ON THE STUDY OF PHYSICS. 225 
practical astronomer. It is not until the man withdraws 
from his calculation, as a painter from his work, and thus 
realizes the great idea on which lie has been engaged, that 
imagination and wonder are excited. There is, I admit, a 
possible danger here. If the arithmetical processes of 
science be too exclusively pursued, they may impair the im- 
agination, and thus the study of Physics is open to the same 
objection as philological, theological, or political studies, 
when carried to excess. But even in this case, the injury 
done is to the investigator himself: it does not reach the 
mass of mankind. Indeed, the conceptions furnished by 
his cold, unimaginative reckonings may furnish themes for 
the poet, and excite in the highest degree that sentiment of 
wonder which, notwithstanding all its foolish vagaries, table- 
turning included, I, for my -part, should be sorry to see 
banished from the world. 
I have thus far dwelt upon the study of Physics as an 
agent of intellectual culture; but like other things in 
Nature, this study subserves more than a single end. The 
colors of the clouds delight the eye, and, no doubt, accom- 
plish moral purposes also, but the self-same clouds hold 
within their fleeces the moisture by which our fields are 
rendered fruitful. The sunbeams excite our interest and 
invite our investigation; but they also extend their benefi- 
cent influences to our fruits and corn, and thus accomplish 
not only intellectual ends, but minister, at the same time, 
to our material necessities. And so it is with scientific re- 
search. While the love of science is a sufficient incentive 
to the pursuit of science, and the investigator, in the pros- 
ecution of his inquiries, is raised above all material con- 
siderations, the results of his labors may exercise a potent 
influence upon the physical condition of the community. 
This is the arrangement of Nature, and not that of the scien- 
tific investigator himself; for he usually pursues his object 
without regard to its practical applications. 
And let him who is dazzled by such applications who 
sees in the steam-engine and the electric telegraph the 
highest embodiment of human genius and the only legiti- 
mate object of scientific research, beware of prescribing 
conditions to the investigator. Let him beware of attempt- 
ing to substitute for that simple love with which the votary 
of science pursues his task, the calculations of what he is 
pleased to call utility. The professed utilitarian is unfor- 
