Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-14
fPROPRIETORS.

which this vast corntry is reticulated ,hav
not only developed its resources, but uni.
ted emphatically in metallic bonds all parts
Of the Union. The hydraulic works of
New York, Philadelphia and Boston, sur
pass. in extent and Improvement. those of
ancient Rome. But we have not confined
our attention to the immediate application
of science to the useful arts; we have en-
tered the field Of original research, and
have enlarged the bounds of scientific
knowledge.
Sixty years ago, besides the brilliant dis.
coveries of Franklin in electricity, scarce
ly anything had been done among us in
the way Of original invention. Our men
of science were content with repeating the
experiments and diiiusing knowledge of
the discoveries Of Tho saeans of the old
world, without attempting to edd single
new fact or principle to the existing stock.
With the last twenty-five or thirty years u
remarkable improvement has taken place
in this respect. Our natural history has
been explored in all its branches; our ge-
ology has been investigated with results
OF the highest interest TO practical and the
oretical science. Discoveries have been
made in pure chemistry aud electricity,
which have received the appreciation Of
the world. The advance which has been
made in meteorology in this country, with
in the last twenty years, is equal to that
made during the same period in all the
world besides. In 1898 there was not in
the United States an instrument with which
a good observation Of the heavenly bodies
could be made. There are now instru-
ments at Washington, Cambridge and Gin
cinnati equal to those at the best European
observatories; and the original discoveries
in astronomy. within the last FIVE years, in
this country, are among the most brilliant
ofthe age. Our knowledge of the geog-
raphy and topography of the American
continent has been rapidly extended by
the labor and science Of the officers Of the
United States army, and discoveries Of
much interest, in distant seas, have result
from the enterprise of our navy. In 1907
a survey of the coast of the United States
was commenced, which at that time it was
supposed no American was competent to
direct. The work has, however, grown
within the last few years, under native
superintendent, in Importance and extent
beyond any enterprise of the kind ever be-
fore attempted. These facts conclusively
prove that great advance has been made
among us, not only in the application of
science to the wants of ordinary life, but
to science ITSELF in its application to satisfy
the cravings Of the immortal mind. In re-
spect to literature, with the exception of
one or two spelling books and other school
books of an inferior character, and some
theological treaiises. .ofwhich none but those
Of Jonathan Edwards have any perma-
nent value, and some works on local his.
tory and politics, like "Hutchinson's Mas
sachusetts," "Jefierson's Notes on Virgil
nia," ""The Federalist," "Belknap's New
Hampshire" and "Morse's Geography"
and a few others, America had not pro-
duced single work of any repu,e ia sci
ence or literature. We were almost Who'll
ly dependent on imported books. Even
our bibles and tcstamcnts were for the
most part printed abroad.
The book trade is now one of the great
est branches of business, and works of
standard value, and of high reputation in
Europe as well as at home, have been pro-
duced by American authors, in every de-
partment Of science and literature While
the nation has been expanding in dimen-
sions, in numbers and in wealth, the gov
ernment has applied wise forecast in the
adoption of necessary measures, when the
world shall no longer be at peace, to main
tain the national honor, whether by nppro-
pirate displays vigor abroad, or by well
adopted means Of defence at nome. A ma
Wy which has so often illustrated our his
tory by heroic achievements, though res
trained In peaceful times, possesses in its
admirable elements the means Of great and
sudden expansion, and is justly looked up
on by the nation as the right arm Of its
powcr-an army still smaller, but not less
perfect in its details, which has, on many a
field exhibited the military aptitudes and
prowcss ofthc race, and demonstrated the
wisdom which has presided over its organ
ization and government While the grad
ual and slow enlargement of these military
arms has been regulated by a jealous
watchfulncss over the public treasure,
there has, nevertheless. been freely given,
all that was needed to perfect their quail
ty; and each affords the nucleus Of any en-
largement that the public exigencics may
demand from the millions of brave hearts
and strong arms upon the land and water
The navy is the active and aggressive ele-
ment of national defence; and, let loose
from our own sea coast, must display its
power in the seas and channels of the enc
my. To do this it need not be large, and
it can never be large enough to defend, by
its presence at home, all our ports and
harbys. But, in the absence Of the navy,
what can the brave hearts and strong arms
ofthe army and militia do against the enc
mics line Of battle ships and steamers, fall
ling without notice upon our coasti What
will guard our cities from tribute, our
merchant vessels and our navy yards from
conhagrationl Here, again. we see a
wise forecast in the system OF defensive
measures which, especially since the close
Of the war with Great Britain, has been
steadily followed by our Government
While the perils from which our great es-
adjustments had just escaped were yet
fresh in recollection, system offortifica-
ton was begun, which now, though not
quite complete, fences in our important
points with impossible strength. More
than four thousand cannon may at any mo
ment, within strong and permanent works,
arranged with all the advantages and ap-
pliances that the art affords, be turned to
the protection of the sea coast, and be
served by the men whose hearts they shell
ter. Happy for us that it is so, since these
are means Of security that time alone can
supply; and since the improvements of
maritime warfare, by making distant expe-
ditions easy and speedy, have made them
more probable, and at the same time more