Pecuniary benefits arising from Science. 27 



sulphur matches, rush-lights, tallow candles, sedan 

 chairs, stage coaches, the ancient water-bucket and 

 well, and even the comparatively modern pump ; 

 coal fires also are gradually being superseded by fires 

 of gas, and articles formed of solid silver are now 

 being replaced by those of electro-plate ; canals 

 have also to some extent been supplanted by rail- 

 ways. But in all these cases science has supplied us 

 either with something better or more suited to our 

 present wants. 



The great pecuniary benefits arising from the 

 applications of science are generally reaped in the 

 first instance by the great manufacturers, agricul- 

 turists, merchants, and capitalists. Countless for- 

 tunes have been made by means of processes and 

 manufactures based upon scientific discovery. The 

 pecuniary benefits of calico printing, bleaching, dye- 

 ing; of the great manufactures of cotton, iron, 

 pottery, beer, sugar, glass, spirits, vinegar, gutta- 

 percha, india-rubber, gun cotton, the numerous 

 metals, machinery, electro-plate, washing soda, 

 German silver, brass, phosphorus, manures, the 

 common acids, numerous chemicals, and a multitude 

 of other substances and articles, have been extremely 

 great. More than eighteen hundred million pounds 

 of sulphuric acid alone are manufactured in Europe 

 yearly. The pecuniary advantages of the use of the 

 electric telegraph and railways to merchants, the 

 gains of capitalists by monies invested in railways, 

 telegraphs, steam-ships, cotton-mills, gas-works, 



