historical view of the

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by the British Association for the Promotion of Science,whose several past anniversaries hold out the most en-couraging prospects of future utility ; and which, bythe judicious measure of drawing up reports on the pre-sent state of our knowledge of each branch of science ;and recommending subjects for investigation, as well asby the concentration to one focus of all the intellectualpower which can be thrown on the several subjects, andthe promotion of fair and friendly discussion, instead ofprolonged and irritating paper-war on any disputedpoints (not to dwell upon the more general and obviousbenefits), may be said to have done already for the scienceof the country more than any other institution withinthe same time.

Conclusion.

In drawing to the conclusion of such a survey as wehave attempted of the progress of physical knowledge,a host of reflections of the most interesting descriptionnaturally crowd upon the mind. We had hoped tohave wound up a far more complete history, by enteringfreely upon some discussion of the advantages attendingthe prosecution of science, of the evils sometimes sup-posed to be involved in it, of its effects, though culti-vated only by a few, indirectly experienced by societyat large; its connection with physical and still morewith moral civilisation ; its existing condition and fu-ture prospects, in our own and other countries; theinfluence of various national institutions, whether inpromoting or repressing its progress ; the state of publicopinion respecting its claims; the recognition of scientificinstruction as a branch of education. But the consider-ation of these and many other kindred topics of thehighest interest we are compelled to abandon, from thepressing necessity imposed on us by the limits of ourvolume. There are also many topics commenced inprevious parts of our sketch, to which a continuation is