231 



fected till their whole processes are laid open, and their lan- 

 guage simplified and rendered universally intelligible. If the 

 knowledge be merely accumulated experience, the art is em- 

 pirical ; but if it be experience reasoned upon and brought 

 under general principles, it assumes a higher character, and 

 becomes a scientific art. The whole tendency of empirical 

 art, is to bury itself in technicalities and to place its pride in 

 particular short cuts and mysteries, known only to adepts : to 

 surprise and astonish by results, but conceal processes. The 

 character of science is the direct contrary. It dehghts to lay 

 itself open to inquiry ; and is not satisfied with its conclusions 

 till it can make the road to them broad and beaten : and in 

 its applications it preserves the same character : its whole aim 

 being to strip away all technical mystery; to illuminate every 

 dark recess, and to gain free access to all processes, with a 

 view to improve them on rational principles." In increasing 

 the number of our members, then, we are not merely acting 

 for the benefit of this Society, however dear may be its inte- 

 rests and prosperity, but at the same time, for the cause of 

 science and knowledge generally. Suggestions thrown out by 

 the most ignorant, have often led to the discovery of princi- 

 ples of the highest possible importance. And he who is en- 

 gaged in the study of nature, will neglect no clue, however 

 indistinct or unlikely it may be, to lead him to any valuable 

 discovery, merely because he may be indebted for it to one 

 who is, in education or natural abilities, immeasurably beneath 

 him. Instead of seventy members, let us, if possible, get seven 

 hundred : there are none who may not be useful, and those 

 probably the most so, from whom at first sight we should be apt 

 to expect the least. If this were the only benefit to be antici- 

 pated from an increase in the number of our members, it seems 

 to me that it should be enough to induce us to exert ourselves, 

 and to make the attempt, at least, to accomplish it. 



But there are other benefits to be obtained by it. Our an- 

 nual income would at once be increased to a sum nearer the 

 requisitions of the Society than it has ever yet been. The re- 

 ceipts into the treasury have not varied much from between 

 $150 to $200 a year ; a sum barely sufficient to cover the ex- 



