20 ESSAYS BIOGRAPHICAL AND CHEMICAL 



To extend the bounds of human knowledge, and in so 

 doing to glorify our Creator, is surely still more an end 

 to be striven after. To quote from the words of Francis 

 Bacon, prefixed by Charles Darwin to his Origin of 

 Species: 'To conclude, therefore, let no man, out of a 

 weak conceit of sobriety or an ill-applied moderation, 

 think or maintain that a man can search too far, or be 

 too well studied in the book of God's -words, or in the 

 book of God's works, divinity, or philosophy ; but rather 

 let men endeavour an endless progress or proficience in 

 both.' Yet the acquisition of wealth and fame will pro- 

 bably now, as it has in the past, appeal more forcibly to 

 the mind of the ordinary man ; and we must not despise 

 any inducement, which will lead to the furtherance of 

 the object to be gained, provided the motives are not in 

 themselves sordid. 



The study of science, with the express object of securing 

 wealth and fame, is not likely to secure either. The old 

 story of the desire of King Solomon is often fulfilled in 

 our day. Solomon's request was, ' Give me now wisdom 

 and knowledge ' ; and he was answered, ' Wisdom and 

 knowledge is granted unto thee, and I will give thee 

 riches and wealth and honour.' The reason why an 

 attempt to utilise science for the attainment of wealth 

 often fails is a simple one. It is due to the unfortunate 

 circumstance that the human mind is not omniscient. 

 No man, beginning a research, can know to what it will 

 ultimately lead. It will certainly, if rightly pursued, 

 lead to knowledge ; but whether it will bring riches and 

 fame is beyond his ken. There have been, however, 

 researches expressly directed to some specific object, 

 which have succeeded in their purpose; and we shall 

 see later how the discovery of principles which led to 

 the invention of the safety-lamp by Sir Humphry Davy 

 illustrates this. But as a rule, those chemists who have 



