I ... 

 OF THE "7* 



UNIVERSITY 



HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY. 



LECTURE I. 



INTRODUCTION THE PHLOGISTON THEORY IN ITS FIRST AND IN ITS 

 LATER ACCEPTATIONS CHEMICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PHLO- 

 GISTIANS FALL OF THE SYSTEM. 



'"T^HE value of historical narratives is undisputed. This value 

 X no doubt varies with the subject matter which is dealt 

 with ; but the history of human actions and of human know- 

 ledge always forms one of the most interesting inquiries. If we 

 are adherents of the Darwinian theory, and grant to this theory 

 a warrantable latitude, the importance of a retrospect of bygone 

 centuries is thereby enhanced. We are then obliged to recog- 

 nise a steady progress of development ; history is no longer a 

 mere enumeration of isolated facts in chronological order, as 

 these succeeded one another fortuitously, but it embraces the 

 development of the human mind and of human civilisation. 

 It shows us the results of the influence which the most varied 

 causes have exercised upon the most different natures, and 

 may perhaps at some time enable us to discover the laws which 

 regulate these results. From this point of view it cannot be 

 denied that the development of the present condition out of 

 any former one becomes of increased importance ; and hence 

 the interest which the thinking public has taken in Buckle's 

 " History of Civilisation " is easily understood. 



I do not, however, go so ar fas to assert that this actual 

 standpoint is necessary in order to lend due importance to the 

 representation of the past. The facts cannot be overlooked, 



A 



