236 ESSAYS BIOGRAPHICAL AND CHEMICAL 



imbued a multitude of minds with a correct understanding 

 of the nature of energy, and the possibility of converting 

 it economically into that form in which it is most directly 

 useful for the purpose in view. They have laid the basis 

 of reasoning for machines ; and it is on machines, instru- 

 ments for converting unavailable into available energy, 

 that the prosperity of the human race depends. 



You will see from these instances that it is in reality 

 c philosophy ' or a love of wisdom which, after all, is most 

 to be sought after. Like virtue, it is its own reward ; and 

 as we all hope is the case with virtue too, it brings other 

 rewards in its train; not, be it remarked, always to the 

 philosopher, but to the race. Virtue, pursued with the 

 direct object of gain, is a poor thing; indeed, it can 

 hardly be termed virtue, if it is dimmed by a motive. 

 So philosophy, if followed after for profit, loses its 

 meaning. 



But I have omitted to mention another motive which 

 makes for research ; it is a love of pleasure. I can 

 conceive no pleasure greater than that of the poet the 

 maker who wreathes beautiful thoughts with beautiful 

 words; but next to this, I would place the pleasure of 

 discovery, in whatever sphere it be made. It is a pleasure 

 not merely to the discoverer, but to all who can follow the 

 train of his reasoning. And after all, the pleasure of the 

 human race, or of the thinking portion of it, counts for a 

 good deal in this life of ours. 



To return: attempts at research, guided by purely 

 utilitarian motives, generally fail in their object, or at 

 least are not likely to be so productive as research without 

 ulterior motive. I am strengthened in this conclusion by 

 the verdict of an eminent German who has himself put 

 the principle into practice ; who after following out a 

 purely theoretical line of experiment, which at first 

 appeared remote from profit, has been rewarded by its 



