第2章
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  A.Exactlywhatdoyoumeanbystyle?

  B.Questionsonsentencestructure.

  1.Fromanygivenessay,grouptogethersentenceswhicharelong,short,loose,periodic,balanced,simple,compound;notethosepeculiar,foranyreason,toHuxley.

  2.Stevensonsays,\"Theoneruleistobeinfinitelyvarious;tointerest,todisappoint,tosurpriseandstilltogratify;tobeeverchanging,asitwere,thestitch,andyetstilltogivetheeffectofingeniousneatness.\"

  DoHuxley’ssentencesconformtoStevenson’srule?CompareHuxley’ssentenceswithStevenson’sforvarietyinform.Isthereanyreasonforthedifferencebetweentheformofthetwowriters?

  3.DoesthisquotationfromPater’sessayonStyledescribeHuxley’ssentences?\"Theblithe,crispsentence,decisiveasachild’sexpressionofitsneeds,mayalternatewiththelong—

  contending,victoriouslyintricatesentence;thesentence,bornwiththeintegrityofasingleword,relievingthesortofsentenceinwhich,ifyoulookclosely,youcanseecontrivance,muchadjustment,tobringahighlyqualifiedmatterintocompassatoneview.\"

  4.HowdoHuxley’ssentencescomparewiththoseofRuskin,orwiththoseofanyauthorrecentlystudied?

  5.AreHuxley’ssentencesmusical?Howdoesanauthormakehissentencesmusical?

  C.Questionsonwords.

  1.Doyoufindevidenceofexactness,aqualitywhichHuxleysaidhelaboredfor?

  2.Arethewordsgeneralorspecificincharacter?

  3.HowdoesHuxleymakehissubject—matterattractive?

  4.FromwhatsourcesdoesHuxleyderivehiswords?Aretheyevery—

  daywords,ormorescholarlyincharacter?

  5.Doyoufindanyfigures?Arethesemainlyornamentalordotheyre—enforcethethought?

  8.Aretheremanyallusionsandquotations?Canyoueasilyrecognizethesource?

  7.PatersaysinhisessayonStylethattheliteraryartist\"begetsavocabularyfaithfultothecolouringofhisownspirit,andinthestrictestsenseoriginal.\"DoyoufindthatHuxley’svocabularysuggeststheman?

  8.DoesHuxleyseemtosearchfor\"thesmooth,orwinsome,orforcibleword,assuch,orquitesimplyandhonestly,fortheword’sadjustmenttoitsmeaning\"?

  9.Makeoutalistofthewordsandpropernamesinanygivenessaywhicharenotfamiliartoyou;writeouttheexplanationoftheseintheformofnotesgivinganyinformationwhichisinterestingandrelevant.

  D.Generalquestionsonstyle.

  1.HowisHuxley’sstyleadaptedtothesubject—matter?

  2.Canyouexplainthedifferenceinstyleofthedifferentessaysbythedifferenceinpurpose?

  3.CompareHuxley’swayofsayingthingswithsomeotherauthor’swayofsayingthings.

  4.Huxleysaysofhisessaystoworkingmen,\"IonlywishIhadhadthesensetoanticipatetherunthesehavehadhereandabroad,andIwouldhaverevisedthemproperly.Astheystandtheyareterribilyintherough,fromaliterarypointofview.\"

  Doyoufindevidencesofroughness?

  THOMASHENRYHUXLEY

  AUTOBIOGRAPHY[1]

  AndwhenIconsider,inoneview,themanythingswhichI

  haveuponmyhands,Ifeeltheburlesqueofbeingemployedinthismanneratmytimeoflife.But,inanotherview,andtakinginallcircumstances,thesethings,astriflingastheymayappear,nolessthanthingsofgreaterimportance,seemtobeputuponmetodo.——BishopButlertotheDuchessofSomerset.

  The\"manythings\"towhichtheDuchess’scorrespondenthererefersaretherepairsandimprovementsoftheepiscopalseatatAuckland.

  Idoubtifthegreatapologist,greaterinnothingthaninthesimpledignityofhischaracter,wouldhaveconsideredthewritinganaccountofhimselfasathingwhichcouldbeputuponhimtodowhatevercircumstancesmightbetakenin.Butthegoodbishoplivedinanagewhenamanmightwritebooksandyetbepermittedtokeephisprivateexistencetohimself;inthepre—Boswellian[2]

  epoch,whenthegermofthephotographerlayconcealedinthedistantfuture,andtheinterviewerwhopervadesouragewasanunforeseen,indeedunimaginable,birthoftime.

  Atpresent,themostconvincedbelieverintheaphorism\"Benequilatuit,benevixit,\"[3]isnotalwaysabletoactuptoit.Animportunatepersoninformshimthathisportraitisabouttobepublishedandwillbeaccompaniedbyabiographywhichtheimportunatepersonproposestowrite.Thesuffererknowswhatthatmeans;eitherheundertakestorevisethe\"biography\"orhedoesnot.Intheformercase,hemakeshimselfresponsible;inthelatter,heallowsthepublicationofamassofmoreorlessfulsomeinaccuraciesforwhichhewillbeheldresponsiblebythosewhoarefamiliarwiththeprevalentartofself—advertisement.Onthewhole,itmaybebettertogetoverthe\"burlesqueofbeingemployedinthismanner\"anddothethinghimself.

  Itwasbyreflectionsofthiskindthat,someyearsago,Iwasledtowriteandpermitthepublicationofthesubjoinedsketch.

  Iwasbornabouteighto’clockinthemorningonthe4thofMay,1825,atEaling,whichwas,atthattime,asquietalittlecountryvillageascouldbefoundwithinahalf—a—dozenmilesofHydeParkCorner.NowitisasuburbofLondonwith,Ibelieve,30,000

  inhabitants.Myfatherwasoneofthemastersinalargesemi—

  publicschoolwhichatonetimehadahighreputation.Iamnotawarethatanyportentsprecededmyarrivalinthisworld,but,inmychildhood,IrememberhearingatraditionalaccountofthemannerinwhichIlostthechanceofanendowmentofgreatpracticalvalue.Thewindowsofmymother’sroomwereopen,inconsequenceoftheunusualwarmthoftheweather.Forthesamereason,probably,aneighbouringbeehivehadswarmed,andthenewcolony,pitchingonthewindow—sill,wasmakingitswayintotheroomwhenthehorrifiednurseshutdownthesash.Ifthatwell—

  meaningwomanhadonlyabstainedfromherill—timedinterference,theswarmmighthavesettledonmylips,andIshouldhavebeenendowedwiththatmellifluouseloquencewhich,inthiscountry,leadsfarmoresurelythanworth,capacity,orhonestwork,tothehighestplacesinChurchandState.Buttheopportunitywaslost,andIhavebeenobligedtocontentmyselfthroughlifewithsayingwhatImeanintheplainestofplainlanguage,thanwhich,I

  suppose,thereisnohabitmoreruinoustoaman’sprospectsofadvancement.

  WhyIwaschristenedThomasHenryIdonotknow;butitisacuriouschancethatmyparentsshouldhavefixedformyusualdenominationuponthenameofthatparticularApostlewithwhomI

  havealwaysfeltmostsympathy.PhysicallyandmentallyIamthesonofmymothersocompletely——evendowntopeculiarmovementsofthehands,whichmadetheirappearanceinmeasIreachedtheageshehadwhenInoticedthem——thatIcanhardlyfindanytraceofmyfatherinmyself,exceptaninbornfacultyfordrawing,whichunfortunately,inmycase,hasneverbeencultivated,ahottemper,andthatamountoftenacityofpurposewhichunfriendlyobserverssometimescallobstinacy.

  Mymotherwasaslenderbrunette,ofanemotionalandenergetictemperament,andpossessedofthemostpiercingblackeyesIeversawinawoman’shead.Withnomoreeducationthanotherwomenofthemiddleclassesinherday,shehadanexcellentmentalcapacity.Hermostdistinguishingcharacteristic,however,wasrapidityofthought.Ifoneventuredtosuggestshehadnottakenmuchtimetoarriveatanyconclusion,shewouldsay,\"Icannothelpit,thingsflashacrossme.\"Thatpeculiarityhasbeenpassedontomeinfullstrength;ithasoftenstoodmeingoodstead;ithassometimesplayedmesadtricks,andithasalwaysbeenadanger.But,afterall,ifmytimeweretocomeoveragain,thereisnothingIwouldlesswillinglypartwiththanmyinheritanceofmotherwit.

  Ihavenexttonothingtosayaboutmychildhood.Inlateryearsmymother,lookingatmealmostreproachfully,wouldsometimessay,\"Ah!youweresuchaprettyboy!\"whenceIhadnodifficultyinconcludingthatIhadnotfulfilledmyearlypromiseinthematteroflooks.Infact,IhaveadistinctrecollectionofcertaincurlsofwhichIwasvain,andofaconvictionthatIcloselyresembledthathandsome,courtlygentleman,SirHerbertOakley,whowasvicarofourparish,andwhowasasagodtouscountryfolk,becausehewasoccasionallyvisitedbythethenPrinceGeorgeofCambridge.[4]

  Irememberturningmypinaforewrongsideforwardsinordertorepresentasurplice,andpreachingtomymother’smaidsinthekitchenasnearlyaspossibleinSirHerbert’smanneroneSundaymorningwhentherestofthefamilywereatchurch.ThatistheearliestindicationIcancalltomindofthestrongclericalaffinitieswhichmyfriendMr.HerbertSpencer[5]hasalwaysascribedtome,thoughIfancytheyhaveforthemostpartremainedinalatentstate.

  Myregularschooltrainingwasofthebriefest,perhapsfortunately,forthoughmywayoflifehasmademeacquaintedwithallsortsandconditionsofmen,fromthehighesttothelowest,I

  deliberatelyaffirmthatthesocietyIfellintoatschoolwastheworstIhaveeverknown.Weboyswereaveragelads,withmuchthesameinherentcapacityforgoodandevilasanyothers;butthepeoplewhoweresetoveruscaredaboutasmuchforourintellectualandmoralwelfareasiftheywerebaby—farmers.Wewerelefttotheoperationofthestruggleforexistenceamongourselves,andbullyingwastheleastoftheillpracticescurrentamongus.AlmosttheonlycheerfulreminiscenceinconnectionwiththeplacewhicharisesinmymindisthatofabattleIhadwithoneofmyclassmates,whohadbulliedmeuntilIcouldstanditnolonger.Iwasaveryslightlad,buttherewasawild—catelementinmewhich,whenroused,madeupforlackofweight,andIlickedmyadversaryeffectually.However,oneofmyfirstexperiencesoftheextremelyrough—and—readynatureofjustice,asexhibitedbythecourseofthingsingeneral,aroseoutofthefactthatI——thevictor——hadablackeye,whilehe——thevanquished——hadnone,sothatIgotintodisgraceandhedidnot.Wemadeitup,andthereafterIwasunmolested.OneofthegreatestshocksIeverreceivedinmylifewastobetoldadozenyearsafterwardsbythegroomwhobroughtmemyhorseinastable—yardinSydneythathewasmyquondamantagonist.Hehadalongstoryoffamilymisfortunetoaccountforhisposition,butatthattimeitwasnecessarytodealverycautiouslywithmysteriousstrangersinNewSouthWales,andoninquiryIfoundthattheunfortunateyoungmanhadnotonlybeen\"sentout,\"buthadundergonemorethanonecolonialconviction.

  AsIgrewolder,mygreatdesirewastobeamechanicalengineer,butthefateswereagainstthisand,whileveryyoung,Icommencedthestudyofmedicineunderamedicalbrother—in—law.But,thoughtheInstituteofMechanicalEngineerswouldcertainlynotownme,I

  amnotsurethatIhavenotallalongbeenasortofmechanicalengineerinpartibusinfidelium.[6]IamnowoccasionallyhorrifiedtothinkhowverylittleIeverkneworcaredaboutmedicineastheartofhealing.Theonlypartofmyprofessionalcoursewhichreallyanddeeplyinterestedmewasphysiology,whichisthemechanicalengineeringoflivingmachines;and,notwithstandingthatnaturalsciencehasbeenmyproperbusiness,Iamafraidthereisverylittleofthegenuinenaturalistinme.Inevercollectedanything,andspeciesworkwasalwaysaburdentome;whatIcaredforwasthearchitecturalandengineeringpartofthebusiness,theworkingoutofthewonderfulunityofplaninthethousandsandthousandsofdiverselivingconstructions,andthemodificationsofsimilarapparatusestoservediverseends.TheextraordinaryattractionIfelttowardsthestudyoftheintricaciesoflivingstructurenearlyprovedfataltomeattheoutset.Iwasamereboy——Ithinkbetweenthirteenandfourteenyearsofage——whenIwastakenbysomeolderstudentfriendsofminetothefirstpost—

  mortemexaminationIeverattended.AllmylifeIhavebeenmostunfortunatelysensitivetothedisagreeableswhichattendanatomicalpursuits,butonthisoccasionmycuriosityoverpoweredallotherfeelings,andIspenttwoorthreehoursingratifyingit.Ididnotcutmyself,andnoneoftheordinarysymptomsofdissection—poisonsupervened,butpoisonedIwassomehow,andI

  remembersinkingintoastrangestateofapathy.Bywayofalastchance,Iwassenttothecareofsomegood,kindpeople,friendsofmyfather’s,wholivedinafarmhouseintheheartofWarwickshire.Irememberstaggeringfrommybedtothewindowonthebrightspringmorningaftermyarrival,andthrowingopenthecasement.Lifeseemedtocomebackonthewingsofthebreeze,andtothisdaythefaintodorofwood—smoke,likethatwhichfloatedacrossthefarm—yardintheearlymorning,isasgoodtomeasthe\"sweetsouthuponabedofviolets.\"[7]Isoonrecovered,butforyearsIsufferedfromoccasionalparoxysmsofinternalpain,andfromthattimemyconstantfriend,hypochondriacaldyspepsia,commencedhishalfcenturyofco—tenancyofmyfleshlytabernacle.

  Lookingbackonmy\"Lehrjahre,\"[8]IamsorrytosaythatIdonotthinkthatanyaccountofmydoingsasastudentwouldtendtoedification.Infact,Ishoulddistinctlywarningenuousyouthtoavoidimitatingmyexample.Iworkedextremelyhardwhenitpleasedme,andwhenitdidnot——whichwasaveryfrequentcase——I

  wasextremelyidle(unlessmakingcaricaturesofone’spastorsandmastersistobecalledabranchofindustry),orelsewastedmyenergiesinwrongdirections.IreadeverythingIcouldlayhandsupon,includingnovels,andtookupallsortsofpursuitstodropthemagainquiteasspeedily.Nodoubtitwasverylargelymyownfault,buttheonlyinstructionfromwhichIeverobtainedthepropereffectofeducationwasthatwhichIreceivedfromMr.

  WhartonJones,whowasthelectureronphysiologyattheCharingCrossSchoolofMedicine.Theextentandprecisionofhisknowledgeimpressedmegreatly,andthesevereexactnessofhismethodoflecturingwasquitetomytaste.IdonotknowthatI

  haveeverfeltsomuchrespectforanybodyasateacherbeforeorsince.Iworkedhardtoobtainhisapprobation,andhewasextremelykindandhelpfultotheyoungsterwho,Iamafraid,tookupmoreofhistimethanhehadanyrighttodo.Itwashewhosuggestedthepublicationofmyfirstscientificpaper——averylittleone——intheMedicalGazetteof1845,andmostkindlycorrectedtheliteraryfaultswhichaboundedinit,shortasitwas;foratthattime,andformanyyearsafterwards,Idetestedthetroubleofwriting,andwouldtakenopainsoverit.

  Itwasintheearlyspringof1846,that,havingfinishedmyobligatorymedicalstudiesandpassedthefirstM.D.examinationattheLondonUniversity,——thoughIwasstilltooyoungtoqualifyattheCollegeofSurgeons,——Iwastalkingtoafellow—student(thepresenteminentphysician,SirJosephFayrer),andwonderingwhatI

  shoulddotomeettheimperativenecessityforearningmyownbread,whenmyfriendsuggestedthatIshouldwritetoSirWilliamBurnett,atthattimeDirector—GeneralfortheMedicalServiceoftheNavy,foranappointment.Ithoughtthisratherastrongthingtodo,asSirWilliamwaspersonallyunknowntome,butmycheeryfriendwouldnotlistentomyscruples,soIwenttomylodgingsandwrotethebestletterIcoulddevise.AfewdaysafterwardsI

  receivedtheusualofficialcircularacknowledgment,butatthebottomtherewaswrittenaninstructiontocallatSomersetHouseonsuchaday.Ithoughtthatlookedlikebusiness,soattheappointedtimeIcalledandsentinmycard,whileIwaitedinSirWilliam’sante—room.Hewasatall,shrewd—lookingoldgentleman,withabroadScotchaccent——andIthinkIseehimnowasheenteredwithmycardinhishand.Thefirstthinghedidwastoreturnit,withthefrugalreminderthatIshouldprobablyfinditusefulonsomeotheroccasion.ThesecondwastoaskwhetherIwasanIrishman.Isupposetheairofmodestyaboutmyappealmusthavestruckhim.IsatisfiedtheDirector—GeneralthatIwasEnglishtothebackbone,andhemadesomeinquiriesastomystudentcareer,finallydesiringmetoholdmyselfreadyforexamination.Havingpassedthis,IwasinHerMajesty’sService,andenteredonthebooksofNelson’s[9]oldship,theVictory,fordutyatHaslarHospital,aboutacoupleofmonthsafterImademyapplication.

  MyofficialchiefatHaslarwasaveryremarkableperson,thelateSirJohnRichardson,anexcellentnaturalist,andfar—famedasanindomitableArctictraveller.Hewasasilent,reservedman,outsidethecircleofhisfamilyandintimates;and,havingafullshareofyouthfulvanity,Iwasextremelydisgustedtofindthat\"OldJohn,\"asweirreverentyoungsterscalledhim,tooknottheslightestnoticeofmyworshipfulselfeitherthefirsttimeI

  attendedhim,asitwasmydutytodo,orforsomeweeksafterwards.Iamafraidtothinkofthelengthstowhichmytonguemayhaverunonthesubjectofthechurlishnessofthechief,whowas,intruth,oneofthekindest—heartedandmostconsiderateofmen.Butoneday,asIwascrossingthehospitalsquare,SirJohnstoppedme,andheapedcoalsoffireonmyheadbytellingmethathehadtriedtogetmeoneoftheresidentappointments,muchcovetedbytheassistantsurgeons,butthattheAdmiraltyhadputinanotherman.\"However,\"saidhe,\"ImeantokeepyouheretillIcangetyousomethingyouwilllike,\"andturneduponhisheelwithoutwaitingforthethanksIstammeredout.ThatexplainedhowitwasIhadnotbeenpackedofftotheWestCoastofAfricalikesomeofmyjuniors,andwhy,eventually,IremainedaltogethersevenmonthsatHaslar.

  Afteralonginterval,duringwhich\"OldJohn\"ignoredmyexistencealmostascompletelyasbefore,hestoppedmeagainaswemetinacasualway,anddescribingtheserviceonwhichtheRattlesnakewaslikelytobeemployed,saidthatCaptainOwenStanley,whowastocommandtheship,hadaskedhimtorecommendanassistantsurgeonwhoknewsomethingofscience;wouldIlikethat?OfcourseI

  jumpedattheoffer.\"Verywell,Igiveyouleave;gotoLondonatonceandseeCaptainStanley.\"Iwent,sawmyfuturecommander,whowasveryciviltome,andpromisedtoaskthatIshouldbeappointedtohisship,asinduetimeIwas.Itisasingularthingthat,duringthefewmonthsofmystayatHaslar,IhadamongmymessmatestwofutureDirectors—GeneraloftheMedicalServiceoftheNavy(SirAlexanderArmstrongandSirJohnWatt—Reid),withthepresentPresidentoftheCollegeofPhysiciansandmykindestofdoctors,SirAndrewClark.

  LifeonboardHerMajesty’sshipinthosedayswasaverydifferentaffairfromwhatitisnow,andourswasexceptionallyrough,aswewereoftenmanymonthswithoutreceivinglettersorseeinganycivilisedpeoplebutourselves.Inexchange,wehadtheinterestofbeingaboutthelastvoyagers,Isuppose,towhomitcouldbepossibletomeetwithpeoplewhoknewnothingoffire—arms——aswedidonthesouthcoastofNewGuinea——andofmakingacquaintancewithavarietyofinterestingsavageandsemi—civilisedpeople.

  But,apartfromexperienceofthiskindandtheopportunitiesofferedforscientificwork,tome,personally,thecruisewasextremelyvaluable.Itwasgoodformetoliveundersharpdiscipline;tobedownontherealitiesofexistencebylivingonbarenecessaries;tofindouthowextremelywellworthlivinglifeseemedtobewhenonewokeupfromanight’srestonasoftplank,withtheskyforcanopyandcocoaandweevillybiscuitthesoleprospectforbreakfast;and,moreespecially,tolearntoworkforthesakeofwhatIgotformyselfoutofit,evenifitallwenttothebottomandIalongwithit.Mybrotherofficerswereasgoodfellowsassailorsoughttobeandgenerallyare,but,naturally,theyneitherknewnorcaredanythingaboutmypursuits,norunderstoodwhyIshouldbesozealousinpursuitoftheobjectswhichmyfriends,themiddies,[10]christened\"Buffons,\"afterthetitleconspicuousonavolumeoftheSuitesaBuffon,[11]whichstoodonmyshelfinthechartroom.

  Duringthefouryearsofourabsence,Isenthomecommunicationaftercommunicationtothe\"LinneanSociety,\"[12]withthesameresultasthatobtainedbyNoahwhenhesenttheravenoutofhisark.

  Tiredatlastofhearingnothingaboutthem,Ideterminedtodoordie,andin1849IdrewupamoreelaboratepaperandforwardedittotheRoyalSociety.[13]Thiswasmydove,ifIhadonlyknownit.

  Butowingtothemovementsoftheship,IheardnothingofthateitheruntilmyreturntoEnglandinthelatterendoftheyear1850,whenIfoundthatitwasprintedandpublished,andthatahugepacketofseparatecopiesawaitedme.WhenIhearsomeofmyyoungfriendscomplainofwantofsympathyandencouragement,Iaminclinedtothinkthatmynavallifewasnottheleastvaluablepartofmyeducation.

  ThreeyearsaftermyreturnwereoccupiedbyabattlebetweenmyscientificfriendsontheonehandandtheAdmiraltyontheother,astowhetherthelatterought,oroughtnot,toactuptothespiritofapledgetheyhadgiventoencourageofficerswhohaddonescientificworkbycontributingtotheexpenseofpublishingmine.AtlasttheAdmiralty,gettingtired,Isuppose,cutshortthediscussionbyorderingmetojoinaship,whichthingI

  declinedtodo,andasRastignac,[14]inthePereGoriot[15]saystoParis,IsaidtoLondon\"anousdeux.\"IdesiredtoobtainaProfessorshipofeitherPhysiologyorComparativeAnatomy,andasvacanciesoccurredIapplied,butinvain.Myfriend,ProfessorTyndall,[16]andIwerecandidatesatthesametime,hefortheChairofPhysicsandIforthatofNaturalHistoryintheUniversityofToronto,which,fortunately,asitturnedout,wouldnotlookateitherofus.Isayfortunately,notfromanylackofrespectforToronto,butbecauseIsoonmadeupmymindthatLondonwastheplaceforme,andhenceIhavesteadilydeclinedtheinducementstoleaveit,whichhaveatvarioustimesbeenoffered.Atlast,in1854,onthetranslationofmywarmfriendEdwardForbes,toEdinburgh,SirHenrydelaBeche,theDirector—GeneraloftheGeologicalSurvey,offeredmethepostForbesvacatedofPaleontologistandLectureronNaturalHistory.Irefusedtheformerpointblank,andacceptedthelatteronlyprovisionally,tellingSirHenrythatIdidnotcareforfossils,andthatI

  shouldgiveupNaturalHistoryassoonasIcouldgetaphysiologicalpost.ButIheldtheofficeforthirty—oneyears,andalargepartofmyworkhasbeenpaleontological.

  AtthattimeIdislikedpublicspeaking,andhadafirmconvictionthatIshouldbreakdowneverytimeIopenedmymouth.IbelieveI

  hadeveryfaultaspeakercouldhave(excepttalkingatrandomorindulginginrhetoric),whenIspoketothefirstimportantaudienceIeveraddressed,onaFridayeveningattheRoyalInstitution,in1852.Yet,Imustconfesstohavingbeenguilty,malgremoi,ofasmuchpublicspeakingasmostofmycontemporaries,andforthelasttenyearsitceasedtobesomuchofabugbeartome.Iusedtopitymyselfforhavingtogothroughthistraining,butIamnowmoredisposedtocompassionatetheunfortunateaudiences,especiallymyeverfriendlyhearersattheRoyalInstitution,whowerethesubjectsofmyoratoricalexperiments.

  Thelastthingthatitwouldbeproperformetodowouldbetospeakoftheworkofmylife,ortosayattheendofthedaywhetherIthinkIhaveearnedmywagesornot.Menaresaidtobepartialjudgesofthemselves.Youngmenmaybe,Idoubtifoldmenare.Lifeseemsterriblyforeshortenedastheylookbackandthemountaintheysetthemselvestoclimbinyouthturnsouttobeamerespurofimmeasurablyhigherrangeswhen,byfailingbreath,theyreachthetop.ButifImayspeakoftheobjectsIhavehadmoreorlessdefinitelyinviewsinceIbegantheascentofmyhillock,theyarebrieflythese:Topromotetheincreaseofnaturalknowledgeandtoforwardtheapplicationofscientificmethodsofinvestigationtoalltheproblemsoflifetothebestofmyability,intheconvictionwhichhasgrownwithmygrowthandstrengthenedwithmystrength,thatthereisnoalleviationforthesufferingsofmankindexceptveracityofthoughtandofaction,andtheresolutefacingoftheworldasitiswhenthegarmentofmake—

  believebywhichpioushandshavehiddenitsuglierfeaturesisstrippedoff.

  ItiswiththisintentthatIhavesubordinatedanyreasonable,orunreasonable,ambitionforscientificfamewhichImayhavepermittedmyselftoentertaintootherends;tothepopularizationofscience;tothedevelopmentandorganisationofscientificeducation;totheendlessseriesofbattlesandskirmishesoverevolution;andtountiringoppositiontothatecclesiasticalspirit,[17]thatclericalism,whichinEngland,aseverywhereelse,andtowhateverdenominationitmaybelong,isthedeadlyenemyofscience.

  Instrivingfortheattainmentoftheseobjects,Ihavebeenbutoneamongmany,andIshallbewellcontenttoberemembered,orevennotremembered,assuch.Circumstances,amongwhichIamproudtoreckonthedevotedkindnessofmanyfriends,haveledtomyoccupationofvariousprominentpositions,amongwhichthePresidencyoftheRoyalSocietyisthehighest.Itwouldbemockmodestyonmypart,withtheseandotherscientifichonourswhichhavebeenbestoweduponme,topretendthatIhavenotsucceededinthecareerwhichIhavefollowed,ratherbecauseIwasdrivenintoitthanofmyownfreewill;butIamafraidIshouldnotcounteventhesethingsasmarksofsuccessifIcouldnothopethatI

  hadsomewhathelpedthatmovementofopinionwhichhasbeencalledtheNewReformation.[18]

  ONTHEADVISABLENESSOFIMPROVINGNATURALKNOWLEDGE[19]

  Thistimetwohundredyearsago——inthebeginningofJanuary,1666——

  thoseofourforefatherswhoinhabitedthisgreatandancientcity,tookbreathbetweentheshocksoftwofearfulcalamities:onenotquitepast,althoughitsfuryhadabated;theothertocome.

  Withinafewyardsoftheveryspot[20]onwhichweareassembled,sothetraditionruns,thatpainfulanddeadlymalady,theplague,appearedinthelattermonthsof1664;and,thoughnonewvisitor,smotethepeopleofEngland,andespeciallyofhercapital,withaviolenceunknownbefore,inthecourseofthefollowingyear.Thehandofamasterhaspicturedwhathappenedinthosedismalmonths;

  andinthattruestoffictions,TheHistoryofthePlagueYear,Defoe[21]showsdeath,witheveryaccompanimentofpainandterror,stalkingthroughthenarrowstreetsofoldLondon,andchangingtheirbusyhumintoasilencebrokenonlybythewailingofthemournersoffiftythousanddead;bythewofuldenunciationsandmadprayersoffanatics;andbythemadderyellsofdespairingprofligates.

  But,aboutthistimein1666,thedeath—ratehadsunktonearlyitsordinaryamount;acaseofplagueoccurredonlyhereandthere,andtherichercitizenswhohadflownfromthepesthadreturnedtotheirdwellings.Theremnantofthepeoplebegantotoilattheaccustomedroundofduty,orofpleasure;andthestreamofcitylifebidfairtoflowbackalongitsoldbed,withrenewedanduninterruptedvigour.

  Thenewlykindledhopewasdeceitful.Thegreatplague,indeed,returnednomore;butwhatithaddonefortheLondoners,thegreatfire,whichbrokeoutintheautumnof1666,didforLondon;and,inSeptemberofthatyear,aheapofashesandtheindestructibleenergyofthepeoplewereallthatremainedofthegloryoffive—

  sixthsofthecitywithinthewalls.

  Ourforefathershadtheirownwaysofaccountingforeachofthesecalamities.Theysubmittedtotheplagueinhumilityandinpenitence,fortheybelievedittobethejudgmentofGod.But,towardsthefiretheywerefuriouslyindignant,interpretingitastheeffectofthemaliceofman,——astheworkoftheRepublicans,orofthePapists,accordingastheirprepossessionsraninfavourofloyaltyorofPuritanism.

  Itwould,Ifancy,havefaredbutillwithonewho,standingwhereInowstand,inwhatwasthenathicklypeopledandfashionablepartofLondon,shouldhavebroachedtoourancestorsthedoctrinewhichInowpropoundtoyou——thatalltheirhypotheseswerealikewrong;thattheplaguewasnomore,intheirsense,Divinejudgment,thanthefirewastheworkofanypolitical,orofanyreligioussect;butthattheywerethemselvestheauthorsofbothplagueandfire,andthattheymustlooktothemselvestopreventtherecurrenceofcalamities,toallappearancesopeculiarlybeyondthereachofhumancontrol——soevidentlytheresultofthewrathofGod,orofthecraftandsubtletyofanenemy.

  Andonemaypicturetoone’sselfhowharmoniouslytheholycursingofthePuritanofthatdaywouldhavechimedinwiththeunholycursingandthecracklingwitoftheRochestersandSedleys,[22]andwiththerevilingsofthepoliticalfanatics,ifmyimaginaryplaindealerhadgoneontosaythat,ifthereturnofsuchmisfortuneswereeverrenderedimpossible,itwouldnotbeinvirtueofthevictoryofthefaithofLaud,[23]orofthatofMilton;and,aslittle,bythetriumphofrepublicanism,asbythatofmonarchy.

  Butthattheonethingneedfulforcompassingthisendwas,thatthepeopleofEnglandshouldsecondtheeffortsofaninsignificantcorporation,theestablishmentofwhich,afewyearsbeforetheepochofthegreatplagueandthegreatfire,hadbeenaslittlenoticed,astheywereconspicuous.

  Sometwentyyearsbeforetheoutbreakoftheplagueafewcalmandthoughtfulstudentsbandedthemselvestogetherforthepurpose,astheyphrasedit,of\"improvingnaturalknowledge.\"Theendstheyproposedtoattaincannotbestatedmoreclearlythaninthewordsofoneofthefoundersoftheorganisation:——

  \"Ourbusinesswas(precludingmattersoftheologyandstateaffairs)todiscourseandconsiderofphilosophicalenquiries,andsuchasrelatedthereunto:——asPhysick,Anatomy,Geometry,Astronomy,Navigation,Staticks,Magneticks,Chymicks,Mechanicks,andNaturalExperiments;withthestateofthesestudiesandtheircultivationathomeandabroad.Wethendiscoursedofthecirculationoftheblood,thevalvesintheveins,thevenaelacteae,thelymphaticvessels,theCopernicanhypothesis,thenatureofcometsandnewstars,thesatellitesofJupiter,theovalshape(asitthenappeared)ofSaturn,thespotsonthesunanditsturningonitsownaxis,theinequalitiesandselenography[24]ofthemoon,theseveralphasesofVenusandMercury,theimprovementoftelescopesandgrindingofglassesforthatpurpose,theweightofair,thepossibilityorimpossibilityofvacuitiesandnature’sabhorrencethereof,theTorricellianexperiment[25]inquicksilver,thedescentofheavybodiesandthedegreeofaccelerationtherein,withdiversotherthingsoflikenature,someofwhichwerethenbutnewdiscoveries,andothersnotsogenerallyknownandembracedasnowtheyare;withotherthingsappertainingtowhathathbeencalledtheNewPhilosophy,whichfromthetimesofGalileoatFlorence,andSirFrancisBacon[26](LordVerulam)inEngland,hathbeenmuchcultivatedinItaly,France,Germany,andotherpartsabroad,aswellaswithusinEngland.\"

  ThelearnedDr.Wallis,[27]writingin1696,narratesinthesewords,whathappenedhalfacenturybefore,orabout1645.TheassociatesmetatOxford,intheroomsofDr.Wilkins,whowasdestinedtobecomeabishop;andsubsequentlycomingtogetherinLondon,theyattractedthenoticeoftheking.AnditisastrangeevidenceofthetasteforknowledgewhichthemostobviouslyworthlessoftheStuartssharedwithhisfatherandgrandfather,thatCharlestheSecondwasnotcontentwithsayingwittythingsabouthisphilosophers,butdidwisethingswithregardtothem.Forhenotonlybestoweduponthemsuchattentionashecouldsparefromhispoodlesandhismistresses,but,beinginhisusualstateofimpecuniosity,beggedforthemoftheDukeofOrmond;and,thatstepbeingwithouteffect,gavethemChelseaCollege,acharter,andamace:crowninghisfavoursinthebestwaytheycouldbecrowned,byburdeningthemnofurtherwithroyalpatronageorstateinterference.

  Thusitwasthatthehalf—dozenyoungmen,studiousofthe\"NewPhilosophy,\"[28]whometinoneanother’slodgingsinOxfordorinLondon,inthemiddleoftheseventeenthcentury,grewinnumericalandinrealstrength,until,initslatterpart,the\"RoyalSocietyfortheImprovementofNaturalKnowledge\"hadalreadybecomefamous,andhadacquiredaclaimuponthevenerationofEnglishmen,whichithaseversinceretained,astheprincipalfocusofscientificactivityinourislands,andthechiefchampionofthecauseitwasformedtosupport.

  ItwasbytheaidoftheRoyalSociety[29]thatNewton[30]

  publishedhisPrincipia.Ifallthebooksintheworld,exceptthePhilosophicalTransactions,[31]weredestroyed,itissafetosaythatthefoundationsofphysicalsciencewouldremainunshaken,andthatthevastintellectualprogressofthelasttwocenturieswouldbelargely,thoughincompletely,recorded.Norhaveanysignsofhaltingorofdecrepitudemanifestedthemselvesinourowntimes.

  AsinDr.Wallis’sdays,sointhese,\"ourbusinessis,precludingtheologyandstateaffairs,todiscourseandconsiderofphilosophicalenquiries.\"Butour\"Mathematick\"isonewhichNewtonwouldhavetogotoschooltolearn;our\"Staticks,Mechanicks,Magneticks,Chymicks,andNaturalExperiments\"

  constituteamassofphysicalandchemicalknowledge,aglimpseatwhichwouldcompensateGalileo[32]forthedoingsofascoreofinquisitorialcardinals;our\"Physick\"and\"Anatomy\"haveembracedsuchinfinitevarietiesofbeings,havelaidopensuchnewworldsintimeandspace,havegrappled,notunsuccessfully,withsuchcomplexproblems,thattheeyesofVesalius[33]andofHarvey[34]

  mightbedazzledbythesightofthetreethathasgrownoutoftheirgrainofmustardseed.

  Thefactisperhapsrathertoomuch,thantoolittle,forceduponone’snotice,nowadays,thatallthismarvellousintellectualgrowthhasanolesswonderfulexpressioninpracticallife;andthat,inthisrespect,ifinnoother,themovementsymbolisedbytheprogressoftheRoyalSocietystandswithoutaparallelinthehistoryofmankind.

  Aseriesofvolumesasbulkyasthe\"TransactionsoftheRoyalSociety\"mightpossiblybefilledwiththesubtlespeculations[35]

  oftheSchoolmen;[36]notimprobably,theobtainingamasteryovertheproductsofmediaevalthoughtmightnecessitateanevengreaterexpenditureoftimeandofenergythantheacquirementofthe\"NewPhilosophy\";butthoughsuchworkengrossedthebestintellectsofEuropeforalongertimethanhaselapsedsincethegreatfire,itseffectswere\"writinwater,\"[37]sofarasoursocialstateisconcerned.

  Ontheotherhand,ifthenoblefirstPresidentoftheRoyalSocietycouldrevisittheupperairandoncemoregladdenhiseyeswithasightofthefamiliarmace,hewouldfindhimselfinthemidstofamaterialcivilisationmoredifferentfromthatofhisday,thanthatoftheseventeenthwasfromthatofthefirstcentury.AndifLordBrouncker’s[38]nativesagacityhadnotdesertedhisghost,hewouldneednolongreflectiontodiscoverthatallthesegreatships,theserailways,thesetelegraphs,thesefactories,theseprinting—presses,withoutwhichthewholefabricofmodernEnglishsocietywouldcollapseintoamassofstagnantandstarvingpauperism,——thatallthesepillarsofourStatearebuttheripplesandthebubblesuponthesurfaceofthatgreatspiritualstream,thespringsofwhichonly,heandhisfellowswereprivilegedtosee;andseeing,torecogniseasthatwhichitbehovedthemaboveallthingstokeeppureandundefiled.

  Itmaynotbetoogreataflightofimaginationtoconceiveournoblerevenant[39]notforgetfulofthegreattroublesofhisownday,andanxioustoknowhowoftenLondonhadbeenburneddownsincehistimeandhowoftentheplaguehadcarriedoffitsthousands.Hewouldhavetolearnthat,althoughLondoncontainstenfoldtheinflammablematterthatitdidin1666;though,notcontentwithfillingourroomswithwoodworkandlightdraperies,wemustneedsleadinflammableandexplosivegasesintoeverycornerofourstreetsandhouses,weneverallowevenastreettoburndown.Andifheaskedhowthishadcomeabout,weshouldhavetoexplainthattheimprovementofnaturalknowledgehasfurnisheduswithdozensofmachinesforthrowingwateruponfires,anyoneofwhichwouldhavefurnishedtheingeniousMr.Hooke,thefirst\"curatorandexperimenter\"oftheRoyalSociety,withamplematerialsfordiscoursebeforehalfadozenmeetingsofthatbody;andthat,tosaytruth,exceptfortheprogressofnaturalknowledge,weshouldnothavebeenabletomakeeventhetoolsbywhichthesemachinesareconstructed.And,further,itwouldbenecessarytoadd,thatalthoughseverefiressometimesoccurandinflictgreatdamage,thelossisverygenerallycompensatedbysocieties,theoperationsofwhichhavebeenrenderedpossibleonlybytheprogressofnaturalknowledgeinthedirectionofmathematics,andtheaccumulationofwealthinvirtueofothernaturalknowledge.

  Buttheplague?MyLordBrouncker’sobservationwouldnot,Ifear,leadhimtothinkthatEnglishmenofthenineteenthcenturyarepurerinlife,ormoreferventinreligiousfaith,thanthegenerationwhichcouldproduceaBoyle,[40]anEvelyn,[41]andaMilton.Hemightfindthemudofsocietyatthebottom,insteadofatthetop,butIfearthatthesumtotalwouldbeasdeservingofswiftjudgmentasatthetimeoftheRestoration.[42]Anditwouldbeourdutytoexplainoncemore,andthistimenotwithoutshame,thatwehavenoreasontobelievethatitistheimprovementofourfaith,northatofourmorals,whichkeepstheplaguefromourcity;but,again,thatitistheimprovementofournaturalknowledge.

  Wehavelearnedthatpestilenceswillonlytakeuptheirabodeamongthosewhohavepreparedunsweptandungarnishedresidencesforthem.Theircitiesmusthavenarrow,unwateredstreets,foulwithaccumulatedgarbage.Theirhousesmustbeill—drained,ill—

  lighted,ill—ventilated.Theirsubjectsmustbeill—washed,ill—

  fed,ill—clothed.TheLondonof1665wassuchacity.ThecitiesoftheEast,whereplaguehasanenduringdwelling,aresuchcities.We,inlatertimes,havelearnedsomewhatofNature,andpartlyobeyher.Becauseofthispartialimprovementofournaturalknowledgeandofthatfractionalobedience,wehavenoplague;becausethatknowledgeisstillveryimperfectandthatobedienceyetincomplete,typhoidisourcompanionandcholeraourvisitor.Butitisnotpresumptuoustoexpressthebeliefthat,whenourknowledgeismorecompleteandourobediencetheexpressionofourknowledge,Londonwillcounthercenturiesoffreedomfromtyphoidandcholera,asshenowgratefullyreckonshertwohundredyearsofignoranceofthatplaguewhichswoopeduponherthriceinthefirsthalfoftheseventeenthcentury.

  Surely,thereisnothingintheseexplanationswhichisnotfullyborneoutbythefacts?Surely,theprinciplesinvolvedinthemarenowadmittedamongthefixedbeliefsofallthinkingmen?

  Surely,itistruethatourcountrymenarelesssubjecttofire,famine,pestilence,andalltheevilswhichresultfromawantofcommandoveranddueanticipationofthecourseofNature,thanwerethecountrymenofMilton;andhealth,wealth,andwell—beingaremoreabundantwithusthanwiththem?ButnolesscertainlyisthedifferenceduetotheimprovementofourknowledgeofNature,andtheextenttowhichthatimprovedknowledgehasbeenincorporatedwiththehouseholdwordsofmen,andhassuppliedthespringsoftheirdailyactions.

  Grantingforamoment,then,thetruthofthatwhichthedepreciatorsofnaturalknowledgearesofondofurging,thatitsimprovementcanonlyaddtotheresourcesofourmaterialcivilisation;admittingittobepossiblethatthefoundersoftheRoyalSocietythemselveslookedfornototherrewardthanthis,I

  cannotconfessthatIwasguiltyofexaggerationwhenIhinted,thattohimwhohadthegiftofdistinguishingbetweenprominenteventsandimportantevents,theoriginofacombinedeffortonthepartofmankindtoimprovenaturalknowledgemighthaveloomedlargerthanthePlagueandhaveoutshonetheglareoftheFire;asasomethingfraughtwithawealthofbeneficencetomankind,incomparisonwithwhichthedamagedonebythoseghastlyevilswouldshrinkintoinsignificance.

  Itisverycertainthatforeveryvictimslainbytheplague,hundredsofmankindexistandfindafairshareofhappinessintheworldbytheaidofthespinningjenny.Andthegreatfire,atitsworst,couldnothaveburnedthesupplyofcoal,thedailyworkingofwhich,inthebowelsoftheearth,madepossiblebythesteampump,givesrisetoanamountofwealthtowhichthemillionslostinoldLondonarebutasanoldsong.

  Butspinningjennyandsteampumpare,afterall,buttoys,possessinganaccidentalvalue;andnaturalknowledgecreatesmultitudesofmoresubtlecontrivances,thepraisesofwhichdonothappentobesungbecausetheyarenotdirectlyconvertibleintoinstrumentsforcreatingwealth.WhenIcontemplatenaturalknowledgesquanderingsuchgiftsamongmen,theonlyappropriatecomparisonIcanfindforheristolikenhertosuchapeasantwomanasoneseesintheAlps,stridingeverupward,heavilyburdened,andwithmindbentonlyonherhome;butyetwithouteffortandwithoutthought,knittingforherchildren.Nowstockingsaregoodandcomfortablethings,andthechildrenwillundoubtedlybemuchthebetterforthem;butsurelyitwouldbeshort—sighted,tosaytheleastofit,todepreciatethistoilingmotherasamerestocking—machine——amereproviderofphysicalcomforts?

  However,thereareblindleadersoftheblind,andnotafewofthem,whotakethisviewofnaturalknowledge,andcanseenothinginthebountifulmotherofhumanitybutasortofcomfort—grindingmachine.Accordingtothem,theimprovementofnaturalknowledgealwayshasbeen,andalwaysmustbe,synonymouswithnomorethantheimprovementofthematerialresourcesandtheincreaseofthegratificationsofmen.

  Naturalknowledgeis,intheireyes,norealmotherofmankind,bringingthemupwithkindness,and,ifneedbe,withsternness,inthewaytheyshouldgo,andinstructingtheminallthingsneedfulfortheirwelfare;butasortoffairygod—mother,readytofurnishherpetswithshoesofswiftness,swordsofsharpness,andomnipotentAladdin’slamps,[43]sothattheymayhavetelegraphstoSaturn,andseetheothersideofthemoon,andthankGodtheyarebetterthantheirbenightedancestors.

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