Manchester Memoirs, Vol. lix. (191 5), No, 11. 43 



properly so called, for it gives us a knowledge of one of 

 the most important sides of the evolution of humanity. 

 This history can be taught profoundly in the universities; 

 in a more elementary way, if need be by means of well 

 chosen examples, in other schools and even in primary 

 schools. 



We have tried to show that the progress of the natural 

 sciences has been in the past a factor of historical import- 

 ance. We would return once more to this theme and cite 

 one final example. 



We have often read and heard it maintained, that the 

 profound changes which have taken place during the 

 nineteenth century in all the countries of Europe have 

 been a consequence of the French revolution and the 

 Napoleonic wars. One cannot deny that these events 

 have had consequences of the highest importance. But 

 this should not make us lose sight of other historical 

 events which occurred at the same time, and the import- 

 ance of which, perhaps, is not sufficiently brought out by 

 the historian. Let us recall some of them. In 1781 the 

 steam engine took its modern form in the workshop of 

 Boulton and Watt. About the same time modern chemis- 

 try took its birth in Lavoisier's laboratory. In 1791 

 Galvani discovered the electric current, and in 1799- 1800 

 Volta constructed the first electric pile. In 1807 the first 

 steamship line was established by Fulton, and in 18 14 an 

 improved locomotive was constructed by Stephenson. 



During the thirty years which preceded the battle of 



Waterloo, a new world was created. This world can be 



summed up in three things ; the steam engine, the electric 



current and chemistry. Without these three things the 



19th century would not have become what it has been. 



Never has the influence of the natural sciences been 



