The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-31

| BYJosIAH HoLBRoox
Farming and mechanism are the two great pursuits Of
human beings Upon them depend all other pursuits
oo'h Tor their success and their existence Merchants
lawyers, judges, statesmen politicians, physicians cle
gymen, teachers artists, commodores generals sailors
soldiers, Travellers amateurs of science and art specula
torsmen women, and children of every class and conJ
uon-can trace Their operations their success and their
living, 10 the labors of the farmer and the mechanic
The principles on which founded the operations and
the success OF these two great pursuits be of some
interest 10 all classes and 10 those engaged in them of
paramount Importance. They more imporlsnt to
the man Than Interesting to the child. To farming a
wider range OF science applicable than TO any other
pursuit Neither the lawyer. physician clergyman col
ege professor, nor any person engaged any other prr
suit has SO good opportunities, so many occasions TO
become men OF sound extended practical science the
farmer Every farmer is geoogisl. chemist, and bota
nis though he may not be aware that he is either. He
also takes many lessons entomology Lessons
on that subject cost Pennsylvania twelve millions
of dollars in year through the ravages Of the wheat
hy Every motion OF every tool, whether by the farmer
or the mechanic, is practical experiment in natural
philosophy, Meeorology. as exhibited in Winds rains
climates elevations, and exposures directly home to
the work of the farmer showing him its importance as
subject of knowledge To moral science his situation
is pre- eminently favorable.
Subjects OF science coming directly to the aid of the
mechanic, though less than those OF the farm
err, still form large circle The remark is sometimes
made that all science resolves itself into chemistry and
geometry Whether that remark is strictly not
these two sciences especially interesting mechanics
Mechanism and practical geometry virtually one and
the same thing Mechanism is the modification of form
which is geometry put into practice. Mechanics also
have constant occasion to natural philosophy its
various departments
Under the wise ordinance of Heaven the sciences most
essential to human pursuits and human existence are
most eagerly sought for by the Juvenile mind in its una
dulterated unsophiscated state Every child since Adam
has been a"seLf instructor in geology, chemistry, ge-
ometry, botany, entomology and nearly the whole circle
of natural science so rapid their progress, and
and substantial their acquisition in this kind and mode of
instruction, TO render the remark common that we
learn during the three first years of life than in the
same time during any subsequent period-a severe com
ment schools. Lord Brougham remarked, I" Ii
we should be deprived of what learn during the first
three years OF life, should be the most ignorant be-
ngs the face of the globe"
Though these facts must probably take from the mouth
of any objector the argument claim that young minds
competent 10 comprehension Of natural science,
the objection may still be urged that the mechan-
ca exercises in reading, writing, and spelling might be
retarded To that objection il may be replied that under
the present six eight years of reading lessons
good reader is the raest thing in the word--amosi;
and under course OF writing lessons OF about the
length, very few write plain, full legible hand By
courses in these two subjects, founded practical sci
ence, nearly every would be natural, good reader
and legibe writer. Both be substanated by
facts fully clearly and triumphanty; the
truth in relation 10 any and every subject of common
school instruction.
EXPERIMENTAL lady in Pennsylvania once remarke ed
that she should forever be grateful TO those persons who
introduced the natural sciences into the school OF her
children Previously. she had given up all hopes of her
youngest son learning anything. Now his progress
in his various studies is more rapid and thorough than
that OF his elder brother. considered good scholar.
Changes of bad scholars into good The into the
best, from the same cause, are without number
The following extract from letter from Hon. Edmund
Burke, late Commissioner OF Patents, is especially
interesting from lis expressing the sentiment, winch by
common consent from all sections OF the country-in-
Decd from other countres-s awarded TO the series OF
essays on Agricultural Geology and Mechanism by Mr.
Hobrook very widely circulated by the American press,
and through the agency OF foreign ministers translated
and published in the languages OF their respective coun
tries:
NEWPORT IN. H..) July is, 1851
DEAR SIR 1 am indebted you for your interesting
favor of June 3olh, and for the papers accompanying
have sent the circular 10 the New Hampshire Patriot
the leading paper in State, with short commuDica-
ton in relation TO its objects. No doubt it will appear
the Patriot and in the Argus and Spectator of this vii
age, and from these papers be copied into the other
pes published in the State The series OF articles on
agricultural geology will be commenced week in
the Argus and Spectator and copied into the other papers
have observed your recent articles on MECHANISM
and have been highly gra6ed with the amount OF deeply
interesting information which they contain and the very
condensed and lucid manner in which they com
pressed shall do all in my power 10 aid your efforts,
duty which feel that and others owe to God and 10
humanity. shall point public attention TO the value OF
your essays and TO the importance OF introducing them
as reading lessons in public schools.
I .1. "a.