THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
19 
even in a country which he sees for the first time—where water is likely 
to be found, and at what probable depth; it must be good to know 
whether the water is fit for drinking or not, whether it is unwholesome 
or merely muddy; it must be good to know what spots are likely to be 
healthy, and what unhealthy, for encamping. The two last questions 
depend, doubtless, on meteorological as well as geological accidents, 
but the answers to them will be most surely found out by the scientific 
man, because the facts connected with them are, like all other facts, 
determined by natural laws. After what one has heard, in past years, 
of barracks built in spots plainly pestilential ; of soldiers encamped in 
ruined cities, reeking with the dirt and poison of centuries ; of-But it 
is not my place to find fault; all I will say is, that the wise and humane 
officer, when once his eyes are opened to the practical value of physical 
science, will surely try to acquaint himself somewhat with those laws of 
drainage and of climate, geological, meteorological, chemical, which 
influence, often with terrible suddenness and fury, the health of whole 
armies. He will not find it beyond his province to ascertain the amount 
and period of rainfalls, the maxima of heat and of cold which his troops 
may have to endure, and many another point on which their health and 
efficiency—nay, their very life may depend, but which are now too 
exclusively delegated to the doctor, to whose province they do not 
really belong. For cure, I take the liberty of believing, is the duty of 
the medical officer; prevention, that of the military. 
Thus much I can say just now—and there is much more to be said— 
on the practical uses of the study of Natural History. But let me remind 
you, on the other side, if Natural History will help you, you in return 
can help her; and would, I doubt not, help her, and help scientific men 
at home, if once you looked fairly and steadily at the immense import¬ 
ance of Natural History—of the knowledge of the “ face of the earth.” 
I believe that all will one day feel, more or less, that to know the earth 
on which we live, and the laws of it ly which we live, is a sacred duty 
to ourselves, to our children after us, and to all whom we may 
have to command and to influence ; aye, and a duty to God likewise. 
For is it not an act of common reverence and faith towards Him, if He 
has put us into a beautiful and wonderful place, and given us faculties 
by which we can see, and enjoy, and use that place—is it not a duty of 
reverence and faith towards Him to use these faculties, and to learn 
the lessons which He has laid open for us ? If you feel that, as I say 
I think you all will some day feel, you will surely feel likewise that it 
will be a good deed—I do not say a necessary duty, but still a good 
deed and praiseworthy—to help physical science forward, and add 
your contributions, however small, to our general knowledge of the 
earth. And how much may be done for science by British officers, 
especially on foreign stations, I need not point out. I know that much 
has been done, chivalrously and well, by officers, and that men of 
science own them, and give them hearty thanks for their labours ; 
but I should like, I confess, to see more done still. I should like 
to see every foreign station, what one or two highly-educated 
officers might easily make it—an advanced post of physical science, 
in regular communication with our scientific societies at home, sending 
to them accurate and methodic details of the natural history of each 
