19 
scorching has taken place upon any of the plants in the beautiful 
palm-house in Kew Gardens. It is important to state than 
an entire absence of manganese in the manufacture of the 
glass is demanded, and that the addition of a small quantity of 
oxide of copper is required. 
Did time permit me I might proceed to show you, that even 
those discoveries which have most the character of accidents, as 
that of iodine by a soap-boiler, and of the beautiful blue pig- 
ment, ultramarine, in the manufacture of soda ; by generating 
ideas, which led to their scientific investigation, ceased to be so. 
Both iodine and artificial ultramarine form large branches of 
industry both having result from careful observation, and in the 
latter instance we have produced a pigment which formerly cost 
eight guineas an ounce now to be obtained for less than eight 
shillings a pound. Learn to observe closely and accurately, 
and numerous other similar results must be the reward. 
Mechanical science embracing a consideration of all the means 
of employing the powers of Nature to aid man in subduing 
Nature, is necessarily a wide field. It will be my object in the 
first course of lectures on applied Physics to deal simply with 
the rudiments of our science, advancing gradually to the higher 
phenomena. To show the intimate connection of science and 
practice, the one aiding and advancing the other, will be my con- 
stant care, and in expounding the discoveries in Natural Science 
I hope to lead the mind to the study of those enobling truths 
which constitute a 
“ Divine Philosophy ! 
Not harsh and crabbed as dull Fools suppose, 
But musical as is Apollo’s lute, 
And a perpetual feast of nectar’d sweets, 
Where no crude surfeit reigns.’* 
