ABSTRACT
Wherefrom comes my title and wherefore does it lead? Being myself of mystical tendency, I was struck by the fact that this is the thirty-sixth Crabtree Oration in the year 1989. Thirty-six is four times nine and 1989 contains three nines-one plus eight being nine for those already losing my thread. Nine is three times three and it was this symbolism which turned my attention to 1791-again the nines reappear, seven plus one plus one being nine-but this time there are only two nines or soixanteneuf if one be inverted!
