On the Museum of Practical Geology of Great Britain. 235 



all the British iron ores of commercial value, in number amount- 

 ing to more than 100 varieties, and occupying the time of two 

 chemists incessantly during a period of nearly three years, they 

 prove the extent to which we have been preparing to meet the 

 rivalry of foreign countries, by that close scientific research, the 

 spreading results of which among our industrial population can 

 alone enable us to maintain our present position as the chief 

 manufacturing country in the world.* 



Putting aside the consideration of these branches of our studies, 

 the successful cultivation of which is not so obvious to the mass 

 of mankind, but without which no scientific education can be 

 complete, I now pass from the working of our establishment in 

 its present relations to the government, to notice certain imped- 

 iments to our success as a national scientific establishment, which 

 may arise, if our body should, by a change of relations, be gov- 

 erned by the same influences as those which are likely to prevail 

 in the general management of the education of the people. 



Liberal as the minister may be under whose control the gen- 

 eral education of the nation may be placed, there is little doubt 

 that in this country the greater number of its instructors will be 

 drawn from among such of the graduates of the ancient univer- 

 sities, as, both by their training and position must be, to a great 

 extent, disqualified from assigning their due importance to the 

 practical branches of science. Such persons may be eminent in 

 scholarship and abstract science, and yet ignorant of the fact 

 that the continued prosperity of their country absolutely depends 

 upon the diffusion of scientific knowledge among its masses. 

 They may, with the most sincere and earnest intention, not only 

 fail to advance, but even exercise a retarding influence on such 

 diffusion, and may object to a course of study which, as now 

 pursued, is irrespective of religious teaching. Experience has 

 shown in how sickly a manner practical science is allowed to 

 raise its head under the direction of those persons whose pur- 

 suits are alien to it ; whilst in every land, where it has had due 

 support, the greatest benefits have resulted. 



Placed as the geological survey and its affiliated branches now 

 are, in subordination to the Board of Trade, they are continually 

 aiding in the development of an amount of mineral wealth far 

 exceeding that of any other country, and in this wholesome and 

 important action, the movements of our body are not only un- 

 fettered, but are likely to receive all that encouragement which 

 seems alone to be wanted to enable this establishment to be emi- 

 nently useful in instructing that class of persons who will mate- 

 rially augment the productive industry and trade of Great 

 Britain. 



* See Mr. J. Kenyort Blackwell's Paper on the Present position of the Iron Indus- 

 try of Great Britain, with reference to that of other Countries, read at the Society 

 of Arts, "Wednesday 9, January 1856, p. 121 of the Journal. 



