Prospectus of the Royal Institution. 775 



were not discouraged by such impediments. But there 

 is another serious obstacle, which is produced even by 

 the flourishing condition of society, resulting from 

 those very improvements. From the subdivision of 

 labour which naturally takes place where active indus- 

 try and the security of property are established, it 

 happens that almost every man becomes confined to 

 some appropriate occupation, seldom regarding, or even 

 knowing, what may be the processes or operations 

 to which the material of his trade may be subjected, 

 before or after it passes through his hands ; still less 

 does he know what is performed in other branches of 

 trade and manufacture. The acquisition of wealth 

 almost totally engages the attention of individuals thus 

 employed. Hence those vain pretensions to superior 

 excellence ; that scorn of improvement, because im- 

 provement supposes previous imperfection ; and those 

 earnest endeavours at secrecy and monopoly ; in addi- 

 tion to which there is a natural fear of risk, which 

 deters men from entering upon new undertakings, of 

 which they are not qualified to form a judgment. It 

 cannot therefore be wondered that the generality of 

 manufacturers should possess neither the knowledge, 

 the inclination, nor the spirit to make improvements. 



Among the various operators who take their stations 

 in the great laboratory of civil society, there are others 

 who cannot be classed either with manufacturers or 

 merchants, though they perform a great and very es- 

 sential part of the general work. These men are 

 philosophers, who have devoted themselves to the 

 labour of observing, comparing, analyzing, inventing. 

 The movements of the universe, the relations and 

 habitudes of men and of things, causes and effects, 



