V NOTES OF AN AFTER-DINNER SPEECH 125 



science can give is obtainable from the proper 

 study of these two; and I should be contented, 

 for the present, if they, added to our " Erdkunde,'' 

 furnished the whole of the scientific curriculum 

 of school. Indeed, I conceive it would be one of 

 the greatest boons which could be conferred upon 

 England, if henceforward every child in the 

 country were instructed in the general knowledge 

 of the things about it, in the elements of physics, 

 and of botany. But I should be still better 

 pleased if there could be added somewhat of chem- 

 istry, and an elementary acquaintance with human 

 physiology. 



So far as school education is concerned, I want 

 to go no further just now; and I believe that 

 such instruction would make an excellent introduc- 

 tion to that preparatory scientific training which, 

 as I have indicated, is so essential for the success- 

 ful pursuit of our most important professions. 

 But this modicum of instruction must be so given 

 as to ensure real knowledge and practical disci- 

 pline. If scientific education is to be dealt with 

 as mere bookwork, it will be better not to 

 attempt it, but to stick to the Latin Grammar 

 which makes no pretence to be anything but book- 

 work. 



If the great benefits of scientific training are 

 sought, it is essential that such training should be 

 real: that is to say, that the mind of the scholar 

 should be brought into direct relation with fact, 



