New-York tribune., 1867-06-13

ure and exubcrant activity furnish the Objects OF
thought In creating interest IN these thngs cn
ing aud seeking is formed while tho numOeiless discon
neeted shreds Of knowledge are inelPeht os ~
which will grow with time into the rpeheu lorih9 VI
science T., .,.oI ,o
the regular study OF the sciences In which the oDerg
and reasoning powers are to be Systematically cutVcu
For this purpose the irst TO be taken up are rs
they deal with the clearest and simplest conceptions M
denend upon the fewest and definite conditions
The adaptation of mathematics to cultvate deductlye
reasoning has been noticed. Physics trains equally 10
accuracy and precision Of Thought; but beginning WIN
observation. 1t exercises the reason tndUcticcty From
particulars pass to generals from observed acts 10
principles, by the mental process oi induction when
powerful instrumentaify. When We contemplate the
vast extent Of the facts which form the body Of the y
sciences, and the marvellous rapdlty WIN Wnich
they are stl accumuating the task q! ter acquisition
appalling and utterly beyond all grasp OF the ~
tcect But there Is an order on nature py "hch iuui
vdua facts connected aud bound tOgetncf ana ttfe
is corresponding capacity II Ihe hl % in no., o' s scoIs
upon those relations OF binding the acs mo SrOuis
and of dealing with them, as II WERE NJ WnoieSe Oh ~
masses This is faculty of generalization, by which
wdeeaching principles replace or represent the nini
tnde of details which they include Indeed the advance
of science essentially consists IN me snefes9ge
ment Of such general principles wicn ils cue oING az M
other igher and higher stages, hil lcW se IaWs
phenomena to witch they apply. But now mark, that
while in this way knowledge Is slmpihcu, c ~ Inu -
law from many facts while II relieves the memory OF the
burden OF large portion of them, makes greater uf
mand upon the understanding. In proportion rs kho"i
edge is compressed in bulk, its quality becomes az u
were intense; and just to the degree 10 whch ,
tb master H. Thus in gaining command Of the facts Of
nature and rising comprehension OF e OGeI Oh the
universe at the same time securing the hlghest
and most salutay of mental discpline and form
Of IT, may bc added for which the TRADITIONAL system O
culture makes no provision
The volume which we have thus brought to the
attention of our readers is composed i'll addition to
the able discourses of the editor ons Mental Discp
line in Education" and on the scientific Study of
Human Nature" of "a series of addresses and argu-
,ueuts ON the claims of scientific education by sew
eral of the most enlightened thinkers in Great Brit
ain and this country, including the eminent names
of Faiaday, Liebig Tyndall, Whewell, Draper, DE
Morgan Herbert Spencer Sir John lerscheL slr
Charles LyelI. Dr. Seguin John Stuart Mill, and
Others Its contents for the most part are now for
the first time published in this country, and have
never before appeared in their present collective
form They are founded comparatively recent
scientific discussions and may accordingly be re-
gaYded as exponcnts of the tone and spirit OF thought
among large and increasing class of educated men
AT the present day. Although they do not possess
the unity of systematic treatise on the subject by
a single writer. they bring 10 common center the
productions of different minds, and hold mp the same
prevailing ideas in a variety of aspects ana placlc'u
applications. Many Of the views set forth by the
writer's are doubtless open 10 question IN some cases
they may be pronounced uutcnable; but they are all
supported by wcighty arguments, and VIII repay
the attention Of their reader by the uggcsvcnes Of
their illustrations and the philosophc depth OF their
discussion The contributions 10 the volume Is tAe
editor himself compare fayoHbly with the discouisrs
of the other writers they ful of earnest Thought
forcibly cxprc,sed and form valuable addition To-
the services in the cause of popular education aud
science in this country (which he has won highly
honorable fame.