,14 LECTURE I. 



tuie to which all bodies are hable, has not hitherto received a distinct appel- 

 lation as a science ; but both these subjects require a separate consideration, and 

 afford a vast scope for speculation and for observation. Electricity and magne- 

 tism are partly referable to the affections of matter, and partly to the agency of 

 substances which appear to agree with common matter in some properties, and 

 to differ from it in others. The phenomena produced by these agents are 

 often such as excite a high degree of curiosity to inquire into their causes, 

 although the inquiry too often terminates only in astonishment; but we have 

 reason to expect considerable advancement in these sciences from the singular 

 discoveries of modern chemists. The utihty of the philosophy of electricity 

 is sufKciently exemplified in the general introduction of conductors for secur- 

 ing us against lightning, to say nothing of the occasional employment of 

 electricity in medicine; and since the important discovery of the compass, we 

 have only to lament that the changeable nature of magnetic effects so much 

 limits the utility of that instrument for nautical and geographical purposes. 

 Of meteorology, and of geology, our knowledge is hitherto very imperfect; 

 notwithstanding many difltuse treatises which relate to them, we cannot boast 

 of having reduced them to any determinate laws ; and yet there are some me- 

 teorological facts which well deserve our attention. Natural history is the last 

 of the sciences that it will be necessary for us to notice ; some may think it 

 superfluous to attempt to give so superficial a sketch of this most extensive 

 subject, as our plan will allow; but it is still possible to select some general 

 observations respecting the methods of classification, as well as the philo- 

 sophy of natural history, which, although very concise, may yet be in some 

 measure instructive. This third division of the course would properly include, 

 together with the general properties of matter, and the particular actions of 

 its particles, the whole science of chemistry, but the variety and importance 

 of chemical researches, demand a separate and minute discussion; and the 

 novelty and beauty of many of the experiments with which the labours of our 

 cotemporaries have presented us, and which will be exhibited in the theatre 

 of the Royal Institution by the Professor of Chemistry, are sufhcient to 

 make this department of natural philosophy the most entertaining of all the 

 sciences. 



Such is the whole outline of our plan, and such are the practical uses, to 

 which the arts ana sciences, comprehended in it, are principally applicable. 



