art. The theorist and mechanician here meet together to the mutual 

 advantage of both ; witness on the one part the instrument now work- 

 ing in the Philosophical Institution of this town*, and almost supplying 

 the place of a constant observer, which is about to measure the force 

 of the wind at every instant of time, at St. Helena, the Cape of Good 

 Hope, Van Diemen's Land, and near the southern Pole. On the other 

 hand, I may mention an anecdote which shows by how circuitous a 

 route art has sometimes been driven to seek the aid of science. Du- 

 ring the war between France and England, a Frenchman brought with 

 him the discovery of a great chemical philosopher in Paris, to barter 

 for a secret of the English manufactures ; not finding in Lancashire 

 the person he sought, he left a message, returned to London, and was 

 imprisoned under the Alien Act; to prison, however, the English 

 manufacturer followed him, obtained his secret and his liberation, 

 made his own fortune, and enriched his country f. 



But need I go further than the immediate vicinity of this town for 

 an instance, the most striking on record, of the mighty influence which 

 the introduction of a new principle in science can exercise on all the 

 arts of life ? The history of the improvement of the steam-engine by 

 Watt finely illustrates this truth. In the eulogium of that great man 

 lately published, the Secretary of the French Academy has justly and 

 eloquently displayed, by this memorable example, the power which 

 resides in the unaided genius, industry, and patience, of a single indi- 

 vidual, applying his mind to the fruitful ap^Dlication of a scientific truth, 

 and the incalculable extent to which he may promote the welfare of 

 his country, and benefit the whole family of mankind. He has taught 

 us also to reflect " in what an humble condition of life those projects 

 were elaborated which were destined to carry the British nation to a 

 degree of power hitherto unheard of J." 



But whilst I refer you to this volume. Gentlemen, for an admirable 

 exposition of important truths, I feel myself called upon to state, that 

 the zeal of M. Arago has carried him too far, when it has tempted him 

 to transfer to Watt those laurels which both time and truth have fixed 

 upon the brow of Cavendish. 



It is far from my views, to draw any comparison between two 

 illustrious names, of which one stands as high in the discovery of 

 natural facts, as the other does in their useful application ; but let 



* Mr. Osier's self-registering Anemometer. 



t This anecdote, with the names of the individuals, was related to me by 

 the late Dr. Henry. 



I Annuaire, pour Van 1839. p. 236. 



