Beschreibung:

Babbage (Charles). Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on some of its causes, 1st edition, London: printed for B. Fellowes, 1830, xvi, 228pp., 4pp. publisher's advertisements at rear, author's presentation copy inscribed in brown ink to front endpaper 'to J H Whitmore Jones Esq. with the Author's kind regards', original boards with paper spine label, some light soiling marks, spine label partly missing, 8vo, together with The Ninth Bridgewater Treatise. A Fragment, 1st edition, London: John Murray 1837, lacking front and rear endpaper, half-tile with author's presentation inscription J. Whitmore Jones Esqr. from the Author', publishers advertisement leaf at end, occasional marks and soiling to text, original cloth, soiled and worn, with back strip deficient, 8vo (Quantity: 2) Provenance: Presentation copy from Charles Babbage to John Henry Whitmore (1795/96-1853) of Chastleton; From the library of Alan Clutton-Brock (1904-1976), thence by descent. Origins of Cyberspace 38; Van Sinderen (1980) 39. First edition in octavo of Babbage's polemic on the state of science in England. It was principally aimed at the Royal Society, but also criticised the government for its lack of support in developing science, and proposed reforms for scientific education.