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labor as well as of high philosophy. In this way modern science has 
fortunately clothed chemistry with a new language, intelligent and pre- 
cise to the plainest learner ; and made it not only analyze the air we 
breathe, the water we drink, and all the earths and elements around us ? 
and bodies animate and inanimate, but show to the common mind the 
identity of many of their ingredients and great laws, and pour floods of 
light over the mysteries of their daily functions, and over most of the 
ordinary arts, as well as primary pursuits of mankind. It is new bene- 
fits like these which constitute the crowning excellency of her improve- 
ments, rather than such marvels developed — as that machinery can now 
spin a bale of cotton so fine as to reach round the globe ; or by the aid 
of chemistry can beat a few pieces of gold into a leaf that would cover 
the surface of kingdoms ; or that a microscope will disclose more ani- 
malcule in the melt of a single fish than there are people in the world, 
and the enlarged telescope unfold, in the heavens, myriads still greater, 
of planets and stars. So, in geology ; the end is not to ascertain merely 
that the interior of the earth resembles that of a vast steam-boiler — its 
volcanoes, safety-valves — its earthquakes, explosions — its mountains and 
valleys, early expansions or contractions of the mineral crust — and the 
impressions of fish and huge bird tracks among its rocks, living acts be- 
fore some of it was hardened ; but it is to learn more of man’s marvel- 
lous origin, means, sustenance, duration — and more of the probable pro- 
gress, as well as powers and destiny, of his race, here, if not hereafter. 
So, in natural history ; the great object should be, not merely to add a 
new flower or insect, shell or mineral, and there stop, as some seem to 
misapprehend, but it is to make new tributaries to the comforts and ad- 
vancement of humanity — to prevent weeds often, and dross, from being 
longer out of place and worthless, and discover in some new plant for 
instance, that which will furnish food for millions — like the potato or 
Indian corn ; or new dyes to the arts, like indigo and madder ; or the 
same in some new insect or shell, like the cochineal and purpura ; or 
new medicine and clothing in animals themselves, like the Spanish fly 
and silkworm ; or unfold new uses and values in old substances, like 
ammonia and potash, so employed as to accomplish what has been con- 
sidered so superior to the doings of all mere politicians — “ to make two 
blades of grass grow where only one did before or, like electricity 
and galvanism, so applied as is now doing, as to promote a similar good 
in agriculture ; or, like whale oil, find a new market in increasing the 
speed of locomotives, as well as manufacturing machinery ; or, like 
