1865.] Science, Politics, and Religion. 191 



coast beacons that direct the wayfarer at sea. But if our cities and 

 towns are now somewhat safer at night than they were before the 

 introduction of gas (and there are many persons who but recently, 

 during the garotters' reign, pronounced them less secure than for- 

 merly), is it to Science that the increased safety is due ? Has she, in 

 this respect, assumed her true position amongst our modern civilizers ? 

 We apprehend not ; for when we consider that, by the employment 

 of the physical and chemical forces, the blackest darkness could be 

 dispelled, and our streets and suburbs illuminated with a clear and 

 steady light but slightly inferior to that of the great " orb of day," 

 exposing all the vice and crime and libertinage which are perpetrated 

 under cover of the night, then, indeed, we feel that scientific men 

 have still a glorious mission to fulfil, to render their discoveries avail- 

 able for social ends, increasing not the comforts only, but the safety 

 of the human race. 



Excepting that it has been employed in a small number of our 

 coast lighthouses, and by a few of our leading investigators to aid 

 them in their physical or chemical researches, magneto-electrical 

 illumination (and still more the magnesium light) is little else than a 

 curiosity which serves here and there to amuse and perhaps in some 

 cases to instruct, limited scientific audiences. 



It is beyond a doubt that Science will complete the work she has 

 begun, and will render practically useful what is now theoretically 

 valuable ; and judging from some inquiries that were made of us in 

 regard to the possibility of lighting up ironworks and factories (in 

 both of which the requisite steam-power is easily obtainable) by mag- 

 neto-electricity, shortly after the appearance of the article on this 

 subject in our first Number,* we feel confident that the time is near 

 at hand when the practical benefits accruing from the researches and 

 experiments of scientific investigators will become manifest. 



In the prosecution of such a work as this, chemists and physicists, 

 have no cause to apprehend either priestly interference or political 

 sneers, and we would direct their attention to the motto that distin^ 

 guishes this Periodical, as a watchword to guide them in their duty. 

 To them it is especially appropriate. They have the power to dissi- 

 pate our physical and moral gloom ; to raise a vivid light above our 

 cities ; in our workshops ; to penetrate our mines and tunnels with an 

 artificial day ! And so they may assist in the suppression of our vices 

 and our crimes ; may lighten toil, and render life secure. Are not 

 these objects worthy of the exercise of man's best faculties ? Can 

 priest or politician teach us a more sacred duty ? f 



But if the magneto-electric mode of illumination is not becoming 

 developed as rapidly as some might desire, the progress made in the 

 employment of another form of electricity for purposes of intercommu- 

 nication is most satisfactory, and exhibits at once the indomitable energy 

 of our race, and its love of gain and conquest. Impelled by commercial 



* Dr. Gladstone on "Lighthouse Illumination by Magneto-electricity." 

 ' Quarterly Journal of Science,' vol. i. p. 70. 



+ Since this article was written, an account of a miner's electric lamp haa 

 been forwarded to us : it will be found in our Chronicle of Mining. 



