The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-14
For the Southern Press.
MECHANISM No. XV.-By Josiah H0Ibr 90 h.

| In this age of progress practical science
stands in bold relief Ii is the broad, strong
foundation of support--the grand centre-sp,ing
of movement in every work of progress. FIRST
elements" ultimate principles"-of science,
applied to human wants, used as the primary
lever of business, adopted as the First Les
sons" of elementary instruction, have already
produced mighty results. They have occasioned
"World's Fair" for the exhibition of such re-
suits, for the universal diffusion of such prnci.
pies They must be thus dffused. 1t is the
voice of public sentiment That is omnipotent
Potentates, despots, and tyrants cannot resist it.
It is itself the potentate of all earthly powers.
The history of pratical science for the last
quarter of a century is, in no small degree, the
history of the world, especially of human pro-
gress in this most remarkable age of the world.
The sciences showing most progress are geology
and chemistry. Half century ago, the word
geology was not named even in our colleges. 1t
hardly had place in our dictionaries. Now it
is in every child's mouth. One of the most dis-
tinguished professors in one of the oldest and
most distinguished American colleges, remarked
that when he took possession of the chair as
signed him in that institution, about thirty
years since, be did not know the name of quartz,
nor of any place in the country where he could
learn it. The name and character of this pro-
lesser are now "a wide as the science he teaches.
Another professor appointed to similar
chair in another distinguished college, about the
same time, remarked that when he took posses.
sion of the place assigned him in the nstitu-
ton, he did not know that there was more than
one kind of stone in the world, and he did not
know the name Of that. Not many years after
he produced large volume on geology and
minerology, which was pronounced by the Eng
| lish reviewers the best work extant on the sub
ject II was translated into the French and
German languages, and used in both those coun
tries as the mosl substantial textbook.
In the unparalleled progress Of this highly
practical, also facinating, science--geology--
schools have had an effective agency. BY thu
agency OF young hands in Boston, near twent,
years since, each member Of the Massachusetts
legislature was furnished with small element
airy cabinet of geology, in behalf Of the schools
in bis Legislative district by him to be circulated
for the benefit of the whole. The next legsla
ture ordered geological survey Of the State
The generous Dung spirits Of Philadelphia. no
long after, engaged in a similar agency and pro
duced like results in Pennsylvania. From thes,
juvenile efforts came tho appointments of Presi
dent Hitchcock, OF Amherst College, and Pro
lessor Rodgers, of Pennsylvania, as the geolo
gists of their respective States. BY both thes'
rentemen's lectures have been given before
the Smithsonian Institution. The geological
surveys Of other States, by Legislative enact
ments, followed in quick succession, leading tt
scientific explorations of nearly every State IL
the Union, with others on more extended
scale, under the provisions Of our national legi.-
lsture. For combining the efforts and enrching