Before William went up to Leamington, or possibly the night after, Ada wrote her mother, “I cannot comprehend what you allude to, as regards my exciting habits for long past.” She concluded her letter that after the hemorrhages her health had improved.
Lady Byron then reiterated her suggestion to Ada that she had made several weeks earlier during the visit with Sir David Brewster. Ada should embark on an intellectual endeavor, perhaps with one of her scientific friends. Lady Byron’s suggestion for a scientific treatise was for Ada to examine the work of Rutter, a phrenologist and Mesmerist whom Lady Byron admired. As sick as Ada was, she tried to comply with her mother’s wishes and hold on to family ties. Faraday came to visit and brought a book for Annabella. Ada wrote Annabella on 22 June that the medical men “think me in a state not to be out of their sight.” She then gave Annabella instructions on what she should be studying.
By July William went off to Ashley Combe and wrote Ada that he missed her. He was totally upset at Lady Byron’s reaction to Ada’s ill health in that she focused on the gambling debts which he had stated were fully paid. Ada’s health was still precarious and she asked William to be patient. Her mother continued to put pressure on Ada to perform intellectual feats. Again Ada reports that Dr Locock “said that tho’ now there is still an extensive deep seated sore, yet it is a healthy sore. . .” Despite this condition Ada continued to consult Faraday and Brewster about working up a treatise about Rutter’s experiments about phrenology. At the beginning of August, after not seeing her mother for weeks she headed to Brighton warning her “You had not seen me for 3 or 4 weeks, if you recollect... & I suppose I had altered much & rapidly. Dr L – said there was more death than life in my face, & that my hands were like “Birds’ claws.”
Dr Locock put Ada back on laudanum, and she floated in and out of reality. She wrote: “They say that “coming events cast their shadows before...May they sometimes cast their lights before?” By mid-August Ada was still complaining about ill health. She tried to be philosophical, hoping all would be well but concluded, “what a fearful thing is an insidious painless disease, that undermines before one knows it.-”
Even though Ada was in outer space she was grounded enough to write Babbage and Agnes Greig. She was very upset that Annabella’s governess was ill. In early September Ralph came to visit. Once again on laudanum, Ada had hopes she could influence him: “No one can be so fit to catch a Comet. Set a Genius to warn a Genius.”
To Charles Babbage
Friday Morning, 22 August [1851]
Dear Babbage. I unfortunately forgot a very principal thing I had to say to you last evg, & which can be less well explained in writing. It is to ask you if you would be so very kind as to see a gentleman (one of the Leighs) on Tuesdy next at 11 o’clock, –who wants to sell to me, a Rifle & a pair of Pistols which he declares to have been my father’s. –
He is in great distress, & obliged to sell everything he has, – ... I have promised that no mention shall be made of his circumstances, in application to me. He writes that it is of the utmost moment to him to keep his affairs private.
It will be a great favor to us, if you will see him, – & see the articles, – & examine how far they are likely to be genuine, – & worth the price he may ask. –
I have written him a note to desire him to call on you on Tuesdy, but I shall not send it till I have yr consent. It is most unlucky I forgot this yesterday. –
Yrs
A.L.
To Agnes Greig
Saturday, 29 August [1851]
E.H.P.
Dear Mrs Greig. I am miserable about Miss Wächter ... Hawkins says she has a Cancer in the breast, which is beyond all hope – even from an operation. She is wholly unconscious, & thinks she has a little lump of no more importance than a Wart!- It is to me most afflicting to hear her speaking of the future, just as usual; – unconscious of her horrible doom! –
Ask Annab: to show you my letter to her about Miss W. Annab: ought to be prepared for the sad misfortune.
We wish to give Annab: a dress; –I think a very nice silk dress; to be made up by a good Paris Milliner. Will you be so very kind as to manage this. She had better have what ever she likes best. – Could she not have a low dress: with also a Polka of the same, to make it a morning dress? –
This fate of Miss W is a dark cloud over us, & so it will be to you. –
Very truly yrs
A.A. Lovelace
The Great Exhibition was drawing to a close. The Royal Commission reported in November that over six million people visited the exhibit. Annabella sent Byron the floor plan and descriptions of the many exhibits. Ada, like all of her family and friends, had great hopes for the future of a world in which Babbage’s “imagined mission” to build an Analytical Engine might materialize. Ada wrote many of her letters on Great Exhibition stationery.
In the background Lady Byron was still encouraging (or pushing) Ada to perform more intellectual feats, but Ada was running out of money and time: she complained to her mother “I have not £5 in my purse. –”. Life was difficult. All she wanted was solitude to be left alone to rest on her “perch”.
Some of the letters Ada wrote at this time are particularly strange because of her description of herself as a general. Was she indeed seeing “coming events”? Ada’s name has now come to represent a computer language developed by the U.S. Department of Defense and named in her honor. Her letter at the end of October is fascinating.
To Lady Byron
Wednesday Afternoon, 29 October [1851]
London
Some of the conversation between us this morg on general topics, has been like a genial watering to a certain seed which is sprouting, (but as yet has not reached the surface of the soil)!–
If I could ever help to give the despots a shove, I should certainly feel that I had not lived in vain. –
Your hope, and expectation almost, that such a day may arrive, gives me great encouragement.
I think, when you do by and bye, see certain productions, you will not even despair of my being in time an Autocrat, in my own way; before whose marshalled regiments some of the iron rulers of the earth may even have to give way ! –
But of what materials my regiments are to consist, I do not at present divulge. I have however the hope that they will be most harmoniously disciplined troops; – consisting of vast numbers & marching in irresistible power to the sound of Music. Is not this very mysterious? Certainly my troops must consist of numbers, or they can have no existence at all, & would cease to be the particular sort of troops in question. –
But then, what are these numbers? There is a riddle.
An advertisement for Ada software used by the US Department of Defense
Poetical Science
A computer science professor at Stanford suggested the best way to have the greatest impact on changing the perception of women going into mathematics and science is to have a conference with interactive activities. That is true for all people, all ages. You can bring the latest developments in science and technology to your community. You can have your very own Great Exhibition.
1. Have a mission that attracts people, using your imagination to select a theme.
2. Make a plan that involves a scientific detailed approach.
3. Implement it.
There are many resources that can help you do this. It is being done by Expanding Your Horizons, check out the web site for ideas: http://www.expandingyourhorizons.org/. They sponsor conferences all over the world.
Part of the proceeds of this book will go to Expanding Your Horizons as well as University of California at Berkeley’s School of Engineering. They have a program called CITRIS. Their web site is: http://www.citris-uc.org/ At one of their conferences I saw all the wonderful work being done to improve the human condition. Many people think that mathematics, science, and technology are dull subjects, but by changing the accent as CITRIS has done, it becomes an inspirational human endeavor.
&n
bsp; 25
The Dragon and the Rainbow
[1851-1852]
I feel persuaded that
you do seriously intend
... to exact all furys
During the last year of Ada’s life she wrote the most wonderful letters to her children. In mid-November she was excited to receive a letter from Byron about his adventures in the Yucatan. He related how the Indians had killed some Englishmen and in retaliation there was an expedition from the ship, which killed hundreds of Indians. Their bounty was scalps, and Ada’s firm response was “I am rather appalled at yr idea of bringing home scalps! I hope you have not become quite a barbarian.” Ralph delighted reading about the escapade; after all, to him the Indians were uncivilized. Ada responsed to Ralph that “the greatest of all blots on human nature appears to me the conduct of civilized man to his uncivilized brethren. . .” Evidently Ada’s objection to Byron’s bringing home the scalps was successful because she wrote Annabella that thankfully they had escaped “the scalps.”
Marble Arch
When she felt strong enough, she went out for short excursions in an invalid chair and could see Marble Arch just a block away. She was confined to the sofa and was surprised that she was not more gloomy or “savage.” Mrs Greig came to help, but Ada still had many family issues that she had to attend to. William was very busy with the duties of a lord and spent most of his time at East Horsley Towers, involved with his many agricultural and architectural duties. He was giving a hunt breakfast at Horsley, and Ada needed to find a hostess for him. Ada wrote to Annabella that she wanted her to be the hostess for the hunt breakfast and go to Mrs Burr’s Ball with William and encouraged Annabella in her equestrian pursuits, especially leaping.
To Annabella
Saturday, 22 November [1851]
Dear Annab: I have sent yr very annoying little vignettes to Ralph. It made me laugh. I send you the account I recd of him last evg...
Papa will be down at Horsley tomorrow afternoon. I showed him yr letter this morng, and he was very grave respecting the consequences of having too many pets, & his gardeners’ time being taken up in parrot-hunting. I had not foreseen this view of the case, & I might have judged wise to with-hold the communication. But it made me laugh so much, that I thought he would laugh too.
I am afraid too that he did not quite approve of the lamentation over the oaks, (which I should certainly allow to remain there). Papa considers that they take a great liberty in shrouding the Tower, & he is not pleased with anyone who dares to defend them. You know that the Tower is decidedly Papa’s first born, & dearer to him than kith or kin or life itself.
You must take my place on Satdy, at the Hunt Breakfast, and make yourself as agreeable & useful as you can instead of me. Papa will want you with him, to receive his guests as they come in. You are quite old enough & experienced enough, & it is also good practise for your probable hereafter. If you marry, you will be the better wife; & if you don’t marry young, why you will be the more useful to me, for I can tell you I mean (unless you escape by marrying) to make a Slave of you, & that you shall be my Vice - queen in everything.
Interior Corridor at East Horsely
To Annabella
28 November [1851]Dear Annabella. Mrs Burr sends her love to you, & is very busy about her fancy Ball & we are deciding on the weighty matter of a dress for you. You are I believe to be a young Spanish Lady in Mantilla &c. And as the dress is entirely black, & not at all gay, we do think it may meet with yr demure approbation. We had an idea of yr being the Infante Isabella (daughter of the Isabella of Castille) but we found her dress so hideous, so like a Hag in armour, that we gave it up in horror. You know Papa is condemned to this ball & considers himself a martyr, especially as it is intended he shall be in his Albanian dress, (in which he is most striking looking & attractive)...
Will you tell Papa that Dr Locock has been today, & gives a decidedly better account, – & that he attributes the improvement to my very quiet life & abscence of moving.
Do not forget this, for Papa was a good deal discouraged at what Dr Locock told him, at the same time we must not hope too much yet. Very Affectly yrs A.L.
William was not enthusiastic about going to the ball. Ada wrote he would be proud that Annabella was dressed as a Spanish lady with a mantilla. Ada dutifully wrote to her mother, who was ill at Esher, writing that her own “malaise was indescribable.” Ada tried cannabis at the suggestion of Sir G Wilkinson but returned to opium to relieve her pain. As for Mesmerism, it just did not work. Babbage was alarmed at the state of her health and consulted a Dr Sir J. South on her behalf.
At the beginning of 1852, the Lovelaces’ financial problems worsened. William had not received the payments Lady Byron had promised on the note he had signed for the repairs that he was doing at Great Cumberland Place. Ada needed nurses day and night to take care of her.
Lady Byron informed her attorney, Dr Lushington (who lived at the Lovelaces’ Ockham estate), that she would consider paying the debts if Ada supplied a list of the debts owed. When Lushington went to see Ada in April, he was shocked. Ada looked much worse than he had imagined. She was frail, bedridden, and on drugs to relieve the agony. Lushington received from Ada a detailed account of the money they owed. Lady Byron reviewed the list, questioning a hairdresser’s bill, and suggested that Ada use a Mesmerist instead of opium.
Lady Byron was writing one thing to Ada and another to Lushington about the issue of a new rector for Ockham. Ada wanted her old friend Reverend Gamlen to be appointed the new rector. Despite the appearance that her mother supported the selection, Lushington wrote to Lady Byron: “Why won’t you let Gamlen come here?” Even stranger is that Robert Crosse, the brother of Ada’s alleged lover and gambling accomplice, John Crosse, was appointed rector instead of Gamlen.
In discussing Ada’s financial obligations, Lushington wrote Lady Byron on 30 April that an unauthorized use was being made of Ada’s name for “motives of gain,” and powers had been delegated, but without Ada’s knowledge. What that cryptic reference meant and to whom he was specifically referring are not known. Charles Babbage was Ada’s executor.
Since Byron was due to visit in April Ada wrote to him. She was very concerned since he had not seen her for a while he would find a sick mama, “whom I fear a handsome active young fellow like you, will regard as a bore.” All she could do was to go out in her “invalid chair.” She signed her letter in an unusual way as “Your most affectionate Mother.”
Invalid Chair
Lady Byron had not visited her daughter for months. On 19 and 21 May, Lady Byron paid in total £2800 to cover Ada’s obligations. Lady Byron stated specifically that none of the money covered any gambling obligations. In exchange for the money Ada agreed to see her mother. Lady Byron did not like the way Dr Locock was handling Ada’s case and pressured her to hire other physicians, thereby minimizing Locock’s influence. Dr Locock wrote to Ada, “why won’t they leave us alone?”
Lady Byron was slowly eroding Ada’s support system.
To Lady Byron
10 o’clock Monday morg [undated]
I think you would like to know how I have slept after my accouchement of the Dragon, (which considering its adamanative nature was certainly no trifle).
I have had a very good night, & much less pain yesterday than is usual, on the other hand there is a greater than usual discharge, which accounts for the lessened pain.
I am much relieved to have told you, the Dragon, at last. I had felt that I was not acting quite fairly towards you while it was reserved. If one asks & accepts the assistance of anyone, under certain circumstances that is, – it seems wrong to keep from them the point of most importance...
I am anxious to see you after the communication of the Dragon, – that I may be finally satisfied you won’t devour me.
To Lady Byron
Tuesday, 1 June 1852
In yr last, 3 or 4 days ago, you say, “There is much virtue in plain speaking.” But on the other
hand: What is once said never can be unsaid, & this is a formidable drawback from resolutions to be perfectly frank. It is a kill or cure & it requires much courage to run the risk (if one sees it) of kill, instead of cure!
At all events there is always imminent danger in plain speaking, when under the influence of excited & passionate feelings, & before reflection has time to interpose. It is of course less so when there has been ample time for consideration.
I feel persuaded that you do seriously intend what you have however put in a rather jocose way & viz: to extract all furys.
There are unhappily associations now connected specifically with you extremely painful to me, & which have weighed hard on me throughout my illness, so that I cannot but feel some agitation in first seeing you. And yet I desire extremely, perhaps beyond everything else that we should meet. – ...
And Lady Byron did indeed extract all furies. On 11 June Ada notified her mother that she had given a diamond parure to John Crosse to pawn. Lady Byron retrieved the parure of diamonds for £800 plus £100 interest. Ada agreed to her mother’s suggestion to see the Mesmerist on 17 July; there was no improvement in Ada’s health.
Just at this time, William discovered that John Crosse was a married man, though Crosse had never mentioned that fact or brought his wife to social engagements. That was a severe breach of etiquette at the time. When William confronted Crosse with this information, he hemmed and hawed. Crosse went to visit Ada on 4 August, and once again she gave him the diamond parure, which she did not remember doing until 11 October.
Ada, the Enchantress of Numbers:Poetical Science Page 22