330 Mr. Stephens on the InjimncB of Chemidry [May, 



to any conclusion excepting this, that he is totally ignorant of 

 the matter, and that therefore it becomes him to keep his mind 

 open to conviction, and in a state of philosophical impartiahty, 

 till he acquires the requisite information. Where the subject 

 admits of experiment, the folly of wordy controversy becomes so 

 apparent that he loses no time by engaging in it : where it does 

 not admit of proof, the folly of positiveness is still more evident. 

 He learns to think and speak of things by weight and measure, 

 and to affirm respecting them no move than he knows ; for in 

 this science (unlike those which subsist on opinion) an inaccu- 

 racy is an untruth, and if he value his character, he will care- 

 fully avoid it by renouncing mere assertion and guess-work. 



Chemistry is, in short, the true offspring of the Baconian 

 system of creating knowledge, the essence of the experimental 

 philosophy ; and a youth placed within its sphere of action 

 (unless he be a grade lower in the creation than his fellow men) 

 cannot long remain unbenefited by the excellent train of thought 

 and action which it certainly induces. Every new truth which 

 enlightens his understanding enables him to judge more cor- 

 rectly of his previous errors, to doubt his own infallibility, to 

 encourage the thought with pleasure (so irksome to many) that 

 he is wiser to day than he was yesterday, and to behold with 

 admiration and profit the works of nature in progress around 

 him, which formerly passed unheeded before his eyes, or con- 

 veyed only vague notions to his understanding. If the cultiva- 

 tion of any particular science tend more than another to fix in 

 the mind a rational certainty on religious subjects, and substitute 

 confidence in place of doubt, that science is undoubtedly che- 

 mistry. AVhen a man remains incredulous and sceptical on 

 matters of eternal importance, we generally find that this happens 

 because his mind is unfurnished with any certain scientific mode 

 of attaining conviction of the truth, and proving the fallacy of 

 visionary objections. The chemist need never remain in doubt, 

 for he has habitually acquired a readiness of research, and a 

 teachable spirit of humble inquiry, most favourable to the disco- 

 very and acknowledgment of truth; — even when its admission 

 lowers his self opinion, destroys his worldly fame, and lays all 

 his cherished theories prostrate in the dust. 



The time spent in the acquirement of a general knowledge of 

 the science cannot be deemed a loss in any case ; for in this 

 age of chemical invention, its importance is so manifest, that 

 every gentleman is expected to know something of it (and the 

 earlier in life it enlightens his mind the better) ; and in numerous 

 female academies, it is now adopted as a necessary part of a 

 lady's education. This is a wise arrangement ; for (leavnigmore 

 obvious economical advantages aside) the daily portion of hap- 

 piness enjoyed by either sex depends so much on finding in 

 each other a similarity of tastes, and opinions, and of knowledge 



