Nathaniel Bowditch

“ It was the germ of his benevolence in after-life. A truly great man is kind-hearted as well as wise. Nat began [26] thus early his course of genuine humanity and science. So must you do if you would imitate him.
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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.—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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [93] who has made the agreement must either quit the port or offer an additional price. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. [168] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [172] able to perform the most tedious and troublesome calculations. ”