Mr. Babbage’s Calculating Machine
A calculating machine is a fair subject for a joke. In May, 1839, when an additional grant was applied for in the House of Commons, in order to complete Mr. Babbage’s machine, Mr. Wakley inquired whether it was likely to be of any use to the public? Upon this, Sir Robert Peel felicitously replied, that “the machine should be put to calculate the time at which it would be of any use.” The calculating machine has certainly not yet been put to any more practical purpose.