New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-10-07
LORD BROUGHAM ON NEWTON.

A statue in honor of Sir Isaac Newton inaugu-
rated at Grantham England, in Sept. q, which oc
cason Lord Brougham delivered an GRAFTON, Of which
the following is a summary:
We are this day assembled to commemorate him
of whom the consent of nations has declared that That
man is chargeabe with nothing Ike follower exag-
reraon or local partiay, who pronounces the name
Of Newton that of the greatest genius ever be-
slowed by the bounty of Providence, for instrucng
mankind the frame Of the Universe, and the laws
by which it is governed THE noble lord was here
overpowered by emotion, and paused. In few sec
onds he prOceededl:
Whose genius dinned al other mems az far
A. docs The uiddsy sUn the midnight star
But though scaling these lofty nights be hopeless yet
ia there some use and much qualification in contem-
plating by what steps he assembled Tracing ms course
Of action may help others to gain the lower emnenees
living within their reach; while admiration excited and
curiosity satisfied frames of mind both wholesome
and pleasing. Nothing new, ii is true can be gwen IN
narrative hardly anything in reflection, less stu, per-
haps in comment illustrations but II IL well to
assemble in one view various parts in the vast subject,
with the surrounding circumstances, whether accl-
dental intrinsic and 10 mark IN passing, the mlscon-
cepton raised by individual ignorance or national pre-
udce which the historian of science occasionally nnds
crossing his path. The remark IL common and IS
obvious that the genius of Newton did not manifest
itself at very early age his faculties were not, like
those of some great and many ordinary individuals,
prccocously developed. His earliest history is
involved in some obscurityi and the most
celebrated of men has in this particular, been com.
pared 10 the most celebrated OF rivers tine Mel, as
the course of both in liz feebler state had been
concealed FROM mortal eye. We have 1t, how
ever Wei ascertained that within four years,
between the age Of Is and ~ he had begun TO study
mathematical scer &C. and had taken his place among
lis greatest masters learned for the first time the ee
ments of geometry and analysis and discovered calcu-
lus which entirely changed the face of science effect
ing revolution that and IN every branch Of phllos
only connected with il. Before 1861 he had not read
Eucld; in 1865 be had committed TO writing the meth
cd of fuxious AT % years OF age he had discovered
\ fnfI tftv ll.
tal dyr aucs the science created by him. Before ten
wears had elapsed be added to his discoveries that Of
The fundamental properties of light. SO brilliant
Of discovery, in so short time changing and
reoonstructing analytical astronomical and optical
science, almost deIes belief. The statement could
only be deemed possible by an appeal to the incones-
| lille evidence that proves il strictly true. by
rare felicity these doctrines gained the universal
assent Of mankind soon "a they were clearly
understood, and their originality has never been
seriously called in question. The limited nature
Of mans faculties precudes the possibility OF his
ever reaching at once the utmost excellence II
which they are capable. Survey the whole circle OF
the sciences and trace the history OF onr own prog
ress in eucn-you find this 70 be the universal rule
Morris this great law of gradual progress confined to the
physical sciences; in the moral 1t equally governs
Again in constitutional policy, see by what slow de-
erees from its first rude elements the attendance OF
feudal tenants at their lords court and the summons
of burghers TO grant supplies OF money, the great
discovery Of modern times IN the science OF practical
politics has been effected the representative scheme
which enables States of any extent to enjoy popular
government, and allows mixed monarchy 10 be esta0-
| lished combining freedom with orler-a plan pro-
nounced by the statesmen and writers of antiquity 10
be of hardly possible formation. and wholly inpos
sble continuance. The globe itself, well Us the
science Of ts inhabitants, has been explored &C.
cording to the law which forbids al sudden and
rapid leapug forward, and DEGREES that each snc-
ccssiye step prepared by the last shall facilitate the
next Even Columbus followed several successful dis
coveTers Oh small scale and is by some believed to
L,,a had NH IN a prgF2g--spr
great exploit by which he pierced the night Of ages
and unfolded new world 10 the eyes OF the old. The
arts afford exception 10 the general law. Demos
themes hsd eminent ioIerunners-Pencles the last
The art Of itself is no exception to the rule Inc
plan of bringing OyerpOweTing force 10 bear on
given point had been tried occasionally before Fred
erck the Second reduced il 10 system and the Wei
lingtops and Napoeons of our own day made it the
foundation q! their strategy, as II had also been pre-
yiousy the handspring OF naval tactics. 50 the
inventive powers Of Watt, preceded "a he by
Worcester and Newcomer. but far more material by
Gauss and Papin, had been exercised ON some adii-
rable conirvaucrs, forgotten before lie made the
step which created the steam-engine anew; not only
the parallel notion possibly a corosry to the propo
sitiou on circular motion in the Prncpia but the
separate condensation, and, above all the governor
perhaps the most exquisite OF mechanical inventions.
And now we have thcs. here present who apply the
ike principle to the diffusion OF know ledge, aware
as thew must be, that it, expansion has the same
happy effect naturally of preventing mischief from IFS
excess which the skill Of the great nechanst gave art-
ciay steam thus rendering his engine as safe as II
is powerful IA burst Of applause. The grand differ
epce then between one discovery OF invention and
another is in degree rather than in kind the degree in
which person, while he outs'Hps those whom ne
comes after also lives, as 1t were, before his age
\'or can any doubt exist that in this respect Newton
sta, ,Js at the head of Ill who hGye extended the
bonr . If knowledge. Cheers. Tie most marvel
Gus att 1bGtc Of Newtons discoveries Is that IN which
,b.v sian ont promin. Il among all the other eats of
ssa mad Until Ia. of hts