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Account of a Correspondence between Mr. George Barrett and Mr. Francis Baily

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

A. De Morgan
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Extract

In looking over some papers of the late Francis Baily, at the request of his sister, for the purpose of advising on their disposal, I found in one packet a number of letters addressed to him by the late George Barrett, the inventor (in this country) of the method for calculating life contingencies which now goes by his name. I also found the manuscripts of Baily’s three works—on leases, on interest, and on life assurances: these are now in their proper place, the library of the Institute of Actuaries.

From Baily’s methodical habit of arranging his papers, I feel confident that the letters alluded to are all which he received from Barrett: unless, indeed, some passed which he preferred not to preserve. The interest with which actuaries look upon the method published in these letters makes me think it desirable to give some account of them in a work which all actuaries consult.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Institute of Actuaries , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , 1854 , pp. 185 - 199
Copyright
Copyright © Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 1854

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References

page 185 note * I here use the word in its old and strict sense. Persons who have dipped into the history of discovery have often seen the rule of first publication cited as Waring's rule; and sometimes publication is limited, upon Waring's authority, to circulation by the press. But “Waring's words are—“Is mihi semper dicendus est inventor, qui primus evulgavit, vel saltem cum amicis communicavit.” Of course I do not acknowledge any authority here : I only meet those who do.

page 185 note † For this I applied to Colonel Wyndham, the possessor of Petworth House, who obligingly introduced me to the Rev. John Peachy, the husband of Barrett's niece. To Mr. and Mrs. Peachy I am indebted for nearly all the biographical facts, construction and comment being of course my own.

page 189 note * Baron Maseres laid the scientific world under many obligations by his reprints, and by his assistance to authors who could not afford to print for themselves. It is a great pity that he did not patronise Barrett. The Scriptores Logarithmici has been very useful; but matter amounting to two volumes out of the sis might easily be spared, and those two volumes form a bulk which would have contained Barrett's tables, even up to Three Joint Lives, for one rate of interest at least. I confess that I sometimes look into the mouths of the Baron's gift horses.

page 197 note * If Tetens had put the table of his page 89 at the end of the volume with the rest, his claims would probably have had earlier notice given of them.

page 197 note † The M column was invented, in this country, by Mr. Griffith Davies.