New-York tribune., 1867-09-27
THE CAUSE or SCIENCE.

Cotcmporary British science possesses value
and vigor with which our own less venerable
and sophsiicated circles of learning must needs
be too modest to claim positive equality. The
English Professors arc not behind the French
in the steady and thorough advance of their
judgments and spcculations. The free tactics
of the fellow thinkers of Arago do not lead
the world on any further in the path OF dis
coycry and conviction than the solid discipline
and careful aim of English thought. faraday,
Huxley, Tyndal, Darwin. and their metaphysl-
cal gcncralzcr. Herbert Spencer are becoming
every day better known upon this side OF the
water None of our scientists are quite the
peers of these in the proioundncss OF their prac-
ticabity, and the scope OF their spcculations Our
American Cambridge is comfortably compla-
cent, and takes its schooling from the Old
World with good grace. Our sayantS make
excellent dictionaries for the use of philosophers;
but As for the immortal soul in science, not
even Mr.. Agassiz has managed to pick or
break it ont of his rocks, or discover 1t under
the pla3ter-cast of the glaciers. The general
tendency oil cis-Atlantio reason and pursuit is
doubtless as forward and enlightened rs the
culture of Great Britain; but our schools
do not yet prodncc tho English class
and rank of hard workers and meek
,cryauts in the cause of science who pursue
the sacred truth hidden IN nature rs the knight
Grant of old went forth in quest OF tie San
grcal. 1t is generally admitted that while our
inventors have taken the world by surprise,
our profcsscd teachers do not lead and govern
il. Mr. Emcrson's transoeudentaism Is still
somewhat above tho heads of stOnc-brcakcrs
and star gathcrcrs here If not III Europe.
Practical science is nevertheless picking Its
way up bravely To the standard OF the gen
eraizers and transccndcntalists
England is venerable country, we'll fitted
for the study of fossils But though governed
in so many ways 10y her traditions, in no coun-
try in the world exists a more respectable free
dom and progress of speculative opinion. There
the crozier and sceptor are the wands OF
rule; the sword of the Lord Mayor, the wool
sack of the Judge, the gowns Of priest and pro-
vost, the cane of the beadic. signify the oppres-
sion of tradiiion-thc manifold membranes
of n society and state which is tOp-hcavy with
its weight Of ceremony, and complex III ITS
ways of circumlocution. Nevertheless the pa
tience Of science thriycs and is happy,
while Englishmcn are creeping through
their Theban labyrinth 20 the daylight. lt
is to British science, conservative rs we
deem the British mind, tlat tAc age owes
some of its ,most startling revelations LyelTs,
and Murchison's and Hugh Millers sermons
"in stones" have, without question, taught the
British public far more than Mr.. Surgeons
textual platitudcs or the Deans Iitullstic
piety. If to labor truly b. to worship, then it
Ia. lot Iha ltl. inpV
sometimes becomes an oratory, and the teacher
of natural wisdom high priest The law
gvcr Moses did not tell the world to
what formation belonged the tables of
the law; but if the studies Of our phi
osophcrs only show us the ten commandments
and the rule OF love still more deeply craven
on the heart of nature, what man ia Zion need
go madl
The British Association for the Advancement
of Science has just held its annual session i'll
Dundee, Scotland. About two thousand six
hundred scientists have gathered. there this
year, which number il almost u thousand more
than came together few years ago. The size
and character of the asscmblage are greatly in
compliment TO the hospitality which the
exact and doctrinal sciences have always
met in Scotland Scotland is tho home
of British metaphysics, and claims largo
number of vigorous and obstinate thinkers,
such as Hamilton, Dugald Stewart, and Carlyle.
1t is Scotland which has chosen Carlyle and Mill
in her universities. Scotsmcn are bigoted, but
they are also logical-morcOvcr, they admire in-
trcpidity of intellect. ain England,r writes
our correspondent, religion and philosophy is
feeling in Scotland everything is argamcpS.'