New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-10
SCIENCE AND SOCIAL PROGREST

Birm CHAM and Midl,nd Institute, the health Of
Prince Albert being proposed by Lord Cs'thorp, the
Preeoen Mt the Pfil ce replied in The following admrar
bic speech:
amy Lord, am much OBLIGED to you for proposing
my health in such kind terms, snd cannot out be
NIT oh ra fled by the coroisl reception when you,
gentlemen, have been pleased 10 give 10 ths loas. IL
has been great pleasure 10 ne TO hsse been able 10
participate in however triAing degree, in work
which do not look upon 50 simple act OF wo'lily
wiscom on the psrt OF this great town ana locahty
bur as enc Of the fIss public sckno sledgnen,s of
Dill cple bch ia daily forcing lie way among u.s. aud
is destined 10 play great and important part In the
future development Of this nauon and OF the wol IL
peneral-I mean the introduction OF scierce and art
IA the conscious regulators of productive industry.
The courage and spifit of enterprise with which an
in mense smount Of capital enbs ked in industrial
Iursui.s aDd the skill AID interchangeable perseverance
with which thee carried on in this coun-
try cannot but excite Universal admiration; but
in all our operations, whether agricultural or
MAJ ufsc uIDg, l. Is lot ~e VINO operate, out the
laws Of nature which we have SCI IN ope'anon IL 10,
then of the highest importance that should know
The sc laws in order 10 know what we are about, and
the as, Why certain things are, which occdr daily
un6er our bsncs sno what course we are 10 pursue 10
regard 10 them. Without such kDo@ledge We are con-
den ne 10 one of three states Either We merely 60
ON 10 do b 90 just fathers did, and for no bet,
ter reason than be- they id them so-or rustiog
10 son personal auth ority we adopt at randon the
Ieco nmei daion of soIe specic 10 sp culstve hope
that may lastly and this is the most fs
yo,abe case we ourselves improve upon certain pro-
ceses but this only be the result OF an experience
hardly earned and dear " bon sh' and VIII b, after AL
can OF embrace con .tvely short space OF nme
aid ell nun Der of experiments From none OF these
causes we hope for mucn progress; for the mind
however Ingenious has DO lateral to WORK WITH snd
remains in presence of pher onena the of which
are hldd.n from it. But these Laws Of Nature-these
Divire Lawe-ore capable OF being discovered ard
uncentood, and of beh tsugh. and made our own
This is the task of sclence-snd while science dis
covers and teaches these laws, art teaches their spp
cation No pursuit is therefore, too inslgnh; ant not
TO tie capable of becoming the subject both OF
science or d an art The fine arts as tar las they re-
late TO painting and sculpture, which are sometimes
copfounded with art il general rest on the appica-
ton o. The laws OF form snd labor, and what may be
calec the scierce Of the beautiful They DO not rect
on any arbitrary theory on the modes of pro:
oucDg pleasurabe emotions, but follow fixed
law, more difficult, perhaps, to sezs thsn
belonging partly TO the sphere of the IDEAL and our
spiritual essence, YET perfectly sppreciabe and teach
able both .bstractedly and historically, from the
woris of different ages and nations chserI. No
| human pursuits maze any ma eria progress until
scence be brought to bear upon them We have
seep accordingly, many Of them slu nber for centu-
Iies; but ffom the moment that science has
touched them with her mag wand, they have sprung
fcrwad and taken srrices which amsze and almlst
awe the behold.r Look at the transformation which
has soDe around Us since tee laws OF gravtation,
electricity, magnetism and the expansive power OF
beat have become kr own TO US Il has altered our
whole state of exstence-ore might say the whole
face Of the globe We this to science, and science
alone ard sbe has other treasures in store for Us, If
we will but cell Der to sssstsIcs. 1t is sometimes
objected by the ignorant that science is uncertain and
chang and hey point to the many eIpodef the
ories which have been superseded by Others as proof
hst the preeeni knowledge may be aso unsoand, and
al er al not worth having But they not aware
that while they birk to cast blame upon sc-Dce they
bestow, in ac the highest aise upon her For that's
precisely the difference bet. sciences and pr utice
that the latter keeps subborEy to ire position, ~hsher
Ebi he n
movement toward the fountain of ruh-carog
htJe fer cherished authorities or sentiments, but
continually pr1treseng-ieellng no fase shame 81 her
shortcomings but, the contrary, the highest pleas
ure when feed from an error, at having advanced
another step toward the attainment Of Divine truth,
pl. int TO the pride Of Ignorance
We also hear not unf elnehuy, sciences and actic.,
scientific know)eo &c ana common sense conrasted as
ant q. ons'ic. strange error, For science is emf
IeD,y practical, and must be go, as she GEES an l
knows what che is doing; while mere common prac-
tice is condemned TO work 10 the dark, applying nat
ursl ingenuity TO unknown 20 Fers TO obain known
result. Far be it from me to undervalue the creative
DO rer of genius to treat shrs vd common
y or HESS without knowledge. But nobody will tell
me tina, the genius wou not take an iacompar-
ably higher fiji, bit il supplied with all the means which
kDowee &c can imper or that common sense does DOT
become, in tact only truly powerful when in posses
zion of The materials upon which Judgment is TO b,
exe,csd d. The study OF the laws by woich thu
Almighty governs the universe is therefore bouoden
out, Of ihefe laws great acsden aud seats Of
SD, cree or groups as may call them essential psrts
of our naoo al la which regulate On
title al proper ioDs which form the euoect OF nath
ena les the laws regulating the preston Of our
the ughs through the medium OF language, that is 10
ray gfsn mar, which Ids s purest expression In the
Classical Lar euages These lsss are more important
branches kUowedee; their stuay trains and eevstes
the mid But tbeJ are 90: the only oles; there are
Others which CAM OF cisregard-~hich We cannot
do wi hont There ore, for instance, the laws goysru
pg the human mil and its relation to the Divine
Spirit-tbe subject Of logic and metaphysics There
are those which govern our bodily nature and its con-
becton with the eoul-toe subject OF physiology and
Psychology. More which govern humaa society and
tie realtors between man and msD-the subjects OF
TO tics jurisprudence, and political ecouo
nv, srd msny Others. While OF TIE laws just
mentioned some have bsen recognized az
esser tails of education in different institutions,
/, cir rie BIT 10 cogDoD the laws regulating matter
ard for are those which will constitute the chief
obeet Of your parsuirs and as the principle OF sub
division Of labor is the one most cosgenal o our
age would aovise you to keep TO this specially, and
10 follow " ith undivid attention chiefly the sciences
OF mechanics pt sizes and chems and the tne arts
in paint1g sculpture ard Architecture. You sill thus
have cor erree 81 inc simsble boon upon your cOuoy
and In short time have the satisfaction Of wtnf ssng
the beneficial results up IN our national poTefs OF pro-
ouction Other psrts of the country wN' doubt not,
emulate your example, and | live IN hopes he. ell |
these IL sritutiore will some day find ccnteral point
Of MI ion and thus complete their national org snza-
ton Thanking you once more for having allowed
NE % Assist at We foundation of your insttu ion /
wish it growth, visor, ard prosperity with all my
heart"
His Royal Higbress resumed his seat amid en'su-
sssic cheering.