82 MR. J. P. JOULE ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS 



to his position, and without which he would probably never 

 have attained even mediocrity, must, nevertheless, be reck- 

 oned as the source of many of his embarrassments. On the 

 one hand it made him look beyond and aim further than 

 the mere acquisition of personal comfort ; on the other hand 

 it led him to embark in projects which entailed upon him 

 trouble and loss. So true it is, that even the best qualities 

 of the mind are to a certain extent, so to speak, double 

 handed, and affect a man's happiness injuriously or bene- 

 ficially according to the character of the individual, and the 

 circumstances in which he is placed. 



To see a man labouring hard for the good of society and 

 the advancement of science without the possession of suitable 

 means, is a spectacle which calls forth the liveliest sympathies 

 of our nature. However noble the motives of such exertion, 

 it is certain that a man is frequently placed in circumstances 

 which render it a duty and virtue to deny himself the grati- 

 fication of intellectual pursuits. If a family is dependent 

 upon his labour for their daily bread, — if the claims of credi- 

 tors are to be met, — then it may be his bounden duty to 

 pursue the ordinary employment of society rather than his 

 favourite researches, however important, if they are not ac- 

 companied by a steady and adequate remuneration. Fre- 

 quently, however, it is difficult, or even impossible, for a man 

 disappointed in his hopes of realizing an income by intellectual 

 labour, to turn his attention successfully to ordinary business, 

 and thus paralysed in all his efforts he becomes involved in 

 crushing and hopeless penury. The sum which would be 

 necessary to succour the needy man of science, and so to ena- 

 ble him to continue his researches, would appear trifling indeed 

 if regard were had to the important objects to be realized. 

 But he appeals not to his country as a pauper. He asks it to 

 discharge the debt it owes for labours which have contributed 

 to the common weal, a debt which cannot honourably be left 

 unpaid. 



