2 HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY. [LECTURE 1. 



that knowledge itself affords a certain satisfaction to the human 

 intellect, and that every one eventually seeks to draw lessons 

 for the present from the destinies of nations in former times. 

 The most pronounced opponents of Darwin, for example, 

 must admit that a connection exists between the outstanding 

 character and the fate of a nation, and even they will attribute 

 the success or the non-success of great undertakings to material 

 causes and circumstances. 



Assuming as a basis, then, the standpoint mentioned above, 

 it may be asserted that a historical account of any science 

 possesses an interest extending beyond that particular science. 

 In a comparative study of the history of all intellectual sciences, 

 certain general tendencies of speculation may perhaps be recog- 

 nised which were predominant at particular times, and owed 

 their existence to real, definite circumstances. In this respect 

 the history of philosophy, in particular, is of importance for 

 early times ; while for modern times the historical exposition 

 of the natural sciences, in my opinion, possesses just as great, 

 and probably even greater, importance. The subject matter 

 treated of in the present work may hence find an application 

 some day : it may be regarded as one of the many preparatory 

 studies which will be required if the question of writing a 

 history of the development of the human intellect should ever 

 arise. 



If we limit our view, however, and inquire as to the interest 

 which the historical representation of a science possesses for 

 that science ; or, what concerns ourselves still more closely, if 

 we merely consider the advantage which accrues from it for the 

 study itself, or for the student, the points of view which then 

 become paramount are entirely different. ' 



A retrospect of the past, especially in the exact sciences, 

 alone affords a proper comprehension of what is accepted to- 

 day. It is only when we are acquainted with the theories 

 which preceded those accepted at present, that the latter can 

 be fully understood; because there is almost always an inti- 

 mate connection between them. It might appear in our science 

 (where any final result is arrived at by the test of experiment) 



