256 ENGLISH MEN OF SCIENCE. [CHAP. 



as a whole is as follows : To teach a few 

 congenial and useful things very thoroughly, 

 to encourage curiosity concerning as wide a 

 range of subjects as possible, and not to over- 

 teach. As regards the precise subjects for 

 rigorous instruction, the following seem to me 

 in strict accordance with what would have best 

 pleased those of the scientific men who have sent 

 me returns : 1. Mathematics pushed as far as 

 the capacity of the learner admits, and its pro- 

 cesses utilized as far as possible for interesting 

 ends and practical application. 2. Logic (on 

 the grounds already stated, but on those only). 

 3. Observation, theory, and experiment, in at 

 least one branch of science ; some boys taking 

 one branch and some another, to ensure variety 

 of interests in the school. 4. Accurate drawing 

 of objects connected with the branch of science 

 pursued. 5. Mechanical manipulation, for the 

 reasons already given, and also because mechani- 

 cal skill is occasionally of great use to nearly 

 all scientific men in their investigations. These 

 five subjects should be rigorously taught. They 

 are anything but an excessive programme, and 



