, 1853-03-26

progress of invention and the mechanic arts
have had direct and powerful effect in ell
evatlng every member of society, by ena-
bling his own energy to supply him with an
abundance of all the appliances of comfort,
prosperity and social respectability. Thus
man who would have been a serf in the
18th century, condemned to unceasing toll
for the bare bread that he eat, and clog
upon the energies of society, in the 10Th,
is enabled to spare from the abundance of
his own resources, something 10 assist the
afflicted and Misunderstanding TO drop
into the common treasury of charity and
benovoence. Tho mechanic arts and the
progress Of invention, have thus become the
most powerful agents in the moral meliora-
ton of society, as well as in improving IFS
physical condition. They have promoted
refinement of feeling and deicacy of taste
in the ladies boudoir and in fashionable as
somblies, and contributed powerfully to the
elevation and cultivation of The intellect in
all classes.
The prime agents in the civilization of
the world, have been the natural forces of
the Universe, rendered tributary 10 the ser
vice Of man by mechanical skill and ingc-
nuity. The very clements have been made
the willing and doclc slaves of his will
Air and water, and fire and lightning, have
all been chained 10 his car. The modern
man by his scientific and mechanical knowl-
edge and Skill wields for the accomplish
mcnt Of his works, the mighty elementary
forces which the Deity himself employs in
the creation and destruction of worlds.
If we trace the progress Of civilization,
VIC shall find that in every step it has been
marked by the subjcction Of some external
force to the purposes Of human will. Mans
first victory was over the animal forces Of
Nature. His first advance in civilization
was signalizcd by the conversion Of the horse
and the OK into the servants Of his will -
These animals have greater physical power
than man, aud without their assistance he
would have made no progress in acquiring
the empire Of the world Hc next turned
his attention 10 the elc.aents. The power
of the water was invoked TO grind his corn,
and the wind to propel his ships. Then,
chemistry was made 10 yield up its secrets,
and gunpowder sprang into existence, 10
give demoniacal power and efficacy to bis
passions. The mysterious magnetic princi-
pie was next pressed into his service, to
guide him in security over the trackless
world of waters, which so long formed an
unconquerablc barrier 10 his enterprise. :
Then came steam, with its wondcrs-the
steamboat and the railroad car. ThO atmos-
phcrc he next converted into a lever by
which he could apply pressure Of super
human power; and last, the lightning is hri-
dled and converted into an express messen-
ger, TO inform him of the price Of pork and
the state Of the stocks, Without the great
elementary forces we have mentioned, what
would now be the condition Of the world ?
Where would be our glorious republic, with
its twenty-six millions of enlightened free
men Mechanical skill and scientific in
vcntion have been the prime motors of hui
man civilization. As this age has achieved
greater triumphs than all former ages com
bined, SO II immeasnrably surpasses all 9TH
ers in power, prosperity and happiness. e.
The great reality of the nge--the start
taken in social, civil and intellectual ad-
vancemcnt, is not more observable in the
improved and improving condition of the
arts, than in the fact that IL originates an
them. The movement not on y began with,
bus its increasing momentum comes from
them. lfthey Gag, so mustit. While they
progress, nothing can retarl it. There can
be no decay Of nations without decline in
the arts and sciences but when they are no
longer fostered, or when such only are cher
ished as tend to aggrandze the great, EN-
pires must become extinct. and their proud
est monuments must crumble away. An
cient legislators did not understand this and
the present disordersd condition of great
part of the earth, is the result of their g-
norance. Preferring the exaltation Of a
class to that Of the masses, they mistoOk mu-
nifcence for power, and military force and
display for prosperity Had they perceived
that nothing can be lasting thai is not bene-
fetal to society at large--.had they devoted
the treasures they Sqpandered in erecting
cenotaphs to their grandeur, TO the general
diffusion of science and ant, the earth would
not now be sprinklad with the tomb-stones
of nations. .I ...... .--.s...
We believe that invention and the me-
cbanic arts are still in their infancy, Ma
iure has as yet yielded up but few, compar-
lively, of her secrets 10 the enquiries and
researches of men. 1t is not an exlrava.
gantthought to suppose that under the i'm
pulse which they have received in the pres
ent century, the progress Of invention and
mechanical skill yet unfold wonders far sur
passing any yet disclosed. Nor do we
doubt that these achievements will be fol-
lowed by corresponding improvement in
social prosperity. Here then lies the field
in which the genius and intellect of our
young men should exert its noblest energies
The glory to be won will cast into the shade
the laurcls Of the conlucror and the states
lAlN,