New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-17
ppOE TYNDALL TO- yTGHT.

The ROYAL Institution of Great Britain was
founded by an American, and after three
quarters of a century, a IT IN acknowledge
mcnt of our claims il sends to us for a season
its most eminent Professor. Among the great
schools of science i'll Europe none has had
more brilliant career or eXerted a more power
full influence in extending our knowledge of
nature than the Royal Institution. Associated
with its history are the names of Rumiord,
Young, Davy, Faraday and Tyndall, while
the discoveries that have emanated from it
have enriched the science of the world.
The line of exploration which has been
there pursued has mainly related to
the physical forces. II is. indeed, closely
identified with the development of modern
views on this subject. RumfOrd himself, its
founder, has the honor of initiating the new
philosophy of energy by exploding the old
notion of the existence of calori6c fluid
and by first propounding the doctrine tl'at
heat is but q mode of motion. Galyanism
was only nine years old when the Royal In
stitution was organized; and water was first
decomposed by electricity the same year that
il went into operation. Sir llumphry Dayy
followed this opening 10y the construction OF
more powerful batteries with which he decOm-
posed the alkalis and isolated their metals, and
thus raised electTo-chemistry to the rank
Of new branch of science. DR.. Thomas
Young took up the subject of light, and
placed its modern theory upon better founda-
ton. Faraday worked mainly in the field Of
electricity and magnetism, creating the science
of magnetO-electricity, and making many dis
coyeries and valuable observations on the
A. al. Of -s.nI
forces. Prof. Tyndall early advanced our
knowledge Of magnetic action and has pur-
sued his researches into the field Of radiant
heat and of light, and has reached the most
striking and important conclusions.
Ii is fitting that the course OF lectures which
Prof. Tyndall has prepared for delivery in
this country, and which he will begin tonight
ut the Cooper Institute, should be devoted to
an exposition of the great results of scientific
investigation which the Royal Institution has
done so much to promote. lie has chosen
light as his topic, and will treat it in con-
nection with the latest views that hh:"e heen
arrived at regarding colors, spectrum analysis,
radiation and absorption. fiuorescence, polariza-
ton, capitalization. and the molecular consti-
tuition of matter. Each lecture will take
up speCldl pndSt VI tne SUBJECT,
but all will be connected in logical
order, so as to give a considerable degree of
completeness to the statement No man living
is capable of giving greater clearness and vi
vaeity to his expostiOns, or Of illustrating
them more ingeniously TO the common mind
than Prof. Tyndall. Yet it would be grave
mistake to suppose that he has come
merely TO amuse us with brilliant demonstra-
tons, or TO give a series of lessons in the sci
ence of optics. Deeply imbued with the spirit
Of the institution which he represents, and
seeking above all things the extension of
knowledge for its own sake, his controlling
purpose in visiting this country is to do what
he may 10 arouse au interest in the cultiva-
ton Of pure science. Although the theory of
education proclaimed In our colleges is that
knowledge is to DO sought on its own account,
yet there ia no place in the world where
knowledge is actually subordinated 10 imne-
date practical and sordid ends TO such an
extent as here. The devotees of the old
education are forever charging that science Is |
responsible for this state of things; but here |
we have one of the most illustrous scientists |
OF Europe coming over to lift up his voice in |
earnest aud eloquent protest AGAINST This |