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PREFACE. 



THE development of science during the last hundred years, 

 with its multiplied and ever-increasing contributions to the 

 welfare of man, is justly looked upon as the beginning of one 

 of the most marvellous periods of progress in the history of 

 the race. Though we are still in the early stages of this ad-j 

 vance, its effects are already abundantly apparent. It has 

 revolutionized the industries of the civilized world, has given 

 us new and more intimate commercial relations, has swept away 

 traditional educational standards, and by its stimulating influ- 

 ence is redirecting and extending the movement of human 

 thought. 



In this country the men who took a prominent part in the 

 initiation of these wonderful changes were comparatively few, 

 while the disadvantages they had to contend with were many 

 and serious. Scattered over a large extent of undeveloped 

 territory, unable to secure the benefits of co-operation, poor in 

 pocket, and generally lacking the sympathy when they did not 

 meet the active opposition of their fellow-men, the work they 

 did as teachers and original investigators forms one of the 

 most creditable chapters of our early history, and unques- 

 tionably paved the way for those later scientific achievements 

 of which as a nation we may well be proud. Surely the ca- 

 reers of these men are quite as worthy the contemplation of 

 both young and old as are the doings of heroes of carnage 

 and political strife. 



The purpose of the present volume is to point out, though 

 without any pretensions to completeness, the character and 

 scope of the work of these interesting scientific worthies, and 

 to give the reader, briefly in each instance, such accounts of 

 the men as will enable him to appreciate something of their 

 personal characteristics, and to know and admire their ea- 

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