114 ON THE VALUE OF CHEMISTRY, &C. 



That many follow Chemistry as an amusement 

 the writer is willing to allow, but it is necessary to 

 discriminate between a person of this kind and one who 

 engages in scientific investigations, not only for the 

 .sake of the delight afforded by the nearer acquaintance 

 with the operations of nature, but with the desire of 

 benefitting his fellow creatures by the result of his 

 labours. It is almost entirely to the indefatigable 

 researches of scientific men, that mankind owe their 

 present high state of civilization : it is impossible to 

 enumerate the many advantages which have been con- 

 stantly derived by every branch of art and manufacture 

 from the study of Chemistry, and yet we often hear it 

 enquired, though doubtlessly by unreflecting persons, 

 what benefit can result from experiments or to what 

 use can they be applied : a very few words will suffice 

 to show some of the advantages which arise from them. 

 Let us contemplate, for instance, the invaluable bene- 

 fit which has resulted from the discovery of the identity 

 of lightning and electricity, by the illustrious Franklin ; 

 this was not the result of mere accident but of a train 

 of experiments which induced such conclusions in the 

 mind of the discoverer : this of itself was more than 

 sufficient to repay the labors of all investigators of this 

 branch of science, since it has enabled us to resist and 

 disarm of its dreadful power one of the most terrific 

 agents in nature. We are indebted to Chemistry for 

 all the improvements in the various necessaries and con- 

 veniencies of life, the cotton manufacturer, the dyer, the 

 bleacher and soap-boiler, the painter, the brewer and 

 the paper-maker, all must own the incalculable advan- 

 tages they have derived from it. The steam engine 

 also is an instance of what has resulted from the experi- 

 ments of scientific men. A most striking instance of 

 the value of Chemistry to the French Nation was shown 

 in the war of 1794, 5, when they were obliged to avail 

 themselves of it to manufacture saltpetre for gun- 

 powder : it is by Chemistry that we are enabled io 

 convert substances of no apparent value into others 

 highly useful to society, such instances -arc constantly 



