ON THE STUDY OF PHYSICS. 227 
cannot for an instant regard them as the final achievements 
of Science, but rather as an earnest of what she is yet to do. 
They mark our first great advances upon the dominion of 
Nature. Animal strength fails, but here are the forces 
which hold the world together, and the instincts and suc- 
cesses of Man assure him that these forces are his when he 
is wise enough to command them. 
As an instrument of intellectual culture, the study of 
Physics is profitable to all; as bearing upon special func- 
tions, its value, though not so great, is still more tangible. 
Why, for example, should members of parliament be 
ignorant of the subjects concerning which they are called 
npon to legislate? In this land of practical physics, why 
should they be unable to form an independent opinion 
upon a physical question? Why should the member of a 
parliamentary committee be left at the mercy of interested 
disputants when a scientific question is discussed, until he 
deems the nap a blessing which rescues him from the be- 
wilderments of the committee-room? The education 
which does not supply the want here referred to, fails in 
its duty to England. Wilh regard to our working people, 
in the ordinary sense of the term working, the study of 
Physics would, I imagine, be profitable, not only as a 
means of intellectual culture, but also as a moral influence 
to woo them from pursuits which now degrade them. A 
man's reformation oftener depends upon the indirect, than 
upon the direct action of the will. The will must be 
exerted in the choice of employment which shall break the 
force of temptation by erecting a barrier against it. The 
drunkard, for example, is in a perilous condition if he 
content himself merely with saying, or swearing, that he 
will avoid strong drink. His thoughts, if not attracted 
by another force, will revert to the public house, and to 
rescue him permanently from this, you must give him an 
equivalent. 
By investing the objects of hourly intercourse with an 
interest which prompts reflection, new enjoyments would 
be opened to the workingman, and every one of these 
would be a point of force to protect him against tempta- 
tion. Besides this, our factories and our foundries present 
an extensive field of observation, and were those who work 
in them rendered capable, by previous culture, of observing 
what they see,, the results might be incalculable. Who 
