PREFACE xi 



probably find in the ease with which the physicist, as 

 compared with either the pure mathematician or the 

 historian, is entangled in the meshes of such pseudo- 

 sciences as natural theology and spiritualism. If the 

 constructive portion of this work appears to the reader 

 unnecessarily dogmatic or polemical, the author would 

 beg him to remember that it is essentially intended to 

 arouse and stimulate the reader's own thought, rather 

 than to inculcate doctrine : this result is often best 

 achieved by the assertion and contradiction which excite 

 the reader to independent inquiry. 



The views expressed in this Grammar on the funda- 

 mental concepts of science, especially on those of force 

 and matter, have formed part of the author's teaching 

 since he was first called upon (1882) to think how the 

 elements of dynamical science could be presented free 

 from metaphysics to young students. But the endeavour 

 to put them into popular language only dates from the 

 author's appointment, in 1 891, to Sir Thomas Gresham's 

 professorship in geometry. The substance of this work 

 formed the topic of two introductory courses on the 

 Scope and Concepts of Moderti Science. Gresham College 

 is but the veriest shred of what its founder hoped and 

 dreamt it would become — a great teaching university 

 for London — but the author in writing this volume, 

 whatever its failings, felt that as far as in him lay he 

 was endeavouring to return to the precedent set by the 

 earlier and more distinguished of his predecessors in the 

 chair of geometry. To restore the chair and the college 

 to its pristine importance is work well worth doing, but 

 it lies in the hands of men hardly trained to appreciate 

 the social value of science and general culture. 



This Grammar of Science, imperfect as it is, would 

 have been still more wanting but for the continual help 

 and sympathy of several kind friends. Mr. W. H. 



