40 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
have hitherto had at their command. These discoveries, the 
Lord Chief-Justice Cockburn said, “ perfectly overwhelmed him 
with astonishment,” and as the Royal Commissioners said, may 
justly invoke national pride, that so many of them should be due 
to the unaided efforts of individuals. What, then, may we look 
forward to in the next half century, with the additional appliances 
which these Commissioners recommend ? 
But, perhaps, here a word of caution, even from so humble an 
adviser as myself, may be allowed. Lord Chief- Justice Cockburn, 
on the occasion to which I have referred, says — “ No one bows with 
a more profound and reverent worship at the shrine of science 
than I do. No one values more than I do classical attainments. 
Nevertheless, allow me to say, that I know of no study more valu- 
able to an Englishman than the study of English. Nothing is more 
valuable than the power of English composition, English oratory, 
and English elocution; and greatly as I* value classical knowledge, 
and the knowledge of foreign languages, I still say, that the 
English language and English composition are of the first impor- 
tance to Englishmen.” These remarks he followed up by 
announcing his wish to give a prize of twenty guineas annually 
for a piece of English composition. 
Much to the same purpose, our distinguished colleague Mr Lyon 
Playfair, when assisting the other day to inaugurate the Science 
College at Leeds, expressed a hope that the institution would 
not be confined to science, but would embrace letters and the 
arts. 
These views suggest one danger to be avoided by those who are 
anxious to establish colleges and schools for scientific teaching. 
The country, willing as it undoubtedly is to supply deficiencies 
in this respect, will certainly not agree that a knowledge of science 
shall be all that a well-educated Englishman or Scotchman ought 
to possess. 
But there is another danger, and one more serious. Mr Glad- 
stone, when distributing the prizes of the science and art classes at 
Greenwich, three weeks ago, made these impressive remarks: — 
“ Whatever I may think of the pursuits of industry and science, 
and of the triumphs and glories of art, I do not mention any one 
of these things as the great specific for alleviating the sorrows of 
