x.] SCIENCE AND COMMON SENSE. 24,1 



kind as those which, according to the Baconian philo- 

 sophy, are to be used for investigating the deepest 

 secrets of Nature. 



This is true, even of those sciences which involve 

 long mathematical calculations. In fact, the stating 

 of the problem to be solved is the most important 

 element in the calculation ; and that is so thoroughly 

 a labour of common sense that an utterly uneducated 

 man may, and often does, state an abstruse problem 

 clearly and correctly; seeing what ought to be proved, 

 and perhaps how to prove it, though he may be unable 

 to work the problem out for want of mathematical 

 knowledge. 



But that mathematical knowledge is not as all 

 Cambridge men are surely aware the result of any 

 special gift. It is merely the development of those 

 conceptions of form and number which every human 

 being possesses ; and any person of average intellect 

 can make himself a fair mathematician if he will only 

 pay continuous attention; in plain English, think 

 enough about the subject. 



There are sciences, again, which do not involve 

 mathematical calculation; for instance, botany, zoology, 

 geology, which are just now passing from their old 

 stage of classificatory sciences into the rank of organic 

 ones. These are, without doubt, altogether within the 

 scope of the merest common sense. Any man or woman 

 of average intellect, if they will but observe and think 

 for themselves, freely, boldly, patiently, accurately, may 

 judge for themselves of the conclusions of these sciences, 

 may add to these conclusions fresh and important dis- 

 coveries; and if I am asked for a proof of what I assert, 

 I point to "Rain and Rivers/' written by no professed 

 sc. B 



