86 OBSEUVATIONS ON THE DIFFUSION OF 



losophical labours of Priestley and of Watt — they will not fail to en- 

 quire what steps we are taking to elevate the mass of the population 

 below us by the diffusion of the knowledge which has already been 

 acquired, and what facts we are collecting which may serve for the 

 discovery of new truths in the various departments of science. 



I have said, too, that this town is on the eve of becoming the centre 

 of inland communication, by the completion of that stupendous work, 

 the Railway between Liverpool and London ; and this, there can be 

 little or no doubt will soon be followed by others which will ramify to 

 all the principal points of the island. It is impossible to hazard a 

 conjecture as to the whole effect this may have upon our town, or to 

 assign a limit to the importance which it may thus attain. At this 

 moment the eyes of all are directed towards it ; and strangers will 

 soon flock in from various quarters, and they also will inquire into 

 the progress we are making in the work to which I have alluded. 



In the slight sketch which has thus been drawn of the past and pre- 

 sent state of this town, the effects of the diffusion of knowledge may 

 be clearly traced in the improvement which has taken place, and we 

 may therefore naturally expect that the future advancement of civili- 

 sation may be much hastened by the same means. The importance 

 of the subject, then, coupled with the fact that we are about to be put 

 upon our trial before a tribunal of Science, renders an apology for 

 bringing it under your notice on this occasion unnecessary. It may 

 be said that none now dispute the utility of knowledge, either on mo- 

 ral or political grounds. But, alas I we do not always practice what 

 we know to be useful and right ; few deny the authority of Revelation, 

 but many neglect to follow its injunctions. We require " line upon 

 line, and precept upon precept." 



There are some amongst us who have long felt the importance of 

 this subject, and have been long labouring to elevate the moral feel- 

 ings, and improve the minds and habits of the working classes. I 

 cannot hope to teach such persons, but I may perchance strike a cor- 

 responding chord in their minds, and recall by association long for- 

 gotten, trains of pleasurable feelings, while I enlarge upon the ad- 

 vantages, duty, and means of diffusing scientific knowledge. 

 ■ I. — Among the advantages arising out of the diffusion of know- 

 ledge, those which are attendant on religious instruction are too obvi- 

 ous and too fully acknowledged to require any demonstration. The 

 knowledge of the will of Him to whom we owe all our blessings, is 

 indeed an advantage which puts all others far out of the reach of 

 comparison. It is not, therefore, as undervaluing its importance that 



