You have a point, but keep in mind that some very relevant things have changedsince then. Two to consdier: 1. At that time (roughly 1859), the percentage of t

You have a point, but keep in mind that some very relevant things have changedsince then. Two to consdier: 1. At that time (roughly 1859), the percentage of the population that was considered educated is much smaller than it is now, and many of those in the educated class where indepently wealthy (or directly sponsored by someone who was) and had little expectation on them other than to be educated. 2. Knowledge was much was less specialized then than it is now. I have been told that it is not uncommon now for a number theorist to have a hard time explaining the details of his work to someone who had specialized in analysis, much less to members of the "large audience of educated people."