BABBAGE--DECLINE OF SCIENCE IN ENGLAND, A COLLECTION OF 2 WORKS

i. Babbage, Charles. Reflections on the decline of science in England… London: for Fellowes, 1830, FIRST EDITION, 8vo, signed on title-page by Henry Prevost Babbage (1824-1919), the author's son, later three-quarter calf, Franz Sondheimer, FRS (1926-1981), bookplate, (bought from Eric Korn, London, 1982), [T&W B51; Origins of Cyberspace 38; Van Sinderen 39], some spotting, cracking at gutter, hinges splittingii. [Moll, Gerritt (1785-1838)]. On the alleged decline of science in England [foreword by Michael Faraday]. London: Boosey, 1831, FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY MICHAEL FARADAY (1791-1867) TO RICHARD TAYLOR (1781-1858), PUBLISHER (“Richd Taylor Esq. | &c &c &c”) on title-page, 8vo, 8pp. publisher’s catalogue at end, later wrappers, (bought from Jeremy Norman, San Francisco, 1994), [T&W M115; Origins of Cyberspace 40], some dust-staining, extremities frayed, some loss to wrappers

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Babbage’s attack on the leadership of the Royal Society led to the formation of the British Association for the Promotion of Science the following year. This work helped establish the author’s reputation as an annoyance to the British scientific establishment. Moll’s answer did not challenge Babbage but merely stated that science was no more in decline in England than elsewhere. Moll sent his comments in a letter to Faraday who prepared the pamphlet for publication.