THE GREAT LONDON CHEMISTS 21 



achieved for themselves immortal fame have striven 

 after the nobler goal the increase of the sum of human 

 knowledge. It is to the lives of some of those, who have 

 been more or less connected with London, that I ask your 

 attention. May those of us who follow, at however -far a 

 distance, profit by their example ! 



In the olden days, science, as we know it now, was 

 non-existent. The minds of most men who were free 

 from the thraldom of incessant labour were occupied 

 with war or statecraft as a business, and with the chase 

 as a recreation. Those to whom such pursuits, from 

 circumstances or mental habit, were repugnant, found 

 occupation in history, poetry, philosophical discussion, 

 or religion. It is true, speculation on the nature of the 

 world around them was indulged in by some; but they 

 were guided in their views by their opinion rather of what 

 ought to be, than what is. The attitude of the modern 

 mind is more humble. We no longer believe that we 

 share enough of the creative power to enable us to 

 construct a system of the universe; we are content if 

 we are able, in however modest a way, to interpret 

 nature, and we call to our aid experiment, as a means of 

 questioning nature. We are prompt in communicating 

 our knowledge to others, and we expect their aid and 

 look for their criticism. In former days, the language 

 of mystery was employed. It concealed secrets too 

 precious to be laid bare to the vulgar crowd. ' In those 

 days/ to quote the words of Dr. Samuel Brown, 1 'the 

 metals were suns and moons, kings and queens, red 

 bridegrooms and lily brides. Gold was Apollo, " sun of 

 the lofty dome"; silver, Diana, the fair moon of his 

 unresting career, and chased him meekly through the 

 celestial grove ; quicksilver was the wing-footed Mercury, 



1 Dr. Samuel Brown's Essays. 



