342 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
which must be asssumed as true, —namely, that the 
greatness of a nation depends, not upon its phy- 
sical, but on its intellectual power. From this axiom 
it necessarily follows that science produces manu- 
factories, — manufactories commerce, and commerce 
wealth. Hence it is at once perceived how insepar- 
ably science is interwoven in all that gives power 
and dignity to a nation, or rather that it is the corner- 
stone upon which all other forms of greatness 
are built. The expediency, therefore, not to say 
the necessity —that physical knowledge should be 
nurtured and protected by every government, re- 
quires no discussion. It may, indeed, be urged by 
those who are fully aware of the connections just 
alluded to, that in a commercial country like this, 
all sciences which can be brought to bear upon the 
necessities, the conveniences, or the luxuries of life, 
require no other aid or reward than that which 
they are sure to meet with on their successful appli- 
cation. The moment that an invention is found 
really available for practical purposes, from that 
moment its author may fairly calculate upon receiv- 
ing his reward by the general adoption of his dis- 
covery ; while, on the other hand, if there be no real 
utility in the thing itself, the most powerful patron- 
age will fail to establish it in public estimation. 
There is, undoubtedly, much of truth in_ these 
remarks, but a moment’s reflection will convince us 
that they are partial and superficial. We merely 
notice them in this place, to apprise the reader that 
they have not been overlooked, and that they will 
form a point of separate discussion hereafter. 
(240.) The first question,—JIs science less 
