Moral effects of modern science. 123 



of copies of newspapers are yearly published in Great 

 Britain. The Bible and Religious Tract Societies 

 could hardly have existed had not the properties of 

 the ingredients of ink been discovered. The present 

 multiplicity of testaments, prayer-books, hymn-books, 

 &c., has also been rendered possible by the invention 

 of printing, As darkness is favourable to crime, so 

 the invention of gaslight has conduced to morality. 

 The numerous sources of intellectual and moral enjoy- 

 ment, developed by inventions based upon scientific 

 discovery, have attracted mankind from more sensual 

 and less moral amusements, and the invention of the 

 piano-forte has operated largely in a similar manner. 



In many respects, the poor man of to-day can 

 command social comforts, conveniences, and pleasures, 

 which an emperor could not in former times. Who 

 can estimate the amount of beneficial moral influences 

 of an indirect kind obtained by means of modern 

 science ? The relief from pain by chloroform and 

 other new medicines, the diminution of domestic toil 

 by the sewing machine ; the increased health and 

 pleasure obtained by access to the country and sea-" 

 side by means of railways ; the diminution of anxiety 

 resulting from more speedy conveyance of letters, and 

 especially of messages by telegraphs, the increased 

 pleasure of life resulting from being surrounded by 

 objects of beauty multiplied cheaply by means of 

 scientific processes, such as photography ? 



The human mind cannot greatly resist impression, 

 the various effects of scientific research necessarily 



