484 Encouragement of Scientific Research. [October, 
leisure, such as the man who endeavours at once to conduct 
a business or a profession, and to devote himself to scientific 
research ? What if the ideas above mentioned had pre- 
sented themselves to Mr. Sorby amidst the distractions of 
business ? Might they not have been forgotten before an 
opportunity occurred of working them out and putting them 
to the test of experiment ? Nay, might not their bearing 
have altogether escaped notice ? One consideration our 
author appears to have overlooked which very much 
strengthens his— and our — position. It is this : not all the 
way-side suggestions which occur to our minds are really 
valuable. Multitudes must be dismissed as worthless. But 
everyone alike requires to be duly tested before its value can 
be known. This of course greatly augments the demands 
upon the time of the enquirer. But as Mr. Sorby remarks, 
“ if the mind of an investigator is ready to take advantage of 
every circumstance that may occur, to press forward his 
enquiry in the line of truth, the removal of the most 
formidable difficulties is a mere question of time.” In sum- 
ming up the question he adds — in our opinion most truly — 
64 One thing, however, is clear and cannot be denied ; no one 
can even remotely approach to this mode of life and con- 
tinuous observation whose mind is constantly engrossed 
with other cares — whose thoughts are necessarily directed to 
the consideration of how he can provide for the needs of each 
coming day, or how he can extricate himself from or avoid 
pecuniary embarrassment. Whatever the experience of 
others may lead them to think, mine has been amply 
sufficient to convince me that I never could have done what 
I have been able to do if it had been necessary for me to 
attend to any business or profession as a means of support. 
Though I wish I had been able to do more, yet if I had 
been interrupted by the cares of practical life I should 
certainly have done far less, and in all probability the 
general quality of the work would have been deteriorated 
to a still greater extent.” 
If, therefore, Mr. Sorby had not been in an independent 
position his contributions to science- — and they are not small 
- — would have been diminished or lost altogether. But how 
many men in easy circumstances possess the natural abilities 
and tastes, or have received the training, which incline and 
\ qualify them for a career of research ? There is a proverb 
which tells us that “ necessity is the mother of invention.” 
In so far that when some particular public want has made 
itself felt and has attracted the attention of many minds, it 
will probably be met this adage is perfectly true. But if it 
