26 
ment, that the scientific progress of the whole is to be retarded by such 
vital differences? On the contrary, have we not, and will not our com- 
munity think and act as if we had, a new mission before us, to illustrate 
the increased energies of the many over a few in science, no less than 
other things, by requiring, and thus rewarding and encouraging more 
frequent efforts — efforts on more subjects — and efforts for, as well as by, 
a far greater number? The consequence has been already, that where 
one person formerly used his intellect entirely in planning inventions, 
or advancing his fortune by new instruments or machines, fifty now do 
it here, and demand corresponding aids in proportion from science and 
letters. So where one then read, and thus made a market for books, 
twenty now do it here, and increase the production and sale of reading 
matter in a like ratio. Hence many are induced to engage in literature 
and science, either for bread, philanthropy, or glory, who would never 
have attempted it before; because, instead of a rich patron here and 
there, or a jail, they now have millions in private life to buy and employ, 
or applaud, and at times, as public stimulants, either grants of money or 
profitable business, or the brilliant attractions of foreign embassies. In- 
stead of the interest of our people, then, in these efforts, by science, be- 
ing less, or more difficult to reach and excite, a wider door is opened and 
broader stimulants are presented for her exertions; and, in this way, 
much more is likely to be matured here, as to improvements in and by 
science, and matured, not accidentally, but by continued exertion and 
appropriate means; by new laborers added, or new experiments tried; 
or new facts collected, or new excitements offered to the human intel- 
lect. There is encouragement in these, because the art of printing, for 
instance, that daily boast of modem science, was invented only by push- 
ing a little further, and maturing the seal or signet which had been used 
for ages to print names and symbols; and steam, applied at last to cause 
motion on land or water, was only a mere extension of its power from 
fixed to moveable machinery, as had been extended before — the power 
of wind, and of the horse. 
The railroad for transporting passengers with such speed, was but 
maturing the use to which it had been applied near a century, for carry- 
ing heavy burdens on levels and inclined planes. The electric telegraph, 
likewise, so simple, and yet so effective, is another evidence of the ben- 
efit, under the wider and freer impulses here, of persevering efforts and 
new combinations, which escaped even the ingenious mind of Franklin. 
So Kepler’s discovery of the general law between the revolutions and 
