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JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
on civilization; for now that processes of research are common 
property, and results are so well tabulated, each generation can 
practically begin where its predecessor left off, and by the aid of 
light gained push still further into dim and unexplored regions. 
The knowledge of the general principles of Science being more 
widely diffused by an ever-expanding press, concurrently with the 
better education of the middle and lower classes, it is inevitable 
that the spirit of its method, once confined to a relatively few 
workers, will obtain a firmer and more intelligent hold on the 
public mind. In every age there is a large number of powerful 
and gifted intellects lost to the world because not placed early in 
life in circumstances favourable for development ; but our modem 
elementary school system is certain to create the conditions that 
will draw such minds forth into lines of research in affinity with 
their natural proclivities, and consequently we may expect that the 
few instances in the past of youths of humble birth pushing their 
way to the very front of Science and Literature will be greatly 
multiplied in years to come — much to the gain of all classes. The 
great doctrine of heredity, ever finding illustration in the perpetua- 
tion of mental habitudes through succeeding generations, will be 
sure to find special and noteworthy illustration in the circumstance 
of the power of close observation, the love of exactitude and the 
conception of cosmic unity, now cherished by Science, becoming 
more and more a fixed habit of the average mind. All leaders of 
thought in literature, all teachers of theology, and all aspirants to 
political influence will have to take these things into account. In 
reality one can scarcely appreciate the gain to public and private 
life, if the heads of public and private schools avail themselves of 
the stimulus of the times for securing to the young a fair acquaint- 
ance with those scientific facts and principles which bear directly 
on the maintenance of health, and a right development for the uses 
of Society of the resources of Nature. Whatever justifiable dread 
may be entertained of the influence of certain perversions of the 
Scientific Spirit, and however much men who do not understand 
the difference between true and false Science may confound the two, 
and resent without discrimination the harshness and arrogance of 
tone which sometimes perhaps claim to be authorised by loyalty to 
Science, as a matter of fact, Science as such can only be good, 
because it means exact knowledge, and renders man the conqueror 
of Nature. We may safely trust the quest of truth. It follows 
