Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Title in the Series
- CHAPTER I Nature of the Argument
- CHAPTER II Argument in favour of Design from the changing of Laws in Natural Events
- CHAPTER III Argument to show that the Doctrines in the preceding Chapter do not lead to Fatalism
- CHAPTER IV On the Account of the Creation, in the First Chapter of Genesis
- CHAPTER V Further View of the same Subject
- CHAPTER VI Of the Desire of Immortality
- CHAPTER VII On Time
- CHAPTER VIII Argument from Laws intermitting—on the Nature of Miracles
- CHAPTER IX On the permanent Impression of our Words and Actions on the Globe we inhabit
- CHAPTER X On Hume's Argument against Miracles
- CHAPTER XI À priori Argument in favour of the Occurrence of Miracles
- CHAPTER XII Thoughts on the Nature of Future Punishments
- CHAPTER XIII Reflections on Free Will
- CHAPTER XIV Thoughts on the Origin of Evil
- CONCLUSION
- APPENDIX
- NOTE A On the great Law which regulates Matter
- NOTE B On the Calculating Engine
- NOTE C Extract from the Theory of Probabilities of La Place
- NOTE D Note to Chap. VIII. on Miracles
- NOTE E Note to Chap. X. on Hume's Argument against Miracles
- NOTE F On the Consequences of Central Heat
- NOTE G On the Action of Existing Causes in producing Elevations and Subsidences in Portions of the Earth's Surface
- NOTE H Tables showing the Expansion of Beds of Granite variously heated
- NOTE I Extracts from Letters of Sir John Herschel
- NOTE K On the Elevation of Beaches by Tides
- NOTE L On Ripple Mark
- NOTE M On the Age of Strata, as inferred from the Rings of Trees embedded in them
- NOTE N On a Method of multiplying Illustrations from Wood-Cuts
- CORRECTIONS
NOTE B - On the Calculating Engine
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Title in the Series
- CHAPTER I Nature of the Argument
- CHAPTER II Argument in favour of Design from the changing of Laws in Natural Events
- CHAPTER III Argument to show that the Doctrines in the preceding Chapter do not lead to Fatalism
- CHAPTER IV On the Account of the Creation, in the First Chapter of Genesis
- CHAPTER V Further View of the same Subject
- CHAPTER VI Of the Desire of Immortality
- CHAPTER VII On Time
- CHAPTER VIII Argument from Laws intermitting—on the Nature of Miracles
- CHAPTER IX On the permanent Impression of our Words and Actions on the Globe we inhabit
- CHAPTER X On Hume's Argument against Miracles
- CHAPTER XI À priori Argument in favour of the Occurrence of Miracles
- CHAPTER XII Thoughts on the Nature of Future Punishments
- CHAPTER XIII Reflections on Free Will
- CHAPTER XIV Thoughts on the Origin of Evil
- CONCLUSION
- APPENDIX
- NOTE A On the great Law which regulates Matter
- NOTE B On the Calculating Engine
- NOTE C Extract from the Theory of Probabilities of La Place
- NOTE D Note to Chap. VIII. on Miracles
- NOTE E Note to Chap. X. on Hume's Argument against Miracles
- NOTE F On the Consequences of Central Heat
- NOTE G On the Action of Existing Causes in producing Elevations and Subsidences in Portions of the Earth's Surface
- NOTE H Tables showing the Expansion of Beds of Granite variously heated
- NOTE I Extracts from Letters of Sir John Herschel
- NOTE K On the Elevation of Beaches by Tides
- NOTE L On Ripple Mark
- NOTE M On the Age of Strata, as inferred from the Rings of Trees embedded in them
- NOTE N On a Method of multiplying Illustrations from Wood-Cuts
- CORRECTIONS
Summary
The nature of the arguments advanced in this volume having obliged me to refer, more frequently than I should have chosen, to the Calculating Engine, it becomes necessary to give the reader some brief account of its progress and present state.
About the year 1821, I undertook to superintend, for the Government, the construction of an engine for calculating and printing mathematical and astronomical tables. Early in the year 1830, a small portion of the machine was put together, and it performed its work with all the precision which had been anticipated. At that period circumstances, which I could not control, caused what I then considered a temporary suspension of its progress; and the Government, on whose decision the continuance or discontinuance of the work depended, have not yet communicated to me their wishes on the question. The first illustration I have employed is derived from the calculations made by this engine.
About October, 1834, I commenced the design of another, and far more powerful engine. Many of the contrivances necessary for its performance have since been discussed and drawn according to various principles; and all of them have been invented in more than one form. I consider them, even in their present state, as susceptible of practical execution; but time, thought, and expense, will probably improve them.
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- Information
- The Ninth Bridgewater Treatise , pp. 170 - 172Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1837