374 Miscellanies. 



of lightning bent, like that of steam, into subserviency to the purposes 

 of human art. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 



W. D. CONYBEARE. 



3. Accidental Production of Animal Life; by Mr. Crosse. — 

 A communication from Mr. Stutchbury, of the Bristol Institution, 

 has been disseminated through the public journals, of which we 

 give a copy. As there is no doubt of the honor and veracity of Mr. 

 Stutchbury, the extract which this gentleman gives from a letter of 

 Mr. Crosse, may be considered as if communicated by Mr. Crosse 

 himself. 



Sir — It may be truly said that facts recorded, faithfully detailed, 

 and made pubhc, are the means by which philosophy is enabled to 

 render her temple more durable on its foundations — every additional 

 fact being the commencement of that which, when understood, forms 

 an outwork of defence, rendering the interior the strong hold and 

 sacred depository of truth. 



It was a maxim of the late John Hunter, which he was repeatedly 

 proclaiming, that greater benefit would be conferred upon the com- 

 munity if professional men had the moral courage to publish detailed 

 accounts of all their unsuccessful cases, than could be derived by the 

 publication of those which met with a favorable termination, for then 

 the physician would reject at once such as had failed as modes of 

 cure, without repeating experiment after experiment, thereby saving 

 much valuable time, and certainly sparing much needless pain to the 

 unfortunate patient. So with facts in natural philosophy. Let ex- 

 periments be recorded, and their results will enable others, either to 

 avoid, or successfully to pursue them, so as to bring them to bear 

 upon principles which may elucidate some great truth, the light of 

 which would probably have never shone upon them, had they not 

 been able to take advantage of the works of pioneers who had pro- 

 iCeeded, perhaps, to the very threshhold of the same result. 



With regard to a large number of curious and (at the same time, in 

 •consequence of the principle not being understood) astounding facts, 

 the investigator would be doing a great injury in the cause in which 

 he labors, should he be deterred from making them known, merely 

 because he cannot at the same time reasonably account for the same. 

 And upon this view of the subject, and to set at rest the vague views 

 which are abroad, I feel it a duty due to the cause in which I am en- 

 gaged, and to the philosopher with whom they have originated, at 



