6 
Such, then, is our position; and, in this view of it, that which seems- 
to be most needed for promoting the public interests further, through the 
aid of science, is to bring our means into co-operation more with our 
genius ; and to have our materials and talents more wedded together in 
the higher, no less than other, walks of science ; and more dedicated, 
heart and hand, to enlarging its boundaries, as well as making new im- 
provements by its agency in agriculture and the arts, commerce, manu- 
factures, and all which pertains to human progress. 
Even beyond this it would be useful, if we had a few more individuals* 
situated like Tycho Brahe, to advance science itself, with dispositions 
to spend years in mere observations and experiments connected with it ; 
and, when necessary, be content to leave the records of them for future 
Keplers to digest into beautiful laws and systems ; and it would be still 
more useful when, as in his case, such dispositions are united with 
means to expend thousands m erecting laboratories and observatories, as 
well as forming gardens of plants and new instruments to advance na- 
tural history and astronomy. Improve and extend science itself in ways 
like these, and you improve and extend the benefits, no less than the 
pleasures, that may be derived from the use of it. And if communities 
and governments were more alive to this great truth, and if a conviction 
of its importance for practical good to the many, as well as for mere 
theoretical discoveries, or mere intellectual enjoyment to a few, would 
be produced as strongly in the many as it is in a few, most of the diffi- 
culties that exist as to the further encouragement of science under our 
political and social systems would be speedily surmounted. For then 
the thought, mind, enterprise — of which we have an ample supply in 
some — and the means or materials — of which we have enough in 
others — would all be brought to co-operate more efficiently, and on a 
scale more wide and regular. And then the philosopher and patriot, the 
scholar and philanthropist, would all find this one mode — and a glorious 
as well as sure mode — to crowd forward their several aims in the cause 
of science, liberty, and humanity. Like the poet, we should then feel 
more strongly that science was the u mighty changer of the world 
and hail him as not only u the soul of art,” that tills the earth, spans the 
floods, and works a myriad of other practical benefits around us, but 
say — 
“ Fire, air, earth, water, are at thy command : 
O’er all, like magic, doth thy touch prevail. 
And at thy beck rise towers and temples grand; 
And pyramids, that countless ages stand.” 
