INTRODUCTION. xxxi 



better do we understand the insignificance of our persons. 

 Instead of being engrossed with our own importance, we 

 perceive our individual littleness, and are crushed by the 

 immensity of the Known, the Unknown, and the Unknowable. 

 We acquire modesty ; and if we extend our survey even 

 superficially all over the globe, and view the aggregate of 

 men's achievements, not only do we become modest, but we 

 plainly perceive that each civilised nation has a claim to our 

 admiration, and that our own, if great in one or several 

 branches, must nevertheless yield the palm of excellence to 

 other races on different grounds. Nor do we experience new 

 feelings of admiration and modesty simply, but our intellect, 

 also becoming widened, learns how to contemn deeds once 

 thought admirable, and heroes, so-called, who built their 

 fame on the woes of mankind. We henceforth reserve the 

 main portion of the tribute of praise and gratitude we are 

 capable of bestowing without, nevertheless, ceasing to 

 acknowledge the good legitimately done to progress by the 

 victors of Salamis, Zama, the Armada, or Waterloo for the 

 real benefactors of the human race, the men of science who 

 have, in a manner at once full of devotion, loftiness, 

 generosity, and nobleness, promoted civilisation in the field 

 of peace towards prosperity and happiness. 



