1826.] on the Affairs of Life. 337 



interesting to both, that every opportunity should be seized on 

 to render available a source of enjoyment so pure and en- 

 lightened. 



But to return. — The performance of a new analysis is in itself 

 a course of practical education, well calculated to illustrate the 

 favourable circumstances in which a chemical pupil is placed for 

 the attainment of valuable habits. His first care is to arrive at 

 all the precise information which books afford respecting the 

 genus and species to which the substance under examination 

 belongs, as well as the results of those who have preceded him 

 in similar attempts. In this research he is led to compare the 

 style and matter of various authors, and ascertain the rise and 

 progress of truth and error ; the former he perceives has been 

 attained only by patient experiment, the latter invariably has 

 sprung up wherever a point was taken for granted. This is an 

 excellent lesson for him, and it is rarely forgotten when he 

 undertakes a similar task. 



When thrown on his own resources to perform his analysis, 

 this apparently simple task often gives scope for the exertion of 

 the highest species of invention. He summons up every analo- 

 gous fact previously committed to memory, reviews the whole 

 store of his knowledge of nature applicable to the present emer- 

 gency, and selects the re-agents and modes of action apparently 

 most suitable. Faihng, perhaps, in these, after various trials, 

 he must again return to the review, and investigate with patience 

 and candour all the probable sources of error in his experiments, 

 as well as in the analogical reasoning which led to them. All 

 this is a work which requires for its execution considerable 

 industry, discrimination, and accuracy, both in observing results, 

 and in drawing conclusions from them. His powers of transition 

 and abstraction are called into life to attend instantly to succes- 

 sive appearances, and consider them carefully ere they pass 

 away. Forethought in planning and perseverance in executing 

 operations of difficulty (perhaps of danger) are alike indispensi- 

 ble to attain satisfactory results. These valuable qualities, which 

 are here but slightly touched on, are all properly attainments, 

 and are as naturally produced by use and the force of circum- 

 stances as strength is acquired by the sailor's arm, and the 

 mountaineer's knee. Like exotic plants they may be altogether 

 strangers to the soil, but cultivation can make them take root, 

 and experience proves that under the mental training induced by 

 chemistry, they thrive and flourish. 



In drawing up the report of his experiments, the pupil has the 

 advantage of excellent models to form his taste, and excite his 

 literary emulation. These are for the most part characterized by 

 accuracy, simplicity, perspicuity, and modesty. In the analytic 

 essays of Klaproth, fur instance, he will find the most valuable 

 discoveries successively comumuicated with an absence of prc- 



'New Striea, \ Oh. \\. /. 



