Technical Education. 57 



retirement, with apparently no practical results, and heedless of 

 the contest of parties and the struggles of native rage around 

 them, until at length the combined results of the continued 

 achievements of human intellects develop into some great 

 discovery recognised in the sunlight of public favour as another 

 vantage ground from which to press forward the cause of civilisa- 

 tion and progress. 



The brilliant and rapid advance of scientific discovery in 

 modern times, and the vast improvement in mechanical 

 appliances, justify the anticipation of accelerated progress in the 

 future. There seems to be no practical limit to the development 

 of industry, or to the application of the products and forces of 

 nature for the purposes of mankind, wholly independent of 

 nationalities. The common result, as well as the special advan- 

 tages of every accession and every fresh discovery, are rendered 

 available to all by the increased facilities for intercommuni- 

 cation and the removal of those hindrances, social and physical, 

 that heretofore separated nation from nation. But while the 

 universal distribution of knowledge, and all the advantages that 

 follow discovery and the culture of science and art are inevitable, 

 and desirable in the interests of advancing civilisation, they in- 

 volve from a commercial view, a closer competition and a keener 

 struggle for existence, and remind us that the position we or 

 any people can take in the struggle, will depend upon the skill, 

 experience, and culture we employ to maintain it. In mediaeval 

 times the squire, the clergy, the yoemen and well-to-do citizens 

 were bound by law to train up their descendants to practical 

 industries. The obligations thus imposed were liable to incon- 

 venient abuses, and the practice fell into disuse, and was super- 

 seded by the apprenticeship system. Under the apprenticeship 

 system a youth, bound to serve his master for a term of years, 

 had a fair chance of acquiring a knowledge of his trade, for it 

 brought him into direct contact with his master, and was 

 made familiar with all his business. This was especially the 

 case so long as almost every tradesman was himself a master, 

 and not a mere journeyman in the employment of others. 



All the operations of industry were then protected and regu- 



