Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-10
Human Science
DY ErwARD EvERETT.

OF facts, which, while it proves the connection
with each other of truths and arts, at first view
remote and disconnected, encourages us to scru-
tlnize every department of knowledge, however
trite and familiar it may seem, with view to
discovering its relation with the laws and prop
critics Of nature, comprehended within it, but
not yet disclosed sNs
The indiyiduafs wliohlst noticed tbe attract
i've power efnash ashsta uIsSaapcess was gratifed,
no . doubt, with observing.s angqlar and mex
phcable property Of natter, WIN hsEesy have
= apsaises asss 'srgs r3e ezpe fments rAthsl tl'an
'o. A Sheep and Lam ftsrxsy',ss w g5 ssbsl K Y Rs
'at the swins-ru lots sac ;res& 'ay foVs'ss ].
govern iIdes--sc per In. Talfar moro 75s sr.ous
l~@-.-ll. q .2tls tls-st,Sa-..---. but one Wlnph
resting there was productive 81 no practical
consequences. Then cama the sagacious, Or
most fortunate person, who, attaching the arti-
iRcial magne to a traversing cord, contFived the
means of steering a vessel in the darkest night
across the high seas. To him we cannot sup
pose that tho important consequences of his dis
coyery were whoily unperceiyed; but since, in
point Of history, near two centuries passed
away before they began to be developed, we can
hardly suppose that the inventor Of the mari
ner compass caught more than o glimpse Of
the nature Of his invention.
Tho Chinese are supposed t, have been ac-
quainted with it, as also with the art of print
ing, from time imlnemorial, without having de-
rived from either any of those results, which
have changed the aspect of modern Europe
Then came Columbus. Guided by the faithful
pilot, who watches when the eye of man droops,
the patient littla steersman, whom darkness
does not blind, nor the storm drive from his
post,-Columbus discovered new world s.
a glorious discovery, as he, no doubt, felt it to
be, both in anticipation and achievement. But
it does not app, ar, that even Columbus had in
dulgcd vision more brilliant than that of a
princely inheritance for his own family, and q
rich colony for Spain "a vision fulfilled in his
own poverty and chains, and in the corruption
and degeneracy of the Spanish monarchy, And
yet, from his discovery of America so disas
trous to himself and country, have sprung. di-
rectly, or indirectly, most of tho great changes
of the political, commercial and social cond
ton Of man in modern times
4 1t is curious, also, TO reflect, that as the Chi
nese, from time immemorial, (as has just beer
remarked, } pave possessed the mariners compass
and the arvof printing, to little purpose \
they, or some people in their ncighborhood, o.
the northeastern coast of Asia, either with tn
aid Of the compass, or merely by coasting fron
island to island, appear to have made the dis
covery Of America, on the wesaorn side Of tn
continent, a thousand years before it was dis
covered by Columbus, on the eastern side, with
out, however, deriving from this discovery, an
beneficial consequences to the old sfdSd or til
new. 1t was left for the spirit Of civilization
awakened in Western Europe, towards the clos
OF tho fifteenth century, to developc, and pu
in action, the great clements of power an
light, latent in this discovery, Its first effat
was tho establishment Of the colonial system
which, with the revolution in the financial stat
of Europe, occasioncd by the opening of I'll
American mines, gave, eventually, al new aspe'
to both hemisphercs. What the sum total
all these consequences has been may be part
Judged from the fact, that the colonization
the United States was but one of them.
The further extension Of adventures of di
covcry was facilitated by new scientific nvel
tions and improvements. The telescope Wi
contrivcd, and, from the more accurately o.
served movements OF the heavenly bodies, tabl
of longitude were constructed, which gave ne
confidence to the navigator. lie now yisi
new shores, lying under different climate
whose productions transpanted to other region
or introduced into the commerce Of tho worl
give new springs to industry, open new sourc
of wealth, and lead to the cultivation of ne
arts. 1t is unnecessary to dwell on particular
but who can estimate the full effect on s0ci
6 affairs oi such products az sugar, coffee, te
rice, tobacco, the potatoe, cotton, indigo, t
spices, the dye woods. the mineral and fos
substances newly nude to enter into genor
use and consumption; the discovery, transpc
tation and preparation Of which are 50 ma
lunforsoen effects ol former discoveries. Each
these, directly or indirectly, furnished new NJ
|, terials for mind to act upon; new stimulus
! its energies. .,>Nsygation, already extended,
= eeiges new. iaeifitlesf from the use Of the CHI
!, / ;;ETasssa ! Il. ] -.
!, 1'be growIyg woalth Of the community
! creases the Aenland for all the fabrics of ind,
n try y. The wonderful machinery for cardir
,e spinning and weaving ID contrived; water a
j, vapar are made to do tue work Of hum
/; hands, and almost human intellect; as the @
y of tho fabric decreases, the demand for it IN
: tplies geometrically. and furnishes an ey
Y growing reward Tor the exertions Of the e.
ID active spirit Of Improvement. Thus i
10 chanical invention may lead to a geographi
t. discovery a physical cause to a political OF
1e intellectual effect. A discovery results in
m art; an art produces comfort comic
! made cheaply accessible, adds family on fam
CO to the population; and u family is new CT
al tion Of thinking, reasoning, inyentng and {
covering beings. Thus, instead of arriving
the end, we are at the beginning Of the scr
us and ready to start, with recruited numbers,
cd the great and honiaccnt career Of useful kno
I'd edge. ~
" Do you think raw CLAIMS are healthy, Bob
Yes, do