or five minutes -before the commencement of the eclipse, I -began to observe that part of the sun where -the first contact [of the moon’s shadow] was -expected to take place; and eight minutes -twenty-eight seconds after ten o’clock, I observed -the first impression. As the eclipse -advanced, there did not appear to be so great a -diminution of the light as was generally expected; -and it was not till the sun was nearly -covered that the darkness was very sensible.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -The last ray of light disappeared instantaneously. -The moon was then seen surrounded by -a luminous appearance of considerable extent, -such as has been generally taken notice of in -total eclipses of the sun.” A number of stars -became visible. The observer mentions that -the light in the garden was not entirely gone; -but in the house candles were needed, as if it -were evening. At thirty-two minutes eighteen -seconds after eleven o’clock,—that is, at a -little more than an hour from the beginning of -the eclipse,—the first returning ray of light -burst forth with great splendor. I have heard -that the effect upon those who saw it was surpassingly -grand. Suddenly the light of midday -seemed to break in upon the quiet of -evening. So completely were all the animal -creation deceived, that the cows returned lowing -homeward, and the fowls sought their -roosts, and quietly placed their heads under -their wings. All human beings were looking -in mute amazement, and deep silence prevailed, -as the dark shadow of the moon came -stealing over the surface of the sun at noon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -There was something fearful when the sun was -wholly covered. Suddenly a bright ray shot -forth mid heaven, and fell upon the earth, -and with it arose a loud shout from the assembled -crowd. Aged men<a name="FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> and women -joined in the chorus, and saluted again the -beautiful sunlight.</p> - -<p>This paper, though short, is one of the most -important he ever wrote. In a note to it he -first mentions publicly a mistake he had discovered -in the “Mécanique Céleste.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">METEORS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">OBSERVATIONS OF ONE OF THEM.</div> - -<p>In 1815, Mr. Bowditch published another -paper, which I may be able to explain to you -in some degree. You have all heard of falling -stars, or meteors, and probably most of -you have seen them frequently, when walking -at night, when the sky is clear. Some of -these are very small; they seem at a great -distance. They suddenly appear in our heavens,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -and as suddenly disappear, and perhaps -nothing more is heard or seen of them. -Others, on the contrary, appear larger, and -fall to the earth after having traversed a great -portion of the heavens. On the 14th of -December, 1807, one of the most curious -exploded, and fell over Weston, in Connecticut. -Mr. Bowditch, in his Memoir, writes -thus:—</p> - -<p>“The extraordinary meteor which appeared -at Weston, in Connecticut, on the 14th of -December, 1807, and exploded with several -discharges of stones, having excited great -attention throughout the United States, and -being one of those phenomena of which few -exact observations are to be found in the history -of physical science, I have thought that a -collection of the best observations of its appearance -at different places, with the necessary -deductions for determining, as accurately as -possible, the height, direction, velocity, and -magnitude of the body, would not be unacceptable -to the Academy, since facts of this -kind, besides being objects of great curiosity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -may be useful in the investigation of the origin -and nature of these meteors; and as the -methods of making these calculations are not -fully explained in any treatise of trigonometry -common in this country, I have given the solutions -of two of the most necessary problems, -with examples calculated at full length. The -second problem is not, to my knowledge, -given in any treatise of spherics. The observations -of the meteor, which, after many -inquiries, were found to have been made with -sufficient accuracy to be introduced in the -present investigation, were those made at -Wenham, about seven miles north-easterly of -Salem, by Mrs. Gardner, a very intelligent -lady, who had an opportunity of observing it -with great attention; those at Weston, by -Judge Wheeler and Mr. Staples; and those at -Rutland, in Vermont, by William Page, Esq.” -After giving the requisite solutions, he proceeds: -“Some time after the appearance of -the meteor, I went with Mr. Pickering to Mrs. -Gardner’s house, at Wenham, where she had -observed the phenomenon. She informed us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -that on the morning of the 14th of December, -1807, when she arose, she went towards the -window of her chamber, which looks to the -westward, for the purpose of observing the -weather, according to her invariable practice -for many years past. The sky was clear, except -a few thin clouds in the west. It was -past daybreak, and, by estimation, about half -an hour before sunrise, or seven o’clock. The -meteor was immediately observed just over -the southern part of the barn in her farm-yard, -nearly in front of the window; its disk was -well defined, and it resembled the moon so -much, that, unprepared as Mrs. G.’s mind was -for a phenomenon of that nature, she was not -at first aware that it was not the moon, till she -perceived it in motion, when her first thought -(to use her own words) was, ‘Where is the -moon going to?’ The reflection, however, -was hardly made, when she corrected herself, -and with her eye followed the body with the -closest attention throughout its whole course. -It moved in a direction nearly parallel to the -horizon, and disappeared behind a cloud<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -northward of the house of Samuel Blanchard, -Esq. She supposed the meteor to have been -visible about half a minute.</p> - -<p>“The attention of Judge Wheeler was first -drawn by a sudden flash of light, which illuminated -every object. Looking up, he discovered, -in the north, a globe of fire just then -passing behind the cloud which obscured, -though it did not entirely hide, the meteor. -In this situation its appearance was distinct -and well defined, like that of the sun seen -through a mist. It rose from the north, and -proceeded in a direction nearly perpendicular -to the horizon, but inclining by a very small -angle to the west, and deviating a little from -the plane of a great circle, but in pretty large -curves, sometimes on one side of the plane -and sometimes on the other, but never making -an angle with it of more than four or five degrees. -Its apparent diameter was about one -half or two thirds the apparent diameter of -the full moon. Its progress was not so rapid -as that of common meteors and shooting stars. -When it passed behind the thinner clouds, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -appeared brighter than before; and when it -passed the spots of clear sky, it flashed with -a vivid light, yet not so intense as the lightning -of a thunder-storm. Where it was not -too much obscured by thick clouds, a waving, -conical train of paler light was seen to attend -it, in length about ten or twelve diameters of -the body. In the clear sky a brisk scintillation -was observed about the body of the -meteor, like that of a burning firebrand carried -against the wind. It disappeared about -fifteen degrees short of the zenith, and about -the same number of degrees west of the meridian. -It did not vanish instantaneously, -but grew, pretty rapidly, fainter and fainter, -as a red-hot cannon-ball would do if cooling -in the dark, only with much more rapidity. -The whole period between its first appearance -and total extinction was estimated at about -thirty seconds. About thirty or forty seconds -after this, three loud and distinct reports, like -those of a four-pounder near at hand, were -heard. Then followed a rapid succession of -reports less loud, so as to produce a continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -rumbling. This noise continued about as long -as the body was in rising, and died away, apparently, -in the direction from which the -meteor came. Mr. Staples observed that -when the meteor disappeared, there were apparently -three successive efforts or leaps of -the fire-ball, which grew more dim at every -throe, and disappeared with the last. From -the various accounts which we have received -of the appearance of the body, at different -places, we are inclined to believe that the -time between the disappearance and report, -as estimated by Judge Wheeler, is too little, -and that a minute is the least time that could -have intervened.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">OBSERVATION OF THEM.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">THEIR NATURE.</div> - -<p>“The observations made at Rutland were -procured by the kind offices of Professor -Hall, of Middlebury College, Vermont, to -whom Mr. Page communicated his valuable -observations, in a paper expressed in the following -terms: ‘I was at the west door of my -house, on Monday morning, the 14th of December, -1807, about daylight; and perceiving -the sky suddenly illuminated, I raised my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -eyes and beheld a meteor of a circular form, -in the south-westerly part of the heavens, -rapidly descending to the south, leaving behind -it a vivid, sparkling train of light. The -atmosphere near the south part of the horizon -was very hazy; but the passage of the meteor -behind the clouds was visible until it descended -below the mountains, about twenty miles -south of this place. There were white, fleecy -clouds scattered about the sky, but none so -dense as to obscure the track of the meteor. -I now lament that I did not make more particular -observations at the time; and I should -probably, until this day, have considered it to -be what is commonly called a “falling star,” -had I not read in the New York papers an account -of the explosion of a meteor, and the -falling of some meteoric stones near New Haven, -Connecticut, which, by recurring to circumstances -then fresh in my recollection, I -found to be on the same morning that I observed -the meteor at Rutland. I am indebted -to my learned friend Dr. Samuel Williams -for his aid and directions in ascertaining the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -situation of the meteor when I first observed -it, and its course, and also for the order of -my observations: Form, circular; magnitude, -less than a quarter of the diameter of -the moon; color, red, vivid light; tail, or -train of light, about eight times the length of -its diameter, at the least, projected opposite -to its course.’”</p> - -<p>I quote these to give you some idea of the -appearance of this meteor, and likewise of -Mr. Bowditch’s diligence. From the examination -of all the accounts given him, he came -to the conclusion that the body moved at the -rate of more than three miles per second, and -at the height of eighteen miles above the -surface of the earth. With regard to the -magnitude of the body, the results were less -accurate; and the probability is, that all the -body did not fall, but merely passed through -the air, and continued on its course into unknown -regions of space.<a name="FNanchor_10" id="FNanchor_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">EUROPEAN FAME.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ACADEMIC HONORS.</div> - -<p>The other papers I shall not mention, because -they are upon subjects difficult to be -comprehended. The last appeared in the -volumes of the Memoirs of the Academy published -in 1820. All these papers were read by -the astronomers and mathematicians of Europe, -and the consequence was, that Mr. Bowditch -was chosen a member of many of the learned -societies instituted there for the promotion of -science. In 1818 he was chosen into the -Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, -and in the year following was enrolled on -the list of the Royal Irish Academy. While<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -I am upon this subject, I would state that he -afterwards was elected associate of the Astronomical -Society of London, of the Academies -of Berlin and Palermo, and had a correspondence -with most of the astronomers of Europe. -The National Institute of France was -about choosing him one of its candidates for -the position of foreign member, only eight of -which are chosen from the whole world. He -died before any election was held.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LITERARY LABORS.</div> - -<p>In addition to the papers to the Academy, -Mr. Bowditch published several articles in -reviews, &c. One of them is an interesting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -history of modern astronomy, which is -intended to give us an account of the lives -and doings of the most celebrated astronomers -of modern times. Such were his principal -literary labors, and the greater part of -them were performed during his residence in -Salem.</p> - -<p>The article on modern astronomy was prepared -a few years after his removal to Boston. -To that removal let us now turn. In 1823 -overtures were made to him to control two -institutions in Boston, one for life insurance, -the other for marine risks. The offers were -too liberal for him to refuse. His duties to -his family compelled him to accept them. On -his determination being known, his fellow-citizens -paid him a pleasant tribute of respect -and love by inviting him to a public and -farewell dinner.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">REMOVAL TO BOSTON.</div> - -<p>As the family left Salem, Mr. Bowditch and -his wife often thought that, after remaining -eight or ten years at Boston, they would return, -in order that their bodies might be laid -by the side of those of their ancestors. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -new friends awaited them in Boston; new ties -were formed there; and although they always -looked to their native place as the seat of -many of their most beloved associations, they -both lived in Boston until their deaths.</p> - -<p>His engagements of a public nature, during -his residence in Boston, were similar to those -he had whilst at Salem. For many years he -managed both of the institutions to which he -had been called. But the directors, finding -that the duties of one were sufficient to occupy -all his attention, broke up the Marine Insurance -Company, and Mr. Bowditch (or Dr. -Bowditch, as he was now generally called, -having received the degree of Doctor of Laws -from Harvard University in 1816) devoted -himself to the life insurance office. This he -raised to be one of the greatest institutions in -New England. By an alteration in the charter, -proposed by Dr. Bowditch, this became, -in fact, a great savings bank, where immense -sums are now yearly put in trust for widows -and orphans. The only difference in his habits, -caused by his removal to Boston, was an -enlargement of his sphere of labor. All objects<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> -of public utility still engaged his attention.</p> - -<p>The system of popular lectures, of which -we have now so many, commenced with the -Mechanic Institution of which he was the -first president. He was zealous for the improvement -of the Boston Athenæum, and was -very influential towards getting for it large -sums of money, and in making it more liberal -in its rules.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SERVICES TO HARVARD COLLEGE.</div> - -<p>An honor was conferred upon him, after -his arrival in Boston, which he thought as -high as any ever received. Having had two -honorary degrees from Harvard University, -and having been one of the board of overseers -of that institution for many years, he -was finally chosen a member of the corporation, -or council of seven men, who guide the -whole of the concerns of that important institution. -How different the commencement -and termination of the career of the poor son -of a cooper, who at ten years of age left -school, and yet at the end of life was one of -the chief directors in the first literary institution -in America!</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Sketch of the life of La Place, author of the “Mécanique -Céleste.”—Newton’s labors.—Halley’s comet.—The -importance of astronomy to navigation.—Comets; Dr. -Bowditch translates the Mécanique Céleste; difficulties attending -the undertaking; objects he had in view; first -volume analyzed; Newton’s error pointed out.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.</div> - -<p>In a former part of this story of Dr. Bowditch’s -life, you will remember that I stated -that on his last voyage he commenced his -notes upon the “Mécanique Céleste” of La -Place. It was on the first day of November, -during his disagreeable voyage homewards, in -1803, that he wrote his first note to the work -which was destined to occupy much of his -time from that moment until his death, thirty-five -years afterwards, in Boston. This work -certainly deserves some of our attention, if -he thought it worthy of receiving the attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -of so many years of his life. A brief -account of the life of the author of the original -work may interest you, and will serve as -an introduction to the book itself.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LA PLACE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.</div> - -<p>Pierre Simon La Place was born on the -23d of March, in the year 1749, at Beaumont, -on the borders of the beautiful and fertile -country of ancient Normandy, situated in the -north-western part of France. He was the son -of simple peasants in that country, and from -his earliest years was remarkable for the extraordinary -powers of memory, and intense -love of study, with which he was endowed. In -early life every branch of learning was delightful -to him. He seemed eager to gain -knowledge merely, without regard to the -object of his study. But he soon began to -distinguish himself upon the subject of theology. -This pursuit, however, was soon ended, -and by some means, of which no details -now remain, his mind was led to mathematics, -and from that moment he was devoted -to them. After spending his youth at his -native place, and having taught mathematics<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -there, he, at the age of eighteen years, went -to Paris, to seek a wider sphere in his pursuit -of knowledge. Bearing several letters -of recommendation as a youth of great promise, -he presented himself at the abode of -D’Alembert, who at that time was the first -mathematician of France, and contended with -Euler, at Berlin, for the honor of being the -first in the world. But the letters upon which -the youth depended so much proved of no -use. D’Alembert passed them by in silent -neglect, without even deigning to receive at -his own house the bearer of them. But La -Place was fully bent upon success, and relying -upon the force of his own genius as a more powerful -recommendation than any letters, he sent -to D’Alembert an essay, written by himself, -upon a very abstruse subject relating to mechanics. -The professor, struck with its elegance -and the great learning displayed by it, soon afterwards -called upon the writer, and addressed -him in these words: “You see, sir, that I think -recommendations are worth but very little; -and for yourself they are wholly unnecessary.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -By your own writings you can make yourself -better known than by any other means. They -are sufficient. I will do all I can for you.” -In a few days after this conversation, the -young man was appointed professor of mathematics -in the public military school at Paris. -From this period until the end of his life he -was occupied upon the science which he was -thus called, at this early age, to teach publicly -at the capital of France. He became daily -more acquainted with the great men of the -nation, and was himself making additions to -the scientific acquirements of the age, thus -giving eminent proofs of his genius. He was -chosen member of the French Academy, a -society of learned men united for the purpose -of advancing the cause of learning, and -he stood soon very high amongst them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">GENIUS OF LA PLACE.</div> - -<p>His chief work, the “Celestial Mechanics,”—“<cite lang="fr">Mécanique -Céleste</cite>,”—he began to publish -in 1799, and finished the fourth volume in -1805.<a name="FNanchor_11" id="FNanchor_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> This placed him much above all his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -contemporaries. In it he had not only combined -many things which he himself had discovered, -but likewise gave a history, as it -were, of all that had been done by geometricians -from the time of Sir Isaac Newton until -his own day. La Place found many things -detached, but his genius proved that many -apparently discordant facts could be explained -by Newton’s theory of universal gravitation. -His labor must have been immense. All Europe -rang with the fame of this production, -which was said to be beyond anything ever -performed before by man. The echo of its -fame reached America, and Dr. Bowditch obtained -the volumes, as they were successively -published. The first two he received in part -payment for his labors on the “Navigator.”</p> - -<p>Soon after his arrival home from his fourth -voyage, Dr. Bowditch was taking his accustomed -walk towards the lower part of the town -of Salem, and met his old friend, Captain -Prince. They entered into conversation, and -Dr. Bowditch remarked that he had, a short -time before, received a book from France,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -which he had long wished for, having heard -that it was superior to anything ever before -written by man, and which very few were -able to comprehend. This work was that to -which I have been alluding, and it now renders -Dr. Bowditch’s own name familiarly known -among mathematicians.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">SYSTEM OF THE WORLD.</div> - -<p>Later in life, La Place published a work -called the “System of the World.” In this, -which, comparatively speaking, is not difficult -to be read by almost any one, he attempts to -give a plain and simple statement of all that -is known in regard to those wise and magnificent -laws, whereby this solar system is kept -together in perfect harmony, while at the -same time it is sailing onward through fields -of space.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LA PLACE A SENATOR.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">DR. BOWDITCH’S LABORS.</div> - -<p>La Place, however, was not a truly noble -man, because he was not strictly just. It is -said that he was willing to attribute to himself -the discoveries of others. On Napoleon Bonaparte’s -becoming first consul in France, La -Place was made one of the ministers of the -state; but he was soon found to be better fitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -for study than for the practical duties of -a public office. Accordingly he retired after a -few weeks’ service, but was made a member -of the Senate, of which he became president. -After finishing his political career, he published -other works of great moment; but of -those I shall not speak. About the year 1827 -he was seized with an acute disorder, which -soon terminated his life. His last words are -remarkable, as conveying the same truth that -every wise man has upon his lips at the hour -of death. As he reviewed the amount of his -learning, which was in one respect greater -than that of any man living, he exclaimed, -“What we know here is very little, but what -we are ignorant of is immense.” Every man -is compelled to become silent and modest as -he sees death approach. La Place was like -other common men. He died as a man, and -was buried, and the men of science felt sad -that one so learned and of so strong an intellect -should have departed. Endowed by the -Almighty with the loftiest powers of intellect, -he stood alone, and commanded the respect, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -he did not always gain the love, of his associates. -Dr. Bowditch, though he regarded La -Place as the greatest mathematician that had -ever lived, had little real sympathy with his -character.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LAWS OF GRAVITY.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">HALLEY’S COMET.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">GRANDEUR OF MAN.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">MOON’S MOTIONS.</div> - -<p>We must now try to give you a short account -of the “Mécanique Céleste,” and of Dr. -Bowditch’s labors upon it. The original work -consists of five volumes, but Dr. Bowditch -lived to finish the translation of and commentary -upon only the first four. There are -about fifteen hundred pages in the original, -while there are three thousand eight hundred -and eighteen in the American translation. -The object of the original work may be known -from the following introductory remarks by -La Place, on the occasion of printing the first -volume, in 1798: “Newton, towards the end -of the last century, published his discovery -of the laws of gravity, or of the power by -which the solar system is held together. -Since that period, geometricians have succeeded -in bringing under this law all the known -phenomena of the system of the universe. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> -mean to bring together those scattered themes -and facts upon this subject, so as to form one -whole, which shall embrace all the known results -of gravity upon the motions, forms, &c., -of the fluid and solid bodies that compose our -solar system, as well as of those other similar -systems that are spread around in the immensity -of space.” You probably all understand -from this quotation the general object of the -“Mécanique Céleste.” La Place likewise informs -us that the work is divided into two -parts. In the first he proposes to give the -methods for determining the motions of the -heavenly bodies, their forms, the motions of -the oceans and seas upon their surfaces, and -finally the movements of rotation of these -spheres about their own axes. In the second -part, he promises to apply the rules which he -has given in the first to the planets and the -satellites which move around them, and -likewise to the comets. The first part is -found in the first two volumes, the second -part occupies the last two. From these few -remarks you will perceive the immense task<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -imposed upon himself by La Place, and at -the same time the grandeur of it. How wonderful, -that a simple man can attempt to mark -out the course of the heavenly bodies, which -we see clustering around us at night! But -how much more wonderful does man become, -when we find he has the <em>power</em> to foretell to -us the return of comets that have never been -seen by any one living now—comets that -have been, during our lives, travelling into -the far-off fields of space! Strange that a -simple man can prophesy, to a day, their return! -Many of us now living remember a -beautifully bright and clear comet, which -in 1835 appeared, as had been predicted, -after an absence of seventy-six years. It was -called Halley’s comet, after its first discoverer. -At first it seemed like a bright speck in the -heavens towards the north; but the next night -it was larger. It seemed to approach, with -fearful rapidity, from evening to evening, -and, sweeping in majesty across our western -sky, disappeared gradually in its progress -towards the sun, around which it whirled,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -and again appeared, more faintly visible than -before, just over our eastern horizon, as if to -give us one more glimpse of itself, a strange -messenger of the Almighty, before it passed -off on its far-distant journey, not to return -until those who were then young and free as air, -are all laid quietly in the grave, or have become -enfeebled and decrepit by the approach -of age. Truly, great is God, who made the -comet; but to me man also seems full of -grandeur, when I find him capable of even -<em>foretelling</em> the exact passage of such a body. -Yet La Place enables any man to prophesy -this; and in his “Mécanique Céleste” we -may find all the methods of investigation necessary -for this object. But he likewise tells -us the forms of the planets; he enables us to -measure the ring which surrounds the planet -Saturn, and enables us to decide, at least in -some degree the form and mass of the sun. In -this same work he treats of those curious phenomena, -which, as we see them daily, we think -of little moment—the flow and ebb of the sea, -or, in other words, high and low tides,—and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -the causes of them. He treats of the motion of -the earth about its centre, and of the same motions -in the moon and planets. These are the -chief objects of the first and second volumes. -The third volume, as we have already hinted, -contains questions of great intricacy, and of immense -importance; namely, the exact motions -of the planets around the sun, as affected by all -the attractions exerted upon them by the various -bodies of the universe; and the still more important -motions of our moon around the earth. -I say important, because the exact knowledge -of the course of this body is of the greatest moment -to every sailor who attempts to go from -one country to another over the trackless ocean. -By means of observations upon this planet, -the seaman can sail over distant waters for -many months, and be able to return, when he -may wish, to his own home in safety. Hence -the importance of the astronomer to the simple -navigator of our planet. The history of -Dr. Bowditch is another proof of the truth of -this statement. By his accurate knowledge -of astronomy, by his ability to follow La<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -Place in his investigations of all the motions -of the solar system, he was enabled to produce -a work on navigation which is sought for -wherever the English language is spoken, as -it combines the best methods of using the results -of pure astronomy in the art of navigation. -The “Practical Navigator” would never -have maintained its hold upon the community -as it has done, if Dr. Bowditch had not been -as skilful in mathematics and astronomy as in -the details of navigation.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">JUPITER’S SATELLITES.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">PLANET NEPTUNE.</div> - -<p>But to return to the “Mécanique Céleste.” -The fourth volume contains similar investigations, -namely, the motions of the satellites, or -moons, about the other planets. Our moon’s -motions about the earth, and the revolutions of -Jupiter’s satellites are the most important. Jupiter -has four satellites. These were the first -that the invention of the telescope by Galileo -revealed to man; and by their frequent revolutions -around the planet, they have in their turn -shown to us many of the laws which govern the -whole planetary system, besides many curious -and interesting facts in regard to their own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> -forms and masses. From the eclipses or disappearances -of the first satellite, when it passes -on the side of the planet opposite to that at -which the observer from the earth is looking, -it has demonstrated the velocity of light. Finally, -the author treats of the seven moons, -or satellites, of Saturn, and likewise of those -of the planet Herschel, about which much -less is known.<a name="FNanchor_12" id="FNanchor_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> - -<div class="sidenote">POWERS ACTING UPON COMETS.</div> - -<p>After attending to these subjects, La Place -investigates the powers which act upon comets, -which tend to turn from their courses -those bodies, which, as I have before said, are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> -flying in very many directions throughout the -universe, and which are liable to be moved -out of their direction by the actions of some -planets near which they may come. This was -the case with a comet in 1770, whose course -was wholly changed by the planet Jupiter -drawing it towards its own body. To investigate -the various laws of these disturbing -forces is one subject of this volume. Some -other subjects are treated of, but of these I -shall now not speak.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">NOTES ON MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.</div> - -<p>From this brief account of the “Mécanique -Céleste” you may judge of the difficulties -which the original writer had to overcome in -making it, and of the immense labor requisite. -But La Place frequently supposes that a proposition -is perfectly intelligible to his reader -because it is so to him. Having such a powerful -mind, he is able to see at a glance that -for which any one else would require a long -demonstration, before he could become thoroughly -master of the subject. The consequence -of this is, an obscurity in the work, -which has made it doubly difficult of comprehension. -Several years ago, but a long time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> -after Dr. Bowditch had read and made notes -upon the whole work, an English writer said -that there were scarcely twelve men in Europe -capable of comprehending it. Dr. Bowditch, -feeling that it was the most valuable work -upon astronomy published in modern times, -had undertaken the translation of it, and had -made notes thereupon, for the purpose of -“amusing his leisure hours.” Upon its being -known that he had finished the task, the -American Academy offered to publish it. Dr. -Bowditch would not allow this, and reserved -the publication until he was able to do so at -his own expense. Let us see, now, what service -Dr. Bowditch intended to perform by his -translation and commentary. His first object -was to lay before America the greatest work -on the science of astronomy ever published. -Secondly, his aim was to bring that work -down to the comprehension of young men, and -students of mathematics, by filling up the -places left by La Place without demonstration. -Thirdly, he meant to give the history of the -science of astronomy for the interval between -the publication of the original work and that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -at which the translation appeared. Fourthly, -he wished to collect together all the discoveries -which he had made during the forty -years of his life that he had devoted to science. -His first aim was gained by the translation. -His second was completely successful, for he -was assured by correspondents, both in America -and Europe, that he had enabled several -to read the immortal work of La Place, who -never would have done so had not Dr. Bowditch -published his Commentary. The royal -astronomer at Palermo says, in a printed work -published after the first two volumes of the -translation had reached him, “Bowditch’s -Commentary should be translated into Italian;” -and Lacroix, a celebrated French mathematician, -advised a young Swiss to read La -Place in the American edition rather than in -the original. But what pleased the commentator -more than anything else, were the frequent -letters from young men residing in various -parts of America, expressing gratitude -for the benefits they had received from his -work. When I think of these, I am reminded -of the epithet bestowed upon Dr. Bowditch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -since his death, and by one well capable of -judging, namely, “Father of American Mathematics.” -He has given a tone to the study -of science which will be long felt.</p> - -<p>In regard to the third object, all critics -allow that he was eminently successful in giving -the history of science up to the time proposed.</p> - -<p>Upon the fourth point, we might refer, first, -to the immense increase of bulk of the work, -as a proof, but I prefer to mention a few details; -and in order to this, let us examine the -Commentary, and let it speak for itself. But -it must be remembered, that, in making this -examination, I must omit many circumstances, -because you would not understand or feel interested -in any greater detail.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">ERRORS IN IT.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">PERMANENCE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">ERROR IN PRINCIPIA.</div> - -<p>In the first volume he points out two errors -of La Place, one of which relates to the motion -of the earth; and the other is of much -importance. It relates to the permanency of -our solar system, as it is commonly called. -You all doubtless know that the sun is situated -in the centre, and the planets, with our -earth, revolve around this luminary, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -gives light and heat to all. Now, these bodies -revolve in certain fixed “nearly circular” directions, -and La Place thought that they -would always continue to do so, and that -Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, -Saturn, and Herschel would forever continue -to wheel around in their accustomed orbits. -Dr. Bowditch proves, however, that though -this may be true of the three larger planets,—Jupiter, -Saturn, and Herschel,—it is not -equally certain, <em>from the proofs given by La -Place</em>, that our earth, or any of the other smaller -planets, may not fly off into regions far -remote from those in which they have been -revolving for ages. This error had been made -the subject of a paper to the American Academy -at an earlier period of his life. But it -must not be supposed that there is any proof -that the solar system will not continue to -exist for many long ages. On the contrary, -there is no doubt that it will last millions of -years. Dr. Bowditch merely wished to assert -that La Place’s argument and calculation did -not prove as much as the French mathematician -thought they did. In this volume Dr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -Bowditch likewise alludes to a topic which -he had made the subject of a communication, -a long time previously, to the American Academy; -I refer to a mistake in Newton’s “Principia,” -which he discovered when quite young, -and had sent an account of to the president -of Harvard College. This gentleman referred -the question to the professor of mathematics, -who believed the youth was mistaken. Doubtless -he thought it very strange that a simple -youth should presume to correct anything -published by so eminent a man as Newton. -The error of the professor will become less -singular when you learn that the same mistake -escaped the notice of all the commentators -on the “Principia,”—that is, for more than -a century,—and that the cause of the original -communication being made to the Academy -was the attempt of Mr. Emerson, an Englishman, -to prove the correctness of the English -philosopher. Every one, I believe, now allows -that Dr. Bowditch was correct, and that -a considerable error would result, in calculating -the orbit of a comet, from using Newton’s -calculations.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Commentary continued; second volume.—Discussion between -the English and French mathematicians; Dr. -Bowditch’s criticisms.—Errors in La Place in regard to -the earth, &c.—Third volume; motions of the moon.—Fourth -volume; many errors discovered in it.—Halley’s -Comet.—Curious phenomena of capillary attraction.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">CRITIC OF IVORY AND POISSON.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">“I HAVE GOT IT!”</div> - -<p>In the second volume of the Commentary, -Dr. Bowditch makes very copious notes, in -which he shows a perfect knowledge of the -works of the chief mathematicians of Europe. -He stands as critic between two of the eminent -men of science of that day—Messrs. -Ivory and Poisson, the former an Englishman, -the latter a Frenchman; and in reference, -likewise, to a difficult subject, namely, the -revolution or the turning of a fluid mass upon -its own axis, as our earth does. He not -merely agrees with Mr. Poisson, but, by a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -very simple illustration, proves the total inaccuracy -of Mr. Ivory’s views. I well remember -the earnestness with which he studied this -subject. Day after day, he returned to the -task of finding out some “simple case,” with -which to prove to the satisfaction of others -the truth of his own view. At length, when -he did discover it, he jumped up in ecstasy, -and, rubbing his hands and forehead with delight, -walked about the library-room, crying -out, “I have got it!”</p> - -<p>Dr. Bowditch in this volume points out five -errors or omissions made by La Place, some -of which are very important. One refers to -the form of our earth, and had been previously -communicated to the Academy. There -is another of some moment, relative to the -time occupied in the revolution of one of -Saturn’s rings, La Place having made it longer -than was true.</p> - -<p>Finally, on the subject of the motion of the -earth about its centre of gravity, he points -out an error, in which La Place gives to two -numbers only one third of their true value.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">OLBERS AND GAUSS.</div> - -<p>In the third volume, occupied as it is with -the motions of the planets and of the moon, -and with all the phenomena accompanying -these, Dr. Bowditch shows much learning, -and his power of bringing modern science to -the thorough study of any topic. As in the -previous volume, he labors without fear upon -subjects treated of with much earnestness by -La Place, Poisson, and Pontecoulant, in -France, and Plana in Italy.</p> - -<p>On the theory of the motions of the moon,—a -very difficult and interesting subject,—Dr. -Bowditch makes very copious notes; and the -volume terminates with an appendix of more -than two hundred and fifty pages, in which he -gives the history of modern astronomy, in -reference to the calculations of the movements -of planets and comets. In this he speaks -of Olbers and Gauss. The former, from -having discovered three planets since the -beginning of this century, was called “The -fortunate Columbus of the Heavens.” The -latter was one of the most remarkable men in -the world for the rapidity with which he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -able to perform the most tedious and troublesome -calculations.<a name="FNanchor_13" id="FNanchor_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> - -<div class="sidenote">ERRORS IN LA PLACE.</div> - -<p>We come now to the last volume, in printing -the thousandth page of which he died. -It was the most difficult to him of the whole, -and probably will raise him higher, in the estimation -of the scientific world, than either of -the others. In the first place, I would remark, -that either from the difficulty of the -subject, or from the inattention of La Place, -an unusual number of errors was discovered. -No less than twenty-four errors or omissions -are pointed out. Many of these seem insignificant, -but often, as may be supposed, they -materially affect the calculation. Most of -them refer to the derangements and the motions -of Jupiter’s satellites—a subject which -occupies three hundred and fourteen pages of -the volume. The keenness of Dr. Bowditch’s -criticism is again perceived while treating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> -upon a subject in dispute between Plana and -La Place. Dr. Bowditch points out one mistake, -and Poisson another, whereby Plana’s -views are proved to coincide entirely with La -Place’s, instead of being opposed to them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">NOTE ON HALLEY’S COMET.</div> - -<p>I find a note upon Halley’s comet, to which -I alluded as presenting a grand spectacle in -our western sky a few years since, and I cannot -forbear mentioning the coincidence. Dr. -Bowditch, when making his notes upon the -subject of the motions and revolutions of -comets, speaks of Halley’s comet, and mentions -all that is known about it, and its probable -appearance. This note was prepared -some time before it was printed. It terminates -thus: “Since writing the preceding part -of this note the comet has again appeared, -and, <em>at the time of printing this page, is visible -in the heavens</em>, not far distant from the -place corresponding to the elements of Mr. -Pontecoulant.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">CAPILLARY ATTRACTION.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">LA PLACE AND POISSON.</div> - -<p>The work, so far as Dr. Bowditch is concerned, -finishes with the most curious and -difficult subject of capillary attraction, or that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -power whereby a liquid rises in narrow tubes -beyond the level of the fluid outside, as we -see familiarly in sponges, and cloths, and in -very minute glass tubes. You may think this -subject of little moment; yet La Place -thought it more curious than almost any other, -and he earnestly calls the attention of -mathematicians to it. It is a subject so difficult -of investigation, that it requires the -keenest efforts of the best intellects to rightly -understand it. After La Place’s investigations -were published, Gauss considered the subject, -and arrived at results similar to those presented -by La Place. But in 1831, Poisson, -the first mathematician then living, of whom -we have already spoken, put forth a work in -which he announced many new views. This -he thought himself justified in doing, after taking -into consideration certain particulars which -La Place had neglected. Dr. Bowditch received -the work while engaged in printing this -volume. He ceased printing, and devoted six -months or more to a thorough perusal of the -new French work. The result was, that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -proved that without an exception, unless where -an evident error was made by La Place, the -principles of this mathematician, when fairly -carried out, would produce all the results -which Poisson had given as new in his -work. By this labor Dr. Bowditch proved -that Poisson’s so-called new theory of capillary -attraction was founded in error. This is -decidedly the most important work of the -translator. It places him much higher than -before in the scale of mathematical rank.</p> - -<p>I would willingly give a further analysis, -but I forbear, because it would not be interesting -to you. It was in correcting this, his -noblest task, in the full strength of his intellect, -that he was destined to die.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p>Sketch of the life of La Grange, the equal of La Place; -love Dr. Bowditch had for this person’s character; comparison -between him and La Place; also between him -and Dr. Bowditch.—Conclusion of the Memoir</p> - -</div> - -<div class="sidenote">BOWDITCH AND LA GRANGE.</div> - -<p>During this history I frequently have -spoken of different individuals; but there is -one about whom little mention has been made, -but of whose life I wish to give you a short -account, as his character resembles very much -that of Dr. Bowditch. His mind and heart -were always regarded by the American mathematician -with feelings of respect and love, -such as he felt towards no other mathematician -whose works he had studied. An equal of -La Place, it seems not improper to mention -him; and I know you will excuse the slight -interruption in my story when you perceive -how the noble nature of La Grange seems to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> -harmonize with, and to illustrate, as it were, -the life of Dr. Bowditch.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LIFE OF LA GRANGE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">HIS INTELLECT AND MODESTY.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">LA GRANGE AND LA PLACE.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">LA GRANGE AND BOWDITCH.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">DEATH OF LA GRANGE.</div> - -<p>Joseph Louis La Grange, one of the most -famous geometricians of modern times, was -born at Turin, January 25, 1736. He was -one of eleven children of parents who became -very poor, so that Joseph had in early life to -gain his own subsistence. When young, he -devoted himself to the classics, and read Latin -constantly. At seventeen his taste for abstruse -mathematics and geometry first showed -itself; and from this period he continued -studying by himself, without aid. In two -years he had acquired a knowledge of all that -was known upon the science, and began to -correspond with the scientific men of other -lands. In 1755 he sent to Euler, then the -greatest mathematician in the world, and residing -in Berlin, an answer to a problem proposed -by Euler, ten years before, to the learned -men of Europe, and which they had been -unable to solve. He was appointed professor -of mathematics at Turin, at the age of -nineteen years, and soon afterwards originated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -the Academy of Sciences at that place. In -their Memoirs he published papers in which he -not merely criticised Euler and D’Alembert -and others, but brought forward some very -curious new views of science, discovered by -himself. Europe soon resounded with his -praises, and he was chosen member of all the -learned societies. In 1766, he was called to -the court of Frederick the Great, King of -Prussia, to take the place of Euler, who was -summoned by the Emperor of Russia to St. -Petersburg. Frederick wrote to him thus: -“Come to my court, for it is right that the -greatest mathematician in Europe should be -near the greatest king.” He accepted the situation -thus offered, and remained there until -Frederick died; and soon afterwards he was -invited by the French government to go to -Paris. From this time, with slight interruptions, -his fame continued to increase, and -every one delighted to honor him; for his labors -did honor to his adopted country. One -of the most beautiful compliments, perhaps, -ever paid to man, was the message sent by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -French government to the old father of La -Grange at Piedmont, when that country fell, by -a revolution, under French influence. “Go,” -said the Minister of Foreign Affairs to his ambassador, -“go to the venerable father of the illustrious -La Grange, and say to him, that, -after the events that have just taken place, the -French government look to him as the first object -of their interest.” The answer of the old -man was touching: “This day is the happiest -of my life, and my son is the cause of it!” And -thrice blessed must be such a son, for he fills -the last hours of his father’s life with peace. -When Bonaparte came into power, new honors -were showered upon him. But what was it -that charmed Dr. Bowditch in the character -of La Grange? It was the combination of a -giant intellect with extreme modesty and simplicity, -a sincere love of truth, and almost -feminine affections. He was a pure being, -whose intellect equalled La Place’s, but who -at the same time was full of the utmost gentleness -and strict justice. He was at Berlin -during the earlier part of La Place’s career in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> -Paris. In after-life, the two were friends. -Both were great geniuses; both were capable -of the highest flights of thought, and of bringing -down to the comprehension of mankind the -vast and wise laws impressed by God on the -system of the universe. La Place became interested -in political life. La Grange stood aside, -quiet and pleased with his own high thoughts. -If his fellows wished him to take upon himself -any public duties, he took them cheerfully, -and as cheerfully resigned them. La -Place courted honors; La Grange meekly received -them. La Place sometimes assumed -the fruits of other men’s labors to cover -himself with their glory. In the heart of La -Grange sat humility, justice, and philanthropic -love. In fact, La Grange was full of the -loftiest qualities and genius combined. La -Place had the latter. His genius alone recommended -him to the scientific men around -him. Such were two men whose works Dr. -Bowditch read with the greatest pleasure. -He often spoke with great feeling of the noble -traits in the character of La Grange. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -features and form of the head of Dr. Bowditch -resembled those of the great Italian. I -have often thought that, as they were like -each other in countenance, so their dispositions -and fortunes in life were more nearly -similar than is usual in this world. Both were -born poor, and early had to seek subsistence -for themselves. Each devoted himself early -to the science of mathematics, and both became -eminent in it. Love of truth and a -longing for it were strong traits in both; order -and regularity of life, and simplicity of -food and regimen, belonged to them equally. -Above all, a sincere reverence for goodness, -for true modesty and delicate refinement, and -a fine respect for the female sex, were strikingly -manifest in both. Both were moderate -in their desires, and both had the highest good -of humanity at heart. Each sought for quiet -and retirement from the turmoil of life in his -“peaceful mathematics.” As the lives of both -were beautiful, so was the serenity of their -death scenes. La Grange was attacked near -the end of March, 1813, by a severe fever,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -and the symptoms soon became alarming. He -saw the danger he was in, but still preserved -his serenity. “I am studying,” says he, -“what is passing within me, as if I were now -engaged in some great and rare experiment.” -On the 8th of April, his friends Messrs. -Lacépède, Monge, and Chaptal visited him, -and in a long conversation which he entered -into with them, he showed that his memory -was still unclouded, and his intellect as bright -as ever. He spoke to them of his actual condition, -of his labors, of his success, of the -tenor of his life, and expressed no regret at -dying, except at the idea of being separated -from his wife, whose kind attentions had been -unremittingly bestowed upon him. He soon -sank and died. Three days afterwards his -body was deposited in the Pantheon, as it is -called, the burial-place for the great men -of France; and La Place and his friend Lacépède -delivered their tributes of praise and -admiration over his grave. So peaceful and -calm was the death of Dr. Bowditch, whose -life I have been trying to place before you.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">MRS. BOWDITCH.</div> - -<p>Dr. Bowditch’s health had been generally -good, though he never was robust. In 1808 -he was dangerously ill with a cough, and by -the advice of a physician, he took a journey in -an open chaise. He was driven towards Pawtucket -and Providence, thence in a westerly -direction through Hartford and New Haven to -Albany, and back again across the interior of -Massachusetts, as far as the fertile valley of -the Connecticut River. Thence passing upwards, -he crossed on the southern borders of -Vermont and New Hampshire to Newburyport, -and back to Salem. This journey restored -him, and he never afterwards suffered -much from cough, and generally enjoyed good -health until his last illness.</p> - -<p>In 1834 his wife died. His heart was borne -down by the loss. She had been to him always -a loving and a tender companion, faithful and -true even to the minutest points. She had -watched all his labors. She had urged him -onward in the pursuit of science, by telling -him that she would find the means of meeting -any expense by her own economy in her care of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -the family. She had watched the progress of -his greatest work, which, with his dying hands, -he afterwards dedicated to her memory. She -had listened with delight to all the praises -that had come to him from his own countrymen -and from foreign lands; and now, when -he was full of honor and yet active in business, -she was called to leave him. With her -the real charm of life departed, and many sad -hours would have been the consequence, if his -sense of duty and devotion to science had not -prevented them. He attended now more closely -to active engagements. He always spoke of -his wife with extreme fondness, and sometimes -his tears would flow in spite, apparently, of his -efforts to restrain them. There was a degree -of sadness, however, which was perceptible -only to his family, that settled upon Dr. Bowditch -during the last four years of life, in -consequence of this deprivation.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">LAST ILLNESS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">FAREWELL TO FRIENDS.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN.</div> - -<p>In the latter part of the summer and early -days of autumn of 1837, he began to feel that -he was losing strength, and had occasionally -pains of great severity. He continued to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -attend to the duties of his office, however, -without yielding to his suffering. In January, -1838, he submitted to medical advice; but it -was of no avail. He sank rapidly under a -severe and torturing disease, which, for the -last fortnight of life, deprived him of the -power of eating or even of drinking anything, -except a small quantity of wine and water. -Until the last moment of his life, he was engaged -in attending to the duties of the Life -Office, and to the publication of his Commentary -on the “Mécanique Céleste.” During -this time, after he lost the power of visiting -State Street, he used to walk into his library, -and there sit down among his beloved books, -and pass the hours in gentle conversation with -his friends, of each one of whom he seemed -anxious to take a last farewell. He received -them daily, in succession, during the forenoon; -and towards those whom he loved particularly -he showed his tenderness by kissing them when -they met and when they parted. His conversation -with them was of the most pleasant -kind. He told them of his prospects of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -death, of his past life, and of his perfect -calmness and reliance on God. He spoke to -them of his love of moral worth. “Talents -without goodness I care little for,” said he to -one of them. With his children he was always -inexpressibly affectionate. “Come, my -dears,” said he, “I fear you will think me very -foolish, but I cannot help telling you all how -much I love you; for whenever any of you approach -me, I feel as if I had a fountain of love, -which gushes out upon you.” He spoke to -them at the dead of the night, when he awoke, -pleasant as a little child, yet with the bright, -clear mind of a philosopher. He told them -of his life, of his desire always to be innocent, -to be active in every duty, and in the -acquirement of knowledge, and then alluded -to a motto that he had impressed upon his -mind in early life, that a good man must have -a happy death. On one of these occasions he -said, “I feel now quiet and happy, and I think -my life has been somewhat blameless.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote">WORDS OF COMFORT.</div> - -<p>It was noon, and all was quiet in his library. -A bright ray of light streamed through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -half-closed shutter. He was calm and free -from pain. One of his children bade him -good by for a time. Stretching out his hand -and pointing to the sunlight, he said, “Good -by, my son; the work is done; and if I knew -I were to be gone when the sun sets in the -west, I would say, ‘Thy will, O God, be -done.’” Observing some around him weeping, -while he was quiet, he quoted his favorite -passage from Hafiz, one of the sweetest of the -poets of Persia:—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“So live, that, sinking in thy last long sleep,</div> -<div class="verse">Calm thou mayst smile while all around thee weep.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>On another occasion, when one who was -near him had a sad countenance, he told her to -be cheerful; and then, taking Bryant’s Poems -he read the four last verses of that exquisite -little poem called “The Old Man’s Funeral.” -It is so beautiful in itself, that I want you to -read it; and perhaps you may like to see how -he thought it applied to his own condition. I -have placed in parentheses his remarks.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">THE OLD MAN’S FUNERAL.</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - -<p class="center">THE OLD MAN’S FUNERAL.</p> - -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">I saw an aged man upon his bier;</div> -<div class="verse indent1">His hair was thin and white, and on his brow</div> -<div class="verse">A record of the cares of many a year—</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Cares that were ended and forgotten now.</div> -<div class="verse">And there was sadness round, and faces bowed,</div> -<div class="verse">And women’s tears fell fast, and children wailed aloud.</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">Then rose another hoary man, and said,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">In faltering accents, to that weeping train,</div> -<div class="verse">“Why mourn ye that our aged friend is dead?</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Ye are not sad to see the gathered grain,</div> -<div class="verse">Nor when their mellow fruit the orchards cast,</div> -<div class="verse">Nor when the yellow woods shake down the ripened mast.</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“Ye sigh not when the sun, his course fulfilled,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">His glorious course, rejoicing earth and sky,</div> -<div class="verse">In the soft evening, when the winds are stilled,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Sinks where his islands of refreshment lie,</div> -<div class="verse">And leaves the smile of his departure spread</div> -<div class="verse">O’er the warm-colored heaven and ruddy mountain head.</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“Why weep ye then for him, who, having won</div> -<div class="verse indent1">The bound of man’s appointed years, at last,</div> -<div class="verse">Life’s blessings all enjoyed, life’s labors done,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Serenely to his final rest has passed? [I cannot agree to the next two lines.]</div> -<div class="verse">While the soft memory of his virtues yet</div> -<div class="verse">Lingers like twilight hues when the bright sun is set.</div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“His youth was innocent, [yes, I believe mine was innocent; not guilty, certainly,] his riper age</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Marked with some act of goodness every day, [no, not every day—sometimes,]</div> -<div class="verse">And watched by eyes that loved him, calm and sage, [O, yes, watched by eyes that loved him; and O, how calm, but I cannot add sage,]</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Faded his late declining years away.</div> -<div class="verse">Cheerful he gave his being up, and went</div> -<div class="verse">To share [he hopes] the holy rest that waits a life [he hopes] well spent.</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“That life was happy; every day he gave</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Thanks for the fair existence that was his; [yes, every morning, when I awoke and saw the beautiful sun rise, I thanked God that he had placed me in this beautiful world,]</div> -<div class="verse">For a sick fancy made him not her slave,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">To mock him with her phantom miseries.</div> -<div class="verse">No chronic tortures racked his aged limb,</div> -<div class="verse">For luxury and sloth had nourished none for him. [Yes, that is all true.]</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“And I am glad that he has lived thus long,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">And glad that he has gone to his reward;</div> -<div class="verse">Nor deem that kindly nature did him wrong,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Softly to disengage the vital cord, [O, how softly, how sweetly, is the cord disengaging!]</div> -<div class="verse">When his weak hand grew palsied, and his eye</div> -<div class="verse">Dark with the mists of age, it was his time to die.” [Yes, it was his time to die; remember this; do not look sad or mournful; it is his time to die.]</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">LOVE OF FLOWERS AND MUSIC.</div> - -<p>One of the pleasant effects of his illness -was his new love for flowers. He had never -shown any great pleasure in them during life, -although a rose, or lily of the valley, was -frequently in his vest during the summer. -One day during his illness, Miss —— sent him -a nosegay, in the centre of which was a white -camellia japonica. “Ah! how beautiful!” he -exclaimed; “tell her how much I am pleased; -place them where I can see them. Tell her -that the japonica is to me the emblem of her -spotless heart.” Music, too, as it had been -his delight in early life, now served to soothe -his last hours. One evening, when surrounded -by his family, and he was free from all -pain, the door of the library was suddenly -opened, and his favorite tune of Robin Adair -was heard coming from some musical glasses -in the entry. Its plaintiveness was always -delightful to him: and after listening to it till -it died away, he exclaimed, “O, how beautiful! -I feel as if I should like to have the -tune that I have loved in life prove my funeral -dirge.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">HIS DEATH.</div> - -<p>It was on the 15th of March, 1838, that, -being too feeble to walk, he was drawn for -the last time into the library. On the next -day he was confined to the bed. On that day -an incident took place which I cannot forbear -to mention. He had called his daughter his -Jessamine, and about twenty-four hours before -his death she obtained for him that delicate -white flower. He took it and kissed it many -times. He then returned it with these words: -“Take it, my love; it is beautiful; it is the -queen of flowers. Let it be for you, forever, -the emblem of truth and of purity. Let it be -the Bowditch arms. Place it in your mother’s -Bible, and by the side of La Place’s bust, and -to-morrow, if I am alive, I will see it.”</p> - -<p>In the evening he drew a little water into -his parched mouth. “How delicious!” he -murmured. “I have swallowed a drop from</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse indent4">‘Siloa’s brook, that flowed</div> -<div class="verse">Fast by the oracle of God.’”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>On the morrow, 17th of March, 1838, he -died. Had he lived nine days more, he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -have exactly completed his sixty-fifth year. -On the next Sabbath he was laid quietly by -the side of his wife Mary. Snow-flakes fell -gently upon the coffin as it was carried into -Trinity Church vaults.</p> - -<p>There both the bodies remained until a few -years since, when they were removed to -Mount Auburn.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="footnotes"> - -<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> You will know better, by and by, about the Revolutionary -War. I will merely state now, that this war was -between America and Great Britain, in order to free ourselves -from the power of England. The reason why the -British King had anything to do with America was this: -Many years ago, a number of people came over from England, -and settled in this country; and of course the small -colony needed the aid of the government from which it -originated. After a time the people here wanted to govern -themselves, and they therefore went to battle about it, because -England would not grant them all their wishes. -This contest, which lasted for several years, was terminated -by the United States becoming free from the power of -Great Britain.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> It is now in existence, and was kept in his library -during his lifetime, and for many years afterwards. His -library, at the time of his death, consisted of several thousand -books, which, during his long life, he had collected. -Yet, to my mind, the little Almanac is the most valuable -book of the whole, because it was the first evidence he gave -of his perseverance, and of the tendencies of his mind. It -is now, with his other manuscripts, preserved in the Public -Library of the City of Boston. -</p> -<p> -The manuscripts and his whole library were given to the -city when the opening of Devonshire Street, in continuation -of Winthrop and Otis Place, required the removal of -the house where they had been preserved from the time of -Mr. Bowditch’s death.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> This was the famous battle of the Nile. It won for -Nelson the title of “Baron of the Nile.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> From Rev. Dr. Bentley’s manuscript Journal.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_5" id="Footnote_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Dr. Bentley’s Journal, above cited.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_6" id="Footnote_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> This and similar acts committed by Great Britain were -the prominent causes of the war between the United States -and England in 1812.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_7" id="Footnote_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> An expression of which sailors make use when speaking -of the captain of the vessel, and on this occasion overheard -by Mr. Bowditch, as two sailors whispered one to -another, as they passed him on the deck.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_8" id="Footnote_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> It is still (1869) used in the American, and often in the -English marine service. The twenty-eighth edition was only -recently published; about seventy-five thousand copies have -been issued since the first edition was printed under the -special direction of Mr. Bowditch.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_9" id="Footnote_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Chief Justice Parsons, it is said, used to say that moment -was one of the most exciting of his life; and he could -not forbear throwing up his hat and joining in the shout -with which the boys saluted the first returning light of the -sun.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_10" id="Footnote_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Since the first edition of this memoir, the whole -subject of meteoric stones has been more thoroughly investigated -by astronomers. Professor Loomis, of New Haven, -says (Elements of Astronomy, 1869, page 209), “In the -year 1833, shooting stars appeared in extraordinary numbers, -on the morning of November 14. It was estimated -that they fell at the rate of five hundred and seventy-five -per minute. Most of these meteors moved in paths, which, -if traced backward, would meet in a point near Gamma, in -the constellation Leo. A similar exhibition took place on -the 12th of November, 1799, and there are recorded ten -other similar appearances at about the same period of the -year. -</p> -<p> -“There was a repetition of this remarkable display of -meteors on the morning of November 14, 1866, when the -number amounted to one hundred and twenty-six per minute; -also November 14, 1867, when the number of meteors -for a short time amounted to two hundred and twenty per -minute; and November 14, 1868, the display was about -equally remarkable.” -</p> -<p> -Professor Loomis concludes that “these meteors belong -to a system of bodies describing an elliptic orbit about the -sun, and making a revolution in thirty-three years.” -</p> -<p> -The Weston meteor, or aerolite, observed by Dr. Bowditch, -is mentioned by Professor Loomis, as one of “great -brilliancy.” “The entire weight of the fragments discovered -was at least three hundred pounds.... The -length of the visible path of this meteor exceeded one hundred -miles. It moved about fifteen miles per second.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_11" id="Footnote_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> A fifth was printed several years afterwards, on which -Mr. Bowditch made some notes, and which he meant to -have published, but death prevented him from so doing.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_12" id="Footnote_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Since the first edition of this memoir, one of the most -extraordinary results ever obtained in astronomy by the use -of these same methods of investigation has been made -known. Messrs. Leverrier, a French astronomer, and Adams -of England, calculated very exactly the general characteristics -and course of a planet, which, from the disturbances -of the courses of other well-known planets, was <em>supposed</em> -to exist. In 1846, Leverrier requested a German -astronomer to point his telescope, at a certain time, towards -a certain part of the heavens, and there was the long-suspected -planet, previously never seen! It was named Neptune. -It is sixty times larger than our earth, and its orbit is nearly -thirty times farther distant from the sun.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_13" id="Footnote_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Within the last few years numerous other smaller -bodies (asteroids) have been discovered—not less than -eighty being now known.</p> - -</div> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Nat the Navigator, by Henry Ingersoll Bowditch - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAT THE NAVIGATOR *** - -***** This file should be named 61092-h.htm or 61092-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/0/9/61092/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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