OP THE LATE MR. WILLIAM STURGEON. 57 



philosophical apparatus which, from my boyhood, I hud been 

 an admirer of, but which, during my services at least, a military 

 profession precluded all further knowledge of than that which 

 was to be derived from books of science ; a species of com- 

 modity at that time exceedingly rare in the army, even in the 

 distinguished branch to which I bad the honor to belong. 

 Fortunately for the service, every encouragement is now 

 given for mental improvement both in the army and navy. 

 Having spent the prime of life in the service, during a period 

 of the most rigorous military discipline that ever occurred to 

 the British army, I can vouch from experience that the value 

 of a soldier is not likely to be deteriorated by mental cultiva- 

 tion; nor do I think it possible that any soldier could be 

 more devoted to his profession, than he who improves his mind 

 by scientific studies. The more science is cultivated in the 

 service the more efficient will be its members in the per- 

 formance of their respective duties, and consequently the more 

 formidable will they be found when those duties are required 

 against a well disciplined army." 



" My first step towards constructing apparatus was the 

 purchase of an old lathe, and a few tools to work with. My 

 stock of tools, however, was very limited, from a want of 

 means to purchase more ; so that many rude substitutes had 

 frequently to be brought into requisition. And as I had no 

 practice either at the lathe or the vice, my first essays in 

 apparatus making were necessarily deficient of those elegan- 

 cies of structure and refinements of workmanship, which 

 always characterize the productions of regular-bred instru- 

 ment makers." 



" Notwithstanding these disadvantages, however, hope and 

 perseverance surmounted every difficulty that was met with, 

 and I soon found myself capable of constructing such pieces 

 of apparatus as I immediately wanted for my own purpose ; 

 and it was not long before I found purchasers for others, even 

 amongst the first-rate instrument makers in London. I am 

 I 



