Itisverycertainthatforeveryvictimslainbytheplague，hundredsofmankindexistandfindafairshareofhappinessintheworldbytheaidofthespinningjenny。Andthegreatfire，atitsworst，couldnothaveburnedthesupplyofcoal，thedailyworkingofwhich，inthebowelsoftheearth，madepossiblebythesteampump，givesrisetoanamountofwealthtowhichthemillionslostinoldLondonarebutasanoldsong。
Butspinningjennyandsteampumpare，afterall，buttoys，possessinganaccidentalvalue;andnaturalknowledgecreatesmultitudesofmoresubtlecontrivances，thepraisesofwhichdonothappentobesungbecausetheyarenotdirectlyconvertibleintoinstrumentsofcreatingwealth。WhenIcontemplatenaturalknowledgesquanderingsuchgiftsamongmen，theonlyappropriatecomparisonIcanfindforheris，tolikenhertosuchapeasantwomanasoneseesintheAlps，stridingeverupward，heavilyburdened，andwithmindbentonlyonherhome;butyet，withouteffortandwithoutthought，knittingforherchildren。Nowstockingsaregoodandcomfortablethings，andthechildrenwillundoubtedlybemuchthebetterforthem;butsurelyitwouldbeshort—sighted，tosaytheleastofit，todepreciatethistoilingmotherasamerestocking—machine——amereproviderofphysicalcomforts？
However，thereareblindleadersoftheblind，andnotafewofthem，whotakethisviewofnaturalknowledge，andcanseenothinginthebountifulmotherofhumanitybutasortofcomfort—grindingmachine。
Accordingtothem，theimprovementofnaturalknowledgealwayshasbeen，andalwaysmustbe，synonymouswithnomorethantheimprovementofthematerialresourcesandtheincreaseofthegratificationofmen。
Naturalknowledgeis，intheireyes，norealmotherofmankind，bringingthemupwithkindness，andifneedbe，withsternness，inthewaytheyshouldgo，andinstructingtheminallthingsneedfulfortheirwelfare;butasortoffairygodmother，readytofurnishherpetswithshoesofswiftness，swordsofsharpness，andomnipotentAladdin’slamps，sothattheymayhavetelegraphstoSaturn，andseetheothersideofthemoon，andthankGodtheyarebetterthantheirbenightedancestors。Ifthistalkweretrue，I，forone，shouldnotgreatlycaretotoilintheserviceofnaturalknowledge。IthinkIwouldjustassoonbequietlychippingmyownflintaxe，afterthemannerofmyforefathersafewthousandyearsback，asbetroubledwiththeendlessmaladyofthoughtwhichnowinfestsusall，forsuchreward。ButI
venturetosaythatsuchviewsarecontraryaliketoreasonandtofact。ThosewhodiscourseinsuchfashionseemtometobesointentupontryingtoseewhatisaboveNature，orwhatisbehindher，thattheyareblindtowhatstaresthemintheface，inher。
Ishouldnotventuretospeakthusstronglyifmyjustificationwerenottobefoundinthesimplestandmostobviousfacts，——ifitneededmorethananappealtothemostnotorioustruthstojustifymyassertion，thattheimprovementofnaturalknowledge，whateverdirectionithastaken，andhoweverlowtheaimsofthosewhomayhavecommencedit——hasnotonlyconferredpracticalbenefitsonmen，but，insodoing，haseffectedarevolutionintheirconceptionsoftheuniverseandofthemselves，andhasprofoundlyalteredtheirmodesofthinkingandtheirviewsofrightandwrong。Isaythatnaturalknowledge，seekingtosatisfynaturalwants，hasfoundtheideaswhichcanalonestillspiritualcravings。Iwaythatnaturalknowledge，indesiringtoascertainthelawsofcomfort，hasbeendriventodiscoverthoseofconduct，andtolaythefoundationsofanewmorality。
Letustakethesepointsseparately;and，first，whatgreatideashasnaturalknowledgeintroducedintomen’sminds？
IcannotbutthinkthatthefoundationsofallnaturalknowledgewerelaidwhenthereasonofmanfirstcamefacetofacewiththefactsofNature;whenthesavagefirstlearnedthatthefingersofonehandarefewerthanthoseofboth;thatitisshortertocrossastreamthantoheadit;thatastonestopswhereitisunlessitbemoved，andthatitdropsfromthehandwhichletsitgo;thatlightandheatcomeandgowiththesun;thatsticksburnawaytoafire;thatplantsandanimalsgrowanddie;thatifhestruckhisfellow—savageablowhewouldmakehimangry，andperhapsgetablowinreturn，whileifheofferedhimafruithewouldpleasehim，andperhapsreceiveafishinexchange。Whenmenhadacquiredthismuchknowledge，theoutlines，rudethoughtheywere，ofmathematics，ofphysics，ofchemistry，ofbiology，ofmoral，economical，andpoliticalscience，weresketched。Nordidthegermofreligionfailwhensciencebegantobud。Listentowordswhichthoughnew，areyetthreethousandyearsold:——
\"……WheninheaventhestarsaboutthemoonLookbeautiful，whenallthewindsarelaid，Andeveryheightcomesout，andjuttingpeakAndvalley，andtheimmeasurableheavensBreakopentotheirhighest，andallthestartShine，andtheshepherdgladdensinhisheart。\"*
[footnote]*NeeditbesaidthatthisisTennyson’sEnglishforHomer’sGreek？
Ifthehalf—savageGreekcouldshareourfeelingsthusfar，itisirrationaltodoubtthathewentfurther，tofind，aswedo，thatuponthatbriefgladnesstherefollowsacertainsorrow，——thelittlelightofawakenedhumanintelligenceshinessomereasparkamidsttheabyssoftheunknownandunknowable;seemssoinsufficienttodomorethanilluminatetheimperfectionsthatcannotberemedied，theaspirationsthatcannotberealized，ofman’sownnature。Butinthissadness，thisconsciousnessofthelimitationofman，thissenseofanopensecretwhichhecannotpenetrate，liestheessenceofallreligion;andtheattempttoembodyitintheformsfurnishedbytheintellectistheoriginofthehighertheologies。
Thusitseemsimpossibletoimaginebutthatthefoundationsofallknowledge——secularorsacred——werelaidwhenintelligencedawned，thoughthesuperstructureremainedforlongagessoslightandfeebleastobecompatiblewiththeexistenceofalmostanygeneralviewrespectingthemodeofgovernanceoftheuniverse。Nodoubt，fromthefirst，therewerecertainphenomenawhich，totherudestmind，presentedaconstancyofoccurrence，andsuggestedthatafixedorderruled，atanyrate，amongthem。IdoubtifthegrossestofFetishworshipperseverimaginedthatastonemusthaveagodwithinittomakeitfall，orthatafruithadagodwithinittomakeittastesweet。
Withregardtosuchmattersasthese，itishardlyquestionablethatmankindfromthefirsttookstrictlypositiveandscientificviews。
But，withrespecttoallthelessfamiliaroccurrenceswhichpresentthemselves，unculturedman，nodoubt，hasalwaystakenhimselfasthestandardofcomparison，asthecentreandmeasureoftheworld;norcouldhewellavoiddoingso。Andfindingthathisapparentlyuncausedwillhasapowerfuleffectingivingrisetomanyoccurrences，henaturallyenoughascribedotherandgreatereventstootherandgreatervolitions，andcametolookupontheworldandallthatthereinis，astheproductofthevolitionsofpersonslikehimself，butstronger，andcapableofbeingappeasedorangered，ashehimselfmightbesoothedorirritated。Throughsuchconceptionsoftheplanandworkingoftheuniverseallmankindhavepassed，orarepassing。Andwemaynowconsider，whathasbeentheeffectoftheimprovementofnaturalknowledgeontheviewsofmenwhohavereachedthisstage，andwhohavebeguntocultivatenaturalknowledgewithnodesirebutthatof\"increasingGod’shonourandbetteringman’sestate。\"
Forexample，whatcouldseemwiser，fromamerematerialpointofview，moreinnocent，fromatheologicalone，toanancientpeople，thanthattheyshouldlearntheexactsuccessionoftheseasons，aswarningsfortheirhusbandmen;orthepositionofthestars，asguidestotheirrudenavigators？Butwhathasgrownoutofthissearchfornaturalknowledgeofsomerelyusefulacharacter？Youallknowthereply。
Astronomy，——whichofallscienceshasfilledmen’smindswithgeneralideasofacharactermostforeigntotheirdailyexperience，andhas，morethananyother，rendereditimpossibleforthemtoacceptthebeliefsoftheirfathers。Astronomy，——whichtellsthemthatthissovastandseeminglysolidearthisbutanatomamongatoms，whirling，nomanknowswhither，throughillimitablespace;whichdemonstratesthatwhatwecallthepeacefulheavenaboveus，isbutthatspace，filledbyaninfinitelysubtlematterwhoseparticlesareseethingandsurging，likethewavesofanangrysea;whichopensuptousinfiniteregionswherenothingisknown，oreverseemstohavebeenknown，butmatterandforce，operatingaccordingtorigidrules;whichleadsustocontemplatephenomenatheverynatureofwhichdemonstratesthattheymusthavehadabeginning，andthattheymusthaveanend，buttheverynatureofwhichalsoprovesthatthebeginningwas，toourconceptionsoftime，infinitelyremote，andthattheendisasimmeasurablydistant。
Butitisnotalonethosewhopursueastronomywhoaskforbreadandreceiveideas。Whatmoreharmlessthantheattempttoliftanddistributewaterbypumpingit;whatmoreabsolutelyandgrosslyutilitarian？ButoutofpumpsgrewthediscussionsaboutNature’sabhorrenceofavacuum;andthenitwasdiscoveredthatNaturedoesnotabhoravacuum，butthatairhasweight;andthatnotionpavedthewayforthedoctrinethatallmatterhasweight，andthattheforcewhichproducesweightisco—extensivewiththeuniverse，——inshort，tothetheoryofuniversalgravitationandendlessforce。Whilelearninghowtohandlegasesledtothediscoveryofoxygen，andtomodernchemistry，andtothenotionoftheindestructibilityofmatter。
Again，whatsimpler，ormoreabsolutelypractical，thantheattempttokeeptheaxleofawheelfromheatingwhenthewheelturnsroundveryfast？Howusefulforcartersandgigdriverstoknowsomethingaboutthis;andhowgoodwereit，ifanyingeniouspersonwouldfindoutthecauseofsuchphenomena，andthenceeduceageneralremedyforthem。
SuchaningeniouspersonwasCountRumford;andheandhissuccessorshavelandedusinthetheoryofthepersistence，orindestructibility，offorce。Andintheinfinitelyminute，asintheinfinitelygreat，theseekersafternaturalknowledge，ofthekindscalledphysicalandchemical，haveeverywherefoundadefiniteorderandsuccessionofeventswhichseemnevertobeinfringed。
Andhowhasitfaredwith\"Physick\"andAnatomy？Havetheanatomist，thephysiologist，orthephysician，whosebusinessithasbeentodevotethemselvesassiduouslytothateminentlypracticalanddirectend，thealleviationofthesufferingsofmankind，——havetheybeenabletoconfinetheirvisionmoreabsolutelytothestrictlyuseful？Ifeartheyareworstoffendersofall。Foriftheastronomerhassetbeforeustheinfinitemagnitudeofspace，andthepracticaleternityofthedurationoftheuniverse;ifthephysicalandchemicalphilosophershavedemonstratedtheinfiniteminutenessofitsconstituentparts，andthepracticaleternityofmatterandofforce;andifbothhavealikeproclaimedtheuniversalityofadefiniteandpredicableorderandsuccessionofevents，theworkersinbiologyhavenotonlyacceptedallthese，buthaveaddedmorestartlingthesesoftheirown。For，astheastronomersdiscoverintheearthnocentreoftheuniverse，butaneccentricspeck，sothenaturalistsfindmantobenocentreofthelivingworld，butoneamidstendlessmodificationsoflife;andastheastronomerobservesthemarkofpracticallyendlesstimesetuponthearrangementsofthesolarsystemsothestudentoflifefindstherecordsofancientformsofexistencepeoplingtheworldforages，which，inrelationtohumanexperience，areinfinite。
Furthermore，thephysiologistfindslifetobeasdependentforitsmanifestationonparticularmoleculararrangementsasanyphysicalorchemicalphenomenon;and，wheneverheextendshisresearches，fixedorderandunchangingcausationrevealthemselves，asplainlyasintherestofNature。
NorcanIfindthatanyotherfatehasawaitedthegermofReligion。
Arising，likeallotherkindsofknowledge，andoutoftheactionandinteractionofman’smind，withthatwhichisnotman’smind，ithastakentheintellectualcoveringsofFetishismorPolytheism;ofTheismorAtheism;ofSuperstitionorRationalism。Withthese，andtheirrelativemeritsanddemerits，Ihavenothingtodo;butthisitisneedfulformypurposetosay，thatifthereligionofthepresentdiffersfromthatofthepast，itisbecausethetheologyofthepresenthasbecomemorescientificthanthatofthepast;becauseithasnotonlyrenouncedidolsofwoodandidolsofstone，butbeginstoseethenecessityofbreakinginpiecestheidolsbuiltupofbooksandtraditionsandfine—spunecclesiasticalcobwebs:andofcherishingthenoblestandmosthumanofman’semotions，byworship\"forthemostpartofthesilentsort\"atthealtaroftheUnknownandUnknowable。
Suchareafewofthenewconceptionsimplantedinourmindsbytheimprovementofnaturalknowledge。Menhaveacquiredtheideasofthepracticallyinfiniteextentoftheuniverseandofitspracticaleternity;theyarefamiliarwiththeconceptionthatourearthisbutaninfinitesimalfragmentofthatpartoftheuniversewhichcanbeseen;andthat，nevertheless，itsdurationis，ascomparedwithourstandardsoftime，infinite。Theyhavefurtheracquiredtheideathatmanisbutoneofinnumerableformsoflifenowexistingintheglobe，andthatthepresentexistencesarebutthelastofanimmeasurableseriesofpredecessors。Moreover，everysteptheyhavemadeinnaturalknowledgehastendedtoextendandrivetintheirmindstheconceptionofadefiniteorderoftheuniverse——whichisembodiedinwhatarecalled，byanunhappymetaphor，thelawsofNature——andtonarrowtherangeandloosentheforceofmen’sbeliefinspontaneity，orinchangesotherthansuchasariseoutofthatdefiniteorderitself。
Whethertheseideasarewellorillfoundedisnotthequestion。Noonecandenythattheyexist，andhavebeentheinevitableoutgrowthoftheimprovementofnaturalknowledge。Andifso，itcannotbedoubtedthattheyarechangingtheformofmen’smostcherishedandmostimportantconvictions。
Andasregardsthesecondpoint——theextenttowhichtheimprovementofnaturalknowledgehasremodelledandalteredwhatmaybetermedtheintellectualethicsofmen，——whatareamongthemoralconvictionsmostfondlyheldbybarbarousandsemi—barbarouspeople。
Theyaretheconvictionsthatauthorityisthesoundestbasisofbelief;
thatmeritattachestoareadinesstobelieve;thatthedoubtingdispositionisabadone，andscepticismasin;thatwhengoodauthorityhaspronouncedwhatistobebelieved，andfaithhasacceptedit，reasonhasnofurtherduty。Therearemanyexcellentpersonswhoyetholdbytheseprinciples，anditisnotmypresentbusiness，orintention，todiscusstheirviews。AllIwishtobringclearlybeforeyourmindsistheunquestionablefact，thattheimprovementofnaturalknowledgeiseffectedbymethodswhichdirectlygivethelietoalltheseconvictions，andassumetheexactreverseofeachtobetrue。
Theimproverofnaturalknowledgeabsolutelyrefusestoacknowledgeauthority，assuch。Forhim，scepticismisthehighestofduties;
blindfaiththeoneunpardonablesin。Anditcannotbeotherwise，foreverygreatadvanceinnaturalknowledgehasinvolvedtheabsoluterejectionofauthority，thecherishingofthekeenestscepticism，theannihilationofthespiritofblindfaith;andthemostardentvotaryofscienceholdshisfirmestconvictions，notbecausethemenhemostveneratesholdthem;notbecausetheirverityistestifiedbyportentsandwonders;butbecausehisexperienceteacheshimthatwheneverhechoosestobringtheseconvictionsintocontactwiththeirprimarysource，Nature——wheneverhethinksfittotestthembyappealingtoexperimentandtoobservation——Naturewillconfirmthem。Themanofsciencehaslearnedtobelieveinjustification，notbyfaith，butbyverification。
Thus，withoutforamomentpretendingtodespisethepracticalresultsoftheimprovementofnaturalknowledge，anditsbeneficialinfluenceonmaterialcivilization，itmust，Ithink，beadmittedthatthegreatideas，someofwhichIhaveindicated，andtheethicalspiritwhichI
haveendeavouredtosketch，inthefewmomentswhichremainedatmydisposal，constitutetherealandpermanentsignificanceofnaturalknowledge。
Iftheseideasbedestined，asIbelievetheyare，tobemoreandmorefirmlyestablishedastheworldgrowsolder;ifthatspiritbefated，asIbelieveitis，toextenditselfintoalldepartmentsofhumanthought，andtobecomeco—extensivewiththerangeofknowledge;if，asourraceapproachesitsmaturity，itdiscovers，asIbelieveitwill，thatthereisbutonekindofknowledgeandbutonemethodofacquiringit;thenwe，whoarestillchildren，mayjustlyfeelitourhighestdutytorecognisetheadvisablenessofimprovingnaturalknowledge，andsotoaidourselvesandoursuccessorsintheircoursetowardsthenoblegoalwhichliesbeforemankind。