289 



aflfect deeply the manufactures and commerce of nations, 

 and require to mature them, combinations of science and 

 talent both high and rare. There can be no agent more 

 capable to integrate and arrange such attempts, than an 

 association embracing the best accredited knowledge of 

 a country. In the old world National Academies were 

 originally devised, and have always been used for such 

 purposes. 



And again, in the progress of science, discoveries are 

 often made, which at first seem of small importance and 

 little value, except that the pleasure of having made 

 them has repaid the philosopher for the time spent in the 

 research. Of such discoveries the world will constantly 

 ask, " What is the use of it 1" And the philosopher, if 

 unsupported, might be dismayed at the query, as if his 

 labors, though successful, had been fruitless. But in an 

 association of this class he is sustained by the general 

 alliance of the sciences.* He has discovered, at least, a 

 new truth, made one step in advance of his compeers; 

 and whoever increases knowledge and widens the circuit 

 of thought, though he may not save labor or make bread, 

 has benefitted his race. It has been in the halls of free 

 literary associations that theories have boon first elabo- 

 rated, which were at first beyond the comprehension of 

 the million; but when matured and regulated have brought 

 wealth to nations, new branches of industry to states that 

 had been overpopulated, and delight to men of science 

 throughout the world. Suppose that Lavoisier, when he 

 had discovered oxygen, had been asked by a sansculotte 

 of the Committee of Public Safety, of what use his dis- 

 covery wotdd be to the world. The good man would 

 have probably answered, my labor has been repaid by the 

 pleasure attending discovery, my ingenuity has been ex- 

 ercised, I can therefore do more, and the world tvill ap- 

 preciate my labors. He could not have foreseen the im- 

 mense realm which he had been opening to investigation, 

 or the almost numberless classes of industry which were 

 • See Note iT 



