sicr. iv.] DISSERTATION SECOND. l6l 



his cabinet, but must examine nature with his own eyes, 

 and be present in the work shop of the mechanick, or the 

 laboratory of the chemist. These operalions are facilitated 

 by the institutions now referred to, which, therefore, are of 

 more importance to the physical sciences than to the other 

 branches of knowledge. They who cultivate the former 

 are also fewer in number, and being, of course, farther se- 

 parated, are less apt to meet together in the common inter- 

 course of the world. The historian, the critick, the poet, 

 finds every where men who can enter in some degree at 

 least into his pursuits, who can appreciate his merit, and 

 derive pleasure from his writings or his conversation. 

 The mathematician, the astronomer, the. mechanician, sees 

 few men who have much sympathy with his pursuits, or 

 who do not look with indifference on the objects which 

 he pursues. The world, to him, consists of a few indi- 

 viduals, by the censures or approbation of whom the pub- 

 lick opinion must be finally determined ; with them it is 

 material that he should have more frequent intercourse than 

 could be obtained by casual rencounter ; and he feels that 

 the society of men engaged in pursuits similar to his own, 

 is a necessary stimulus to his exertions. Add to this, that 

 such societies become centres in which information concern- 

 ing facts is collected from all quarters. For all these rea- 

 sons, the greatest benefit has resulted from the scientifick 

 institutions, which, since the middle of the seventeenth 

 century, have become so numerous in Europe. 



The Royal Society of London is an association of 

 men, who, without salaries or appointment from Govern- 

 ment, defray by private contribution the expense of their 

 meetings, and of their publications. This last is another 

 important service, which a society so constituted renders 

 to science. 



