138 MEMOIR ON THE SCIENTIFIC CHARACTER 



the precise object for which these numerous tracts were 

 composed. 



It appears from all which has been cited, from the pub- 

 lished works of Smithson, that his was not the character of 

 a mere amateur of science. He was an active and industri- 

 ous laborer in the most interesting and important branch 

 of research — mineral chemistry. 



A contemporary of Davy, and of Wollaston, and a cor- 

 respondent of Black, Banks, Thomson, and a host of other 

 names renowned in the annals of science, it is evident that 

 his labors had to undergo the scrutiny of those who could 

 easily have detected errors, had any of a serious character 

 been committed. 



His was a capacity by no means contemptible, for the 

 operations and expedients of the laboratory. He felt the 

 importance of every help afforded by a simplification of 

 methods and means of research, and the use of minute 

 quantities, and accurate determinations in conducting his 

 inquiries. Many of those " lurid spots in the vast field of 

 darkness," of which he spoke so feelingly, have, since his 

 days of activity, expanded into broad sheets of light. 

 Chemistry has assumed its rank among the exact sciences. 

 Methods and instruments of analysis, unknown to the age 

 of Smithson, have come into familiar use among chemists. 

 These may have rendered less available for the present pur- 

 poses of science, than they otherwise might have been, a 

 portion of the analysis and other researches of our author. 

 The same may, however, be said of nearly every other 

 writer of his day. 



Having dwelt so long on the published papers of Mr. 

 Smithson, it will be practicable to give but a brief account 

 of his unpublished memoirs and other writings. These 

 are comprised in about two hundred manuscripts, besides 

 numberless scraps and miscellaneous notes of a cyclopedical 

 character. Many of these are connected with general sub- 

 jects of history — the arts — language — rural pursuits — gar- 

 dening — the construction of buildings, and kindred topics, 

 such as are likely to occupy the thoughts and to constitute 

 the reading of a gentleman of extensive acquirements and 

 liberal views, derived from a long and intimate acquaintance 

 with the world. 



In a pretty copious mass of notes on the subject of habita- 

 tions, for example, the materials are discussed under the 

 several heads of situation, exposure, exterior, and interior 

 arrangements, materials for their construction ; contents of 



