Chamberss Edinburgh Journal, No. 450 | Page 2

more instruction in shewing some of the phenomena of vegetable
physiology: fundamental and profoundly interesting matters, of which
specific distinctions and external characters of all kinds are only
accidental results--that is, results determined by the outer phenomena
affecting the existence of plants. A single lesson on the profound
wonders of morphology would go further, we verily believe, in making

our pupil a man of science, than the committing of the whole Linnæan
system to memory. In zoology, again, we would leave the endless
details of minute description to the tomes of the scientific naturalist,
and be content to sketch animals in broad masses--first, in regard to
grades of organisation; and, second, in regard to family types. The
Feline Animal, we say, is one idea of the Creator--a destructive creature
of wonderful strength in comparison with its bulk--of immense agility,
furtive in its movements, furnished with great powers for the
destruction of others. Lion, tiger, panther, ounce, lynx, jaguar, cat, are
all essentially one creature--not the slightest difference can be traced in
their osteological structure, hardly any in their habits. Why dwell, then,
on minutiæ of external appearances, if time presses, and there be much
of more importance to be learned? So, also, is the Cirrhopode one idea
of the author of nature. You may find a very respectable quarto account
of the family, tracing them in all their varieties; but a page might
inform you of all that is essential about the barnacle, curious as its
history has been, and you need not ponder on the quarto unless you
have some particular curiosity to gratify. The Types of nature, both in
her vegetable and animal departments are, after all, few. Describe each
comprehensively, group them all in correct relations to each other, and
display their various destinies and connections with the rest of creation,
and you enable your pupil to learn in a few weeks more than Pliny
mastered in a lifetime.
It appears to us that the reason why science is so coldly received in
ordinary society is, that either by reason of its unripeness for
generalisation, or of the tendency of its cultivators to keep continually
analysing and multiplying facts, it has not in general been presented in
propositions which the ordinary mind can comprehend or make use of.
We should be loath to urge it into generalisations for which it was not
prepared; but while this is duly avoided, we would have it to be
somewhat more vigilant than it usually is, in taking opportunities of
proceeding with those synthetical clumpings of facts which we
conceive to be so essential, on mere grounds of convenience, to its
success with the multitude. Better be a little dogmatical, than
insupportably tedious. Better have your knowledge in some order,
though not perhaps beyond correction, than in no order at all. It is to be

feared, however, that the thing wanting is not the sufficiency of
particulars out of which to make general or comprehensive truths, but
that of the requisite intellectual power and habit on the part of the men
of science. The constant working towards separate facts seems to
disqualify the mind for grouping or clustering them. Hundreds can
detect a new sphinx or butterfly in the fauna of a country or a county,
and are content with such small results, for one who can lay a few facts
together, and make one truth out of all. One could almost believe, that
there is a greater want of comprehensive intellect in the walks of
science, than in some other fields of labour which make less pretension
to an exertion of the mental faculties: for example, merchandise. And
does not that very appearance of continual peddling amongst trifles, in
some degree prevent the highest kind of minds from going into the
fields of science? There is here, it appears to us, a great error to be
corrected.
Another cause why science makes little way with the multitude is, that
there is too little connection to be observed between the ordinary
proceedings of the scientific and learned, and the practical good of the
community. The British Association meets, and has its week of
notoriety, and when we look into the resulting volume, what do we find?
Doubtless, many ingenious speculations and many curious
investigations, which may in the long-run prove beneficial in some
indirect way. But it must be admitted, that there is hardly anything
bearing directly upon the great interests of contemporary humanity.
The crying social evils of our time and country obtain no notice from
the recognised students of science. To all appearance, the political error
which legitimated scarcity would have never been put an end to by
them. The sanitary evils which press so severely upon the health and
morals of the common people, would apparently go on for ever,