Recapitulation. 291 



France^must divide the larger portion of the mass 

 of honours between them. In Agriculture, the 

 highest praise is unquestionably due to Great 

 Britain. And in all those scientific researches 

 which bear upon arts, manufactures, and econo- 

 my, the last mentioned country must also be pro- 

 nounced to stand first in order. 



3. The eighteenth century may with propriety 

 be styled the AGE OF ECONOMICAL science. In 

 all preceding ages science and the economical 

 arts were too generally yiewed as unconnected. 

 The philosopher thought it beneath his dignity 

 to direct his inquiries to the aid of the mechanic 

 and to the various details of public and domestic 

 economy; and the mechanic and economist had 

 been taught to consider the inquiries of the phi- 

 losopher as mere curious speculations, with which 

 the practical concerns of life had little to do. 

 The eighteenth century has produced a signal 

 revolution, both jn the aspect of scientific inves- 

 tigations and in the state of public opinion on 

 this subject. Philosophy has assumed a more 

 practical and useful form: the artist and the phi- 

 losopher have learned to go hand in hand. 

 Many modern discoveries, in different branches 

 of science, and especially in Natural Philosophy 

 and Chemistry, while they gratify liberal curio- 

 sity and give pleasure to the man of speculation, 

 have also rendered essential service to the Me- 

 chanic Arts, to Agriculture, to Medicine, to 

 Domestic Economy, and, in general, to the 

 abridgement of labour and to the more easy and 

 cheap preparation of the various comforts and 

 elegancies of Ii&\ It would be easy to give a 



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