486 D'ALEMBEET. 



enjoyment. You are nothing the richer for it; you do not 

 gratify your palate or any other bodily appetite; and yet it 

 is so pleasing, that you would give something out of your 

 pocket to obtain it, and would forego some bodily enjoyment 

 for its sake. The pleasure derived from Science is exactly of 

 the like nature, or, rather, it is the very same. For what has 

 just been spoken of is, in fact, Science, which in its most 

 comprehensive sense only means Knowledge, and in its ordi- 

 nary sense means Knowledge reduced to a System; that is, 

 arranged in a regular order, so as to be conveniently taught, 

 easily remembered, and readily applied. 



The practical uses of any science or branch of knowledge 

 are undoubtedly of the highest importance; and there is 

 hardly any man who may not gain some positive advantage 

 in his worldly wealth and comforts, by increasing his stock of 

 information. But there is also a pleasure in seeing the uses 

 to which knowledge may be applied, wholly independent of 

 the share we ourselves may have in those practical benefits. 

 It is pleasing to examine the nature of a new instrument, or 

 the habits of an unknown animal, without considering whether 

 or not they may ever be of use to ourselves or to any body. 

 It is another gratification to extend our inquiries, and find 

 that the instrument or animal is useful to man, even although 

 we have no chance ourselves of ever benefiting by the infor- 

 mation : as, to find that the natives of some distant country 

 employ the animal in travelling : nay, though we have no 

 desire of benefiting by the knowledge; as, for example, to 

 find that the instrument is useful in performing some dangerous 

 surgical operation. The mere gratification of curiosity; the 

 knowing more to-day than we knew yesterday; the under- 

 standing clearly what before seemed obscure and puzzling; 

 the contemplation of general truths, and the comparing to- 

 gether of different things is an agreeable occupation of the 

 mind ; and, beside the present enjoyment, elevates the faculties 

 above low pursuits, purifies and refines the passions, and helps 

 our reason to assuage their violence. 



Now, these are the practical advantages of learning ; but 

 the third benefit is, when rightly considered, just as practical 



