222 On Practical Scientific Instruction. [April, 



plovers of labour that they cannot induce their workmen to vary 

 or alter their process, even in cases where it is absolutely necessary; 

 the workman in his ignorance opposing every improvement. A 

 scientific workman is more likely than his master to suggest im- 

 provements in a manufacture, because he feels the wants or defects 

 of the process, through being in immediate contact with it. A 

 knowledge of science is also desirable in a master, in order that 

 he may be able to intelligently direct his workmen in their diffi- 

 culties. Under present circumstances, it not unfrequently happens 

 that improvements suggested by workmen are ignored and dis- 

 couraged by masters, in consequence of the latter being ignorant of 

 science ; and in this way numerous instances of dissatisfaction have 

 arisen between master and man, and important inventions have pro- 

 bably been lost to the nation through want of proper trial. It was 

 chiefiv by the genius and abilitv of working-men that steam-en oines, 

 the cotton manufacture, and the whole system of modern machinery 

 was developed, by means of which this nation has obtained such 

 immense wealth. 



It has been objected to me by some manufacturers, that " scien- 

 tific workmen are conceited, unmanageable, and continually want- 

 ing to make alterations;" and there is a large amount of truth in 

 these remarks. If scientific education was more generally diffused 

 amongst workmen, a greater degree of eejuality of intelligence would 

 exist, and the cause of conceit be removed. In many instances, 

 where such workmen have been found to be interfering and de- 

 sirous of making alterations, the annoyance has arisen not solely 

 from the conceit of the working-man, but in part also from the 

 ignorance of science by his employer. 



It has also been remarked to me that " a littla knowledge in a 

 workman is a dangerous thing ;" it might be much more truly said 

 that still less knowledge is a still more dangerous thing. Know- 

 ledge we.know imparts power, and power requires to be regulated ; 

 knowledge in a workman requires to be regulated by greater know- 

 ledge in his master ; and if the kind of scientific instruction afforded 

 to workmen whilst boys" at school, be specially directed to an incul- 

 cation of the principles and leading facts of physical and chemical 

 science, there will be but little risk of its being superficial. 



It has further been objected to me by a manufacturer that 

 " science is making workmen more mechanical, and is driving all 

 skilled labour out of the field." Although there is some truth 

 in this, it is not a correct view of the case, the large intro- 

 duction of science into trade within the last century, in the shape 

 of telegraphs, steam-engines, gas manufacture, electro-plating, the 

 manufacture of machinery, &c, has created a much larger demand 

 for intellectually-skilled labour than ever existed before; and so 

 large is this demand that a great difficulty experienced by nearly 



