44 FKAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



experiment suggested by Arago, and executed b] 

 Fizeau and Foucault, was conclusive against Newton's 

 theory. 



But while science cheerfully submits to this ordeal, il 

 seems impossible to devise a mode of verification of then 

 theories which does not rouse resentment in theologi< 

 minds. Is it that, while the pleasure of the scientifu 

 man culminates in the demonstrated harmony betw< 

 theory and fact, the highest pleasure of the religioi 

 man has been already tasted in the very act of praying, 

 prior to verification, any further effort in this directioi 

 being a mere disturbance of his peace ? Or is it thi 

 we have before us a residue of that mysticism of th( 

 middle ages, so admirably described by Whewell thai 

 ' practice of referring things and events not to cleai 

 and distinct notions, not to general rules capable oi 

 direct verification, but to notions vague, distant, ai 

 vast, which we cannot bring into contact with facts 

 as when we connect natural events with moral an< 

 historic causes.' ' Thus,' he continues, ' the character 

 of mysticism is that it refers particulars, not to genera- 

 lisations, homogeneous and immediate, but to such as 

 are heterogeneous and remote ; to which we must add, 

 that the process of this reference is not a calm act of 

 the intellect, but is accompanied with a glow of 

 enthusiastic feeling.' 



Every feature here depicted, and some more 

 questionable ones, have shown themselves of late ; most 

 conspicuously, I regret to say, in the 'leaders' of a 

 weekly journal of considerable influence, and one, on 

 many grounds, entitled to the respect of thoughtful 

 men. In the correspondence, however, published by 

 the same journal, are to be found two or three letters 

 well calculated to correct the temporary flightiness of 

 the journal itself. 



