Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-02-07

Fly DER the backsido of the world far off,
Into Limbo large and broad, since called

The strong, deep rooted principle which is al
the foundation of this love for the mafvels of fic-
ton, in the lecturers opinion, has nobler origin
than mans base passions. 1t is given us by a
wise Creator for higher purposes; but if wasted
upon fictitious writings, it is perverted, aud rem
dered a source of unhnppiness and guilt. Prof.
Hitchcock then went on 10 call the attention of
his audience to few of the facts disclosed by
modern science in the several departments of
knowledge, in which, he said, would be found a
wider and nobler field Astounding in far more
delicious Fl uit and sparkling with far more brill
liant gems than any realm of fiction had ever
brought 10 light But in this attempt he said he
scarcely knew where 10 begin-he felt like a
gardner conducting guest through his finely cul-
tivated and skilfuly adorned gardens hurrying
on through alleys and arbors-sropping only to
look at the fruit, and pluck here and there flow
er. He might find enough in any single science
TO far exceed the limits of a single lecture and
he should only attempt TO hint at few of the
facts disclosed by each.
He began with the science of mind which a.
bounds in the most interesting and imporran,
truths. There is reason to believe HAT no idea
once entertained can ever he lost Ii may seem
10 be gone, since cannot recall it at will; bun
facts show that il only requires some changes oil
circumstances again to restore il 10 life. serv-
ant girl, some tweniy-fuur years old, could mel.
neither read nor wr,e,upon the sudden attack of q
fever commenced repeating passages OF Latin
Greek and Hebrew and it was afterward found
that in her early days she had been in the habit OF
hearing clergyman repeat these passages while
walking in the passage way OF the house nj which
she lived. The unbounded capacities of the hu.
man mind for knowledge were all alluded to in
this connection. " hat we acquire we never
lose, and limits 10 science have never yet been
found. No less wonderful is mans capacity for
happiness and misery the feelings of today only
qualify him for their more intense experience to-
Eel IL
science with its voice, approving what is good
and lashing with scorpion whips the vices oil
the soul. There is nothing in the boosted
fights of romance which will compare with the
wonders Of the human mind.
Mathematics is another branch of science
which, though usually accounted dry, is yet one
of the most fascinating in the realm Of kuoMl.
edge. The nature Of its truths and demnnstra
tons, however, forbade lis introduction into .
popular lecture. Passing by the various branche.
of pneumatics, hydrostOllcs, &c. ,he lecturer ex
alluded to the diyisibility of matter, the extent o.
which might well be regarded rs among the mos
wonderful of scientific discoveries Lutte, to Lt
sure, is now said, Of the infinite divisibilily o
matter; but il is extremely probable that God frs
formed matter OF solid particles, called atoms
which are SO extremely small that they are neve
cognizable by the senses Gold may be spread 81
thin that fourteen million leaves shall only max
one inch in thickness Some species of fungu
spring up in single night containing forty sever
million cells. Animaculas have been discovered
so Snail that millions OF them are only equal il
size to grain Of sand, aud five hundred million
may easily spor, in drop of water. Yet eucl
has mouth, blood vessels, circulating fluids, AM
all The apparatus of organic Lille. Chemical solu
ton still farther demonstrates The extreme diyisi
bty of matter; an atom of lead may be show,
10 weigh less than one-lhree hundred mIllionll
aud one OF sulphur less Than one two ,ronil
part OF grain, The infinite ienuily Of light, il
amazing velocity, and the distance of the fixe,
stars, were also alluded 10. The sciences of On
tics and Aslronnly-the weight of the planets O
the Solar Sysem--hnd the osclaling perturbn
tons OF the celestial bodies were cited as full G
the most marvellous facts. The DISCOVERIES c
NEWTON, LAPLAcE, LAGRANGE and BowDiToI