, 1872-12-24

suing his philosophical and natural studies out
side Of his duties. Atone time, about 80 years ago.
Tyndau thought seriously Of coming to Ameri-
| ca but WAS deferred by an appointment as Rail-
road Engineer, and served for while in that
capacity. Thon he accepted q position in
Queenswood College, whore he developed re-
markable aptitude for teaching. He preferred
to consider himself as student rather than
teacher, and soon found his way to the Unirer-
sity Of Marburg, in Hesse-Cassel, where he had
the instructions OF Bunsen, Gerling, Knoblacuh,
and stegman, and where he enjoyed the adgan-
tages OF the excellent laboratory and cabinet OF
the Institution. Upon his return to England,
and after the first investigations that made him
known, "On the Relation OF Magnetism aud
Diamagnetism to Molecular Arrangement he
! was elected Fellow OF the Royal Society, and,
| not long after, was chosen Professor Of Natural
Philosophy at the Royal Institution, the position
I which he now holds. His. works since
| that time have not been confined
| to Investigations and experiments in the
| abstract sciences ; he has accomplished much in
| the way Of familiarizing the unscientifc world
with the secrets Of Nature, and cultivating
popular taste for studies that were formerly
| abandoned to the sauans. His i" Glaciers Of the
Alps" his Hours of Exercise in the Alps" his
"Fcru1s Of Water" lately published, and an en-
| tertaining volume on ''Sound," are an books
| that may be read with interest by persons who
would not confess any affinity with scientific re-
search. The beautiful c1earness Of style that
is not by any means devoid Of ornament; a habit
! Of writing and talking for people who are not
versed in the technicalities Of science faculty
for illustration which is equally s1riking in his
language and his experiments and genuine
delight in the vocation he has 80 happily chosen,
constitute the qualities which render Professor
Tyndall's books SO entertaining, and his lectures
30 popular.
In his lecture "On Light" delivered in New
York" last Thursday evening, Professor Tyn-
dali took occasion to Justify the exercise OF the
imagination in working out the process Of scien-
tifc induction. The use Of this faculty OF the
mind, in spite Of the eminent service which it
has done the cause OF science, has been con-
demned as the pernicious and uutrustworthy
foundation for the physical doctrines advanced
by such men as Herbert Spencer, Huxley, and
Darwin. Professor Tyndall did not refer to
these gentlemen, nor to their theories, but tho
eloquent apology which he made for the uss Of
the Imagination leaves little doubt that he in
tended to rebuke the premature denunciations
that have been made Of PHILOSOPHERS based
upon physical theory. These are but re-
suits Of what he calls "the pictorial
power Of mind" to go beyond the domain of
the senses. Imagination, in this semi-scientifc
senEe Of the word, must not, Of course, be con-
fused with the popular acceptation Of the facul-
ty implying loose and'uncontrolled vagaries Of
themind running riot. On the contrary, Professor
Tyndau defines it as s'well-ordered and discip-
lined power, whose sole function is to form the
conceptions which the intellect imperatiTe1y de-
mands." It is upon this basis Of imagination
that Professor Tyndall founds the mostimportant
discoveries in regard to the nature and property
OF light. Newton began with knowledge Of
certain physical facts in the world Of senses.
He was familiar with the lars Of elastic col
Ision in matter. He had only to enlarge
his conceptions, which means to make
proper use Of his imagination, to arrive at the
Emission Theory Of Light. The theory once
established, it finds its verifcations in the phys-
ical world If it be correct. "The theoretic con-
ception," says Professor Tynda1, " lies at the
root Of matters, and We determine by rigid de-
duction what are the phenomena which must Of
necessity grow out Of this root" The progress
in the knowledge Of the properties OF Light WAS
made in the same manner to illustrate the ne
cessty Of the imagination as scientific function.
The growth of the undu1atory theory, and the
tracing Of the analogy between Light and
sound, we're both due to the exercise
Of this faculty. When imagination can
thus be justified by 80 thorough scientist as
Tyndan, and verified by the facts which he col
lates from the progress science we should cease
to countenauce the denunciation Of every: theory
of life which does not yet find absolute demon
stration, and should regard more favorab1y the
modern mode Of inducti7e reasoning. We be-
Heve that, in this respect alone, Professor Tyn-
dalls lectures will work revolution in the men,
tai processes Of conservative minds It ia pos
sib1e that those who have held up their hands in
hcly horror at his popularly misunderstood
prayer~test, will not regard this gentleman go
much Of an ogre after hearing his course OF lec- |
tures.
George Francis Train has reached the crown- !
ing point Of his desires, by getting into Ludlow
Street Jail in his efforts to get Woodruff and |
Clatlin out. he has been in an English, an Irish,
and q French Bastile, and now he is in an Ameri-
can one, and We shall not probably hear the last
Of it for long time to come. The offence for |