276 SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT. 



side had been very largely developed by the great French 

 naturalists and mathematicians in the beginning of our 

 period. The change in the higher branches of science 

 which took place during the first half of the century is 

 greatly owing to them, and to the later German school, 



40. which was much influenced by them. If we compare 



Importame ^ -^ 



of British ^]^g contributious of British science in these branches, 



contriDu- ^ 



sdence! they are indeed inferior in bulk, and still more so in 

 methodical arrangement ; but among them is a small 

 number of works of the first order which are embodi- 

 ments of scientific ideas of the very highest importance. 

 Introduced into the great edifice of scientific research 

 which was being planned and erected on the Continent, 

 they mark the very corner-stones of the building, stand- 

 ing out in bold and conspicuous prominence. But it is 

 a fact that no Academy existed in this country which 

 was zealous in collecting and arranging all the best 

 labours of scattered philosophers, no university which 

 was anxious to attract and train promising intellects, 

 no comprehensive text-books and hand-books, ensuring 

 right guidance, correctness of knowledge, and complete- 

 ness of study, no historical and philosophical traditions 

 guaranteeing that novel contributions should make their 

 appearance under favourable conditions, or supplying the 

 most appropriate mise en scdne for new ideas. 



41. It is the French Institute, in the earlier years of the 



Diffusion of 



scientific ccntury, and the German university system, with its 



knowledge ' ' ^ t/ ' 



contkient. many local ramifications and literary organs, during the 

 whole of the century, which have done the great work 

 of systematising and diffusing scientific knowledge, and 

 of introducing the exact spirit of research. There is 



