Passages from the Life of a Philosopher

Charles Babbage's classic autobiography and exploration of a multitude of subjects, including: Value of a celebrated Name, My Ancestors, Their Ante-Mosaic origin, Flint-workers, Toolmakers, Not descended from Cain, Ought a Philosopher to avow it if he were?, Probability of Descent from Tubal Cain, Argument in favour, he worked in Iron, On the other side, he invented Organs, Possible origin of my Name, Family History in very recent times, Childhood, Early Passion for inquiry and inquisition into Toys, Lost on London Bridge, Supposed value of the young Philosopher, Found again, Strange Coincidence in after-years, Poisoned, Frightened a Schoolfellow by a Ghost, Frightened himself by trying to raise the Devil, Effect of Want of Occupation for the Mind, Treasure-trove, Death and Nonappearance of a Schoolfellow, Earliest Recollections, Boyhood, Cambridge, Difference Engine No. 1, First Idea at Cambridge, Plan for Dividing Astronomical Instruments, Idea of a Machine to calculate Tables by Differences, Illustrations by Piles of Cannonballs., Explanation of the Difference Engine, Of the Mechanical Arrangements Necessary for Computing Tables by the Method of Differences, Description of the Existing Portion of Difference Engine No., Statement Relative to the Difference Engine, Drawn Up by the Late Sir H. Nicolas from the Author's Papers, Difference Engine No. II, Of the Analytical Engine, Built Workshops for constructing the Analytical Engine, Difficulties about carrying the Tens, Unexpectedly solved, Application of the Jacquard Principle, Treatment of Tables, Probable Time required for Arithmetical Operations, Conditions it must fulfil, Unlimited in Number of Figures, or in extent of Analytical Operations, The Author invited to Turin in, Meetings for Discussion, Plana, Menabrea, MacCullagh, Mosotti, Difficulty proposed by the latter, Observations on the Errata of Astronomical Tables, Suggestions for a Reform of Analytical Signs., Of the Mechanical Notation, The Exhibition of, Circumstances Connected with the Exhibition of the Difference Engine No. in the International Exhibition of, List of Mechanical Notations Proposed to Be Lent for the Exhibition, The Late Prince Consort, Count Mensdorf mentions to the Duke of Wellington his wish to see the Difference Engine, An appointment made, Prince Albert expresses his intention of accompanying his uncle, Time of appointment altered, Their visit, accompanied by the Duke of Wellington, Portrait of Jacquard, Anecdote of Wilkie, Afghanistan arms, Extract from the Author's work on the Exhibition of, Recollections of the Duke of Wellington, Recollections of Wollaston, Davy, and Rogers, The Thaumatrope, Recollections of Laplace, Biot, and Humboldt, Alexander Humboldt, Of the Bonaparte Family, Experience by Water, Experience by Fire, Baked in an Oven, A Living Volcano, Hot Springs, Earthquakes, Fire Damp, Experience Amongst Workmen, Picking Locks and Deciphering, Deciphering, Experience in St. Giles's, Theatrical Experience, Electioneering Experience, Scene from a New Afterpiece, Called "Politics and Poetry;" or, "The Decline of Science", Dramatis Personæ, Scenes, etc., Extracted, Experience at Courts, Experience at Courts, Railways, Street Nuisances, Wit, Hints for Travellers, Miracles, Religion, The à priori proof of the existence of a Deity, Proof from Revelation, Dr. Johnson's definition of Inspiration, Various Meanings assigned to the word 'Revelation', Illustration of transmitted Testimony, The third source of proof of the existence of a Deity, By an examination of His Works, Effect of hearing the Athanasian Creed read for the first time, A Vision, Various Reminiscences, On Preventing the Forgery of Banknotes, An Émeute, Letters of Credit, The Speaker, Ancient Music, The Author's Contributions to Human Knowledge, and Formation of Various Scientific Societies.Babbage, a British polymath, is credited with being the first to conceive of a programmable computer.