20 JAMES SMITHSON AND HIS BEQUEST. 



talized by his electric pile; Davy, equally celebrated for the decomposi- 

 tion of the alkalies, and for the invaluable safety-lam j) of the miner; Wol- 

 laston, whom the English called "the Pope," because he never iiroved 

 fallible in any of his numerous experiments or of his subtle theoretical 

 speculations ; Jenner, lastly, whose discovery I have no need to extol in 

 the presence of fathers of families." 



Ouvier also made the following imposing retrospect of the scientific 

 achievements of this era in his eulogy on Uaiiy : 



^'The laws of a geometry, as concise as comprehensive, extended over 

 the entire heavens; the boundaries of the universe enlarged and its 

 spaces peopled with unknown stars; the courses of celestial bodies deter- 

 mined more rigorously than ever, both in time and space ; the earth 

 weighed as in a balance; man soaring to the clouds or traversing the 

 seas without the aid of winds ; the intricate mysteries of chemistry re- 

 ferred to certain clear and simi)le facts ; the list of natural existences 

 increased tenfold in every species, and their relations irrevocably fixed 

 by a survey as well of their internal as external structure; the history 

 of the earth, even in ages the most remote, explored by means of its own 

 monuments, and shown to be not less wonderful in fact than it might 

 have appeared to the wildest fancy : such is the grand and unparalleled 

 spectacle which it has been our privilege to contemplate." 



While scientific thought and discovery were thus being advanced, 

 attention was directed to the great ignorance of the masses. The idea 

 of universal diffusion of knowledge had been unknown in England, and 

 many of the upper classes of society cherished and avowed a deeply 

 rooted dislike to the education of the poor, as " tending to discontent 

 and an overthrow of that orderly subordination without which society 

 cannot exist." The principle was held by many, and considered indis- 

 putable, that " the ignorance of the people was necessary to their obe- 

 dience to law."* 



The period, however, was one in which revolution was commencing in 

 all directions. Many of the old landmarks of thought, opinion, and fact 

 were in process of removal and new ones were rapidly becoming estab- 

 lished. The progress and results of mechanical invention were pro- 

 ducing great social changes. Lord Brougham's " Treatise on Popular 

 Education," first published in January, 1825, had reached its twentieth 

 edition in the following year. His vigorous, eloquent, and practical 

 appeals to his countrymen were exciting universal attention, and through 

 his efforts the first of the useful and popular Mechanics' Institutes was 

 established, the University of London was founded, and book clubs, read- 

 ing societies, and scientific lectures were organized. 



At the openiug of the session of Parliament in 1828, he proclaimed 

 that it was unconstitutional that almost the whole patronage of the 

 State should be placed in the hands of a military premier. The con- 

 cluding passage of his speech ran through the country, and dwelt for- 



* Lord Cockbaro. 



