536 Chronicles of Science. [Oct., 



out relations between the atomic weights of the now received 

 elements which led him to infer the probability of many of them 

 having a common basis. 



The conclusion of this lecture was so eloquent, and at the same 

 time so profoundly suggestive of new lines of thought, along which 

 chemists have scarcely yet penetrated, that we cannot refrain from 

 quoting it in extenso : — 



" The chemist lias never manufactured anything which, near or 

 distant, was susceptible even of the appearance of life. Everything 

 he has made in his laboratory belongs to ' brut ' matter ; as soon as 

 he approaches life and organization he is disarmed. 



" Is the intimate nature of matter known to us ? No ! Do 

 we know the nature of the force which regulates the movement of 

 the heavenly bodies, and that of atoms ? No ! Do we know the 

 nature of the principle of life ? No ! 



" Of what use then is science ? What is the difference between 

 the jihilosopher and the ignorant man ? 



" In such questions the ignorant would fain beheve they know 

 everything ; the philosopher is aware that he knows nothing. The 

 ignorant do not hesitate to deny everything ; the philosopher has 

 the right, the courage, to beheve everything. He can point with 

 his finger to the abyss which separates him from these great 

 mysteries, — universal attraction, which controls 'brut' matter; 

 life, which is the source of organization and of thought. He is 

 conscious that knowledge of this kind is yet remote from him, that 

 it advances far beyond him and above him. 



" No ! Life neither begins nor ends on the earth ; and if we were 

 not convinced that Faraday does not rest wholly under a cold stone, 

 if we did not believe that his intelligence is present here among 

 us and sympathizes wth us, and that his pure spirit contemplates 

 us, we should not have assembled on this s]iot, you to honour his 

 memory, I to pay him once more a sincere tribute of affection, of 

 admiration, and respect ! " 



6. ENGINEEEING-CIVIL AND MECHANICAL. 



The past quarter has certainly been rather prolific of engineering 

 enterprises, and can boast of the completion of two most important 

 projects, in addition to the development of a third which will pro- 

 bably, ere long, rival Sir Eowland Hill's penny postage in its uni- 

 versality and general public value. 



Government and the Telegraphs. — By an Act passed in the last 

 Session of Parliament power was given to confirm certain agree- 

 ments which had been entered into between the Post-oflfice autho- 



