294 MR. J. C. DYER ON STEAM NAVIGATION. 



launched upon her bosom, before those of the Thames 

 welcomed those of the ' Margery ' steamer. The desire for 

 instruction ever lags far behind the means of imparting it ; 

 hence the slow pace of nations in gaining knowledge 

 through reports of its spread in other lands. This dislike 

 to the " search for teachers '' is alike found among men 

 individually and in their national aggregates — all present- 

 ing the type of " the whining schoolboy, with his satchel 

 and shining morning face, creeping like snail unwillingly 

 to school.^^ 



At length, however, successful teachers have raised the 

 spirit of lofty enterprise ; and, by reason of extended and 

 personal intercourse, relations of mutual benefit have been 

 so widely extended that peoples of diiferent nations begin 

 to approach the condition of a vast cooperative society, 

 giving to each member the utmost value of their joint 

 labours. 



Towards this benign end, steam-power has been the most 

 important and effective agent. To bring this power under 

 control, and render it both safe and economical in practice, 

 first, for driving "labour-saving machinery^' in our work- 

 shops and perfecting our manufactures, secondly for trans- 

 porting goods and passengers over the rivers and oceans, 

 and thirdly for the safe and rapid transit of them over 

 land on iron rails, the names of Watt, Fulton, and 

 Stephenson stand foremost as the great men whose genius 

 and science made each of them a successful pioneer in the 

 march of those grand objects. 



The theory and practice of mechanical science have ad- 

 vanced with such rapid strides in our times as to form a 

 leading feature in the progress of nations ; and the records 

 of these should rest on clearly ascertained facts, so that 

 each leading contributor shall receive his due meed of 

 fame, just as they claim to occupy a niche in her temple. 

 This award will finally be made, apart from the question 



