834 Mr. Stephens on the Influence of Chemistry [MaV, 



study. His business is not with abstract thoughts or words 

 alone ; the whole material world is his cabinet ; his hands are 

 actively employed, while his observation is pleasingly excited ; 

 and the various remarkable facts and natural wonders presented 

 in the course of his experiments, become stored in his memory 

 with the same facility that he notes interesting occurrences of 

 ordinary life. 



Although the information which chemistry leads to is inex- 

 haustible, it fortunately happens that a pupil can acquire a 

 precise notion of its nature and objects at the very first. After 

 a few hours familiar explanation of its principles, and of the 

 generalities relating to combustion, earths, metals, acids, alka* 

 lies, 8cc. he may proceed by himself to investigate any particular 

 part of the science he is interested in (manufacturing, medical, 

 agricultural, mineralogical, &c.) ; whereas in other branches of 

 knowledge, for instance, language, a teacher is as necessary as 

 a book, and the student is not competent to write an essay, or 

 venture into a conversation, till he is familiar with all or most of 

 the words and idioms composing it. As the chemical pupil 

 advances, he habitually attains what Benjamin Franklin would 

 have called the morals of chemistry, and in proportion to his 

 devotion to the science, acquires a character strongly tinctured 

 by the favourable circumstances peculiar to it. Such habits 

 (unlike those generated by abstract studies, which frequently 

 unfit a man for social intercourse, and for the active cares of 

 common life) are all highly favourable to the attainment of 

 eminence in any other science or profession. As education and 

 the formation of character are now subjects of universal and 

 well-merited attention, it may be productive of general advan- 

 tage to review in detail all the valuable habits which become 

 gradually established in the mind of a youth who enters with 

 spirit on the acquisition of chemical knowledge. 



The feeling which is first roused to action is curiosity, to 

 know the cause of striking phenomena, and the way to produce 

 each brilliant effect at pleasure. Whilst his mind is thus open 

 to the influence of admiration, many useful collateral truths may 

 be instilled with ease ; these being associated with pleasurable 

 ideas generally make a lasting impression. In repeating inte- 

 resting experiments with his own hands, he soon becomes prac- 

 tically convinced of the necessity of acquiring dexterity, and of 

 the comforts that spring from neatness. Continually exposed 

 to accidents which occur like summary penalties on the instant, 

 he abates his cautiousness or self possession ; he finds himself 

 in an excellent practical school for the acquisition of both ; and 

 generally attains considerable proficiency, sooner than would 

 seem possible to any one accustomed to create these qualities by 

 precept alone. 



His first experimental efforts will probably be rendered abor- 



