Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Mathematics, Music, Pollution, Race

    Introducing himself as 'by profession, a Mathematician', whose studies are being 'pursued [...] by Bands of Inharmonious Blackguards', the writer of the letter parodies Charles Babbage's notorious attacks on street musicians. He complains about his daughter's habit of practising refined music and complains that his preparation of 'a work on the Differential Calculus' has been thwarted by singing 'Niggers' and bagpipe-playing highlanders.