Having availed himself of several private channels for recalling the question to Sir Robert Peel’s attention without effect, Mr. Babbage, on the 8th of October, 1842, again wrote to him, requesting an early decision. At last Mr. Babbage received the following letter:— “_Downing Street, Nov. 3, 1842._ “MY DEAR SIR, “The Solicitor-General has informed me that you are most anxious to have an early and decided answer as to the determination of the Government with respect to the completion of your Calculating Engine. I accordingly took the earliest opportunity of communicating with Sir R. Peel on the subject. “We both regret the necessity of abandoning the completion of a Machine on which so much scientific ingenuity and labour have been bestowed. But on the other hand, the expense which would be necessary in order to render it either satisfactory to yourself, or generally useful, appears on the lowest calculation so far to exceed what we should be justified in incurring, that we consider ourselves as having no other alternative. “We trust that by withdrawing all claim on the part of the Government to the Machine as at present constructed, and by placing it at your entire disposal, we may, to a degree, assist your future exertions in the cause of science. “I am, &c. “HENRY GOULBURN. “_Charles Babbage, Esq._” “P.S. Sir R. Peel begs me to add, that as I have undertaken to express to you our joint opinion on this matter, he trusts you will excuse his not separately replying to the letter, which you addressed to him on the subject a short time since.” To this letter Mr. Babbage replied as follows:— “_Dorset Street, Nov. 6, 1842._ “MY DEAR SIR, “I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd of Nov., containing your own and Sir Robert Peel’s decision respecting the Engine for calculating and printing mathematical tables by means of Differences, the construction of which has been suspended about eight years. “You inform me that both regret the necessity of abandoning the completion of the Engine, but that not feeling justified in incurring the large expense which it may probably require, you have no other alternative. “You also offer, on the part of Government, to withdraw all claim in the Machine as at present constructed, and to place it at my entire disposal, with the view of assisting my future exertions in the cause of science. “The drawings and the parts of the Machine already executed are, as you are aware, the absolute property of Government, and I have no claim whatever to them.