No. 199.] 331 



Another means of more progress in manufactures, especially in dyes, 

 in cookery and food, is to make chemistry still more tributary to the 

 arts, till, like the invention and more extended use of chloroform, in 

 medicine, is gradually introduced in more things — perhaps an entire 

 revolution. 



It probably was chemistry, more than any other science, vrhich, 

 within a half century, has literally so extracted light from darkness, 

 as to make coal the great agent for illuminating our cities and various 

 private establishments with all the brilliance and steadiness of gas. 



And it has been well remarked, that in less than another half cen- 

 tury like efforts of science may, from this step, by due care, take a still 

 higher flight in utility, and in glory to the inventor and the age, by 

 using electricity for a like purpose, and with all the harmlessness of 

 gas itself, and all the brightness of a noon-day sun. 



Much improvement can be made in saving fuel in tire-placeS; 

 ranges and stoves, as has been already so wonderfully, since Frankliii 

 attempted his, and Count Rumford experimented in both fuel and 

 cooking, for domestic comfort and household economy. Indeed, re- 

 peated, cautious, severe experiments, like theirs — the experimentum 

 erucis of Lord Bacon — as to all noveltie.^, before they are adopted, 

 can be made a great instrument of safe progress, and, in this way, a 

 common error be escaped, of deeming every thing new an improve- 

 ment, when it should be only every thing new that is able to bear 

 well the test of trial. Observation and calm reasoning must accom- 

 pany all this ; and the benefits from them have seldom been more 

 strongly evinced than in substituting the hot for the cold blast, in the 

 manufacture of iron, saving from one third to one half the expense ; 

 and if like attention shall be made here to other improvements, and 

 especially the use of anthracite coal, in that business, we may, ere 

 long, with «ur vast mineral resources in both articles, make iron for 

 half a world. 



Then, if not now, this dark metallic stone will be found to come 

 near the true philosopher's stone ; and if not turning all it touches into 

 gold, will be far more useful than gold itself. 



