10 



which their faith and feeling for the beautiful had cre- 

 ated. They are thus consigned to a state of vacuity and 

 nothingness which would indeed be lamentable and fear- 

 ful, were it unavoidable. The triumphant conquests of 

 physical science which give us the purest pleasure, are, for 

 such unhappy beings, no less than the dangerous ap- 

 proaches'of a conquering foe. It is obvious, that the dis- 

 cord and insecurity which usually pervade the public 

 mind during such a coniiict of old and new ideas, exer- 

 cises a most prejudicial influence on the aesthetic facul- 

 ties. But its effects on science are equally disastrous ; 

 for under such circumstances, it is impossible to rise to 

 those universal and ennobling views which are the 

 never-failing fountains of true science. Is physics to 

 bear the blame of such ruinous results ? Assuredly not 

 —-for history shows that it is through the instrument 

 tality of a more accurate knowledge of physical science, 

 that the insecurity and discord are dispelled, and the 

 connection and harmony restored, without which nothing 

 can be achieved which is exalted or noble in the realms 

 of intellect or of fancy. The source of the evil must be 

 sought in the ignorance of the true principles of science, 

 in the extreme superficiality of those who lead the 

 multitude, and in the weakness of man's faith in the 

 eternal and indestructible nature of the empire of truth. 

 No lurking mistrust can find a place in the bosom of the 

 genuine man of science. He who knoics that all kinds 

 of truth are intimately connected, and that all the best 

 hopes and encouragements which are vouchsafed to our 

 nature must be consistent with truth, will be satisfied 

 and confirmed, rather than surprised and disturbed, to 

 find the boundaries of knowledge enlarged. In the 



