170 TITE NEW SCIENCE AND ENGLISH LITERATURE 



On the whole, the treatment of the new science in these papers 

 is good-natured and kindly. The sharpest ridicule is directed 

 against the foolish passion for dissection, for collecting rarities, 

 and for studying the habits of insects. It is held that an absorb- 

 ing interest in these despicable creatures of nature is an evidence 

 of a "narrow genius", that such an interest dwarfs the mind in- 

 stead of enlarging it, and that no results for the benefit of man- 

 kind can come from such a pursuit. "Studies of this nature 

 should be the diversions, relaxation, and amusements, not the care, 

 business, and concern of life". The pretenders to learning, both 

 male and female, are exposed; where "terms are three-fourths of 

 the business" there can be no sound learning. On the other hand, 

 the possibilities in the new philosophy are perceived. The great 

 discoveries are stimulating and inspiring; the minds of men are 

 broadened by the work of Boyle, Huygenius, and Newton. To Ad- 

 dison, in particular, it was given to see the enlarged Horizon in 

 the heavens above and the new world of minutiae on the earth be- 

 neath. The satire on the new science in The Tatler, The Spectator 

 \and The Guardian is as fair as satire can be made, which dilates 

 upon the weaknesses and absurdities of a movement and passes 

 over in silence the strong points. There is everywhere evidence 

 of discrimination; commonsense and reason were sitting in the 

 judgment-seat. 



In the work of Daniel Defoe th^re is practically no new science. 

 His type of mind no doubt naturally revolted from the "wary and 

 circumspect ' ' attitude of the investigators ; he desired to be untram- 

 melled by the bonds of truth. His world was the world of fiction 

 where cleverness ruled and Avhere there was no commandment, 

 "Thou shalt not lie". The temperament of such a man would 

 keep him from any appreciation of the Baconian philosophy. And 

 it is found that he touches only incidentally upon certain phases, 

 such as the method Dr. John Wallis proposed for "teaching the 

 deaf and dumb to speak ",^^ the idea of "second sight" as defended 

 by Joseph Glanvil," the medical practice of Dr. Radcliffe,^^ and 

 the belief in apparitions.^^ The desire for novelty, of which it 



»» Cf. Duncan Campbell. 



^ Duncan Campbell, chap. V. 



98 Ibid. chap. VI. 



•* The Invisible World Disclosed, chap. V ; The History of Magic. 



