6 PRINCIPLES OF SCIENCE. 



who from a superiority of intellect, possessing 

 a knowledge of cause, foresees and foreknows 

 the effects which will inevitably follow, and is 

 anxious to put his science to the test, and to 

 prove its truth by experiment : a philosopher, 

 such as this, is seldem qualified for the task of 

 performing it, he rather delegates the execution 

 of it to others, than performs it himself. What 

 qualifications, I would ask, are requisite for the 

 experimentalist in chemistry ? There is not, I 

 am persuaded, an experienced artist in any of 

 our manufactories, who is not able to mix the 

 different ingredients intended to be employed, 



who would set about making a machine without the requisite 

 tools, would not act more absurdly, than a student who would 

 attempt to understand the science of natural philosophy, with- 

 out those helps. A preceptor, who professes to teach this 

 science in the easy and amusing method of experiment alone, 

 is an architect without his rule, plumb-line, and compasses. 

 Facts are, it is true, the materials of science; and much praise 

 is unquestionably due to those, who have increased the pub- 

 lic store by new experiments accurately made, and faithfully 

 related. But it is not in the mere knowledge, nor even in the 

 discovery of facts, that philosophy consists. One, who pro- 

 ceeds thus far, is an experimentalist ; but he alone, who by 

 examining the nature, and observing the relation of facts, ar- 

 rives at general truths, is a philosopher : a moderate share of 

 industry may suffice for the former ; patient attention, deep 

 reflection, and acute penetration, are necessary for the latter. 

 It is therefore no wonder that amongst many experiment aUstt, 

 there should be few philosophers " 



