New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-28
professor Po,.er,s Aec1ure.

Professor PorTER's Lecture last evening
before the General Society of Mechanics and
Trudesmen was able and philosophical outline
Of the Rise and Progress Of the Useful Arts; and
the impressiveness of his delivery gave full effect
TO the force and polish Of his style. He opened
with an alluson to the progressive tendency OF the
age, which has produced within the last seventy
FIVE wears greater changes than were made in the
preceding three hundred years. Among the many
causes of this striking result, Of the most pro-
minent is INDUSTRY, as manifested The Useful
Arts A rich, and, as yet, almost untouched, SUBJ
ject is sketch of this progress, under the form
of Material History One of the leading fea-
lures of modern coDtrasted with ancient in dus-
try is the substitution of intelligence for physical
force-of mental for physical labor. The ancient
temples are monuments of magnifcence and pa
Of the laws Of material force are enabled TO pro-
duce equal effects with a tithe Of the labor The
ancients found it so difficult to satisfy their wants
that they called him wsest whose desires we're
fewest; but the moderns rather stimulate wants
that they may have the pleasure as we'll as power
TO CRAFTY them. The ancien,s cUntamned the
study of bodily comfort, but the modsrns remerl-
Der that the soul has clay tenement, which needs
constant repair.
One striking effect OF this change is diminished
respect for physical force, and an increased regard
for mental strength. Men are no longer valued
for their thews and sinews, and even battles are
gained by skill and science. In all ages has
the maxim that knowledge is power been true
but never SO much as in the present day.
Another result is q combination of theory with
practice. We now consider science and art as
united aud indivisible. Until lately they lived
apart, took different routes, and were unfriendy,
if not unknown, to each other. This happy union
is in great degree due to the father of induc,iye
philosophy.
third effect is that the Industrial arts are rem
dere1 more respectable. The ancients thought
them degrading and fit only for slaves and women.
As luxury and knowledge increased, they raised
the arts 10 be the work of 50 freemen," til it was
at last confessed tina, the true end of all science
is to enrich human life with useful inventions and
arts" But the ancients thought not SO. When
Posidonius in euiogy philosophy ventured TO
attribute to her the discovery of the arch and of
the WorkinS OF metals, ne was sharply rebuked
by Seneca, who disclaimed for Democritus and An
acharsis any such degrading credit. From the
cant Of this philosophy at the same time
praising poverty with two millions out at usu-
ry, and lauding virtue while defending parricide-
it is delightful turn to the great English philos-
ophers.
Among rhe fruits of Science applied to the Arts
we Gun enumerase heightened life, diminished suf.
fsring, increased fertility of soil, guidance for the
mariner, improved arms for the warrior. bridges
over rivers and estuaries. protection from thunder
bolts, illumination of darkness, extended vision,
increased strength, annihia,ed distance power ,e
ascend into the air. to enter the depths of the sea,
and to penetrate the interior Of the earth cars
which fly without horses, and boats which move
against the wind. These are only parts of its eff.
feets, for it is ever progressive. What was its
goal to-day will be its starting point to-morrow