244 
MAJOR-GENERAL SABINE ON THE DISTURBANCES OE THE 
theory is necessary to direct the 
observer. Though a man may 
begin to observe without any 
hypothesis, he cannot continue 
long without seeing some gene- 
ral conclusion arise ; and to the 
nascent theory it is his business 
to attend, because by seeking 
either to verify or to disprove 
it, he is led to new experiments 
and new observations. He is 
led also to the very experiments 
and observations that are of the 
greatest importance ; namely, 
to those ‘ Instantice Crucis ’ that 
naturally present themselves for 
the test of every hypothesis. 
By the correction of his first 
opinion a new approximation is 
made to the truth, and by the 
repetition of the same process 
certainty is finally obtained. 
Thus Theory and Observation 
mutually assist one another ; 
and the spirit of system, against 
which there are so many and so 
just complaints, appears never- 
theless as the animating prin- 
ciple of inductive investigation. 
The business of sound Philo- 
sophy is, not to extinguish this 
spirit, but to restrain and direct 
its efforts.” 
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