Henry I. Bowditch

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ SLAVE SHIP FROM GUINEA.
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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ As arithmetic had been the darling pursuit of his boyhood, so now the curious [108] 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ One of the most beautiful compliments, perhaps, ever paid to man, was the message sent by the [179] 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!” ”

“ 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 [88] 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. ”

“ 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 [103] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. [152] By your own writings you can make yourself better known than by any other means. ”

“ 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 [123] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [166] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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, [136] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [180] Paris. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [14] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [19] this, young Bowditch met with, not long after he entered the school. From early life, Nat had liked ciphering, or arithmetic ”

“ Bowditch been united with [82] 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. ”

“ Bowditch.—Conclusion of the Memoir
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 ”