CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION—Retrospective view of the state of mankind—ig.

norance of the dark ages-revival of learning at the Reformation,

1-6. Present intellectual state of the human race, 6. Causes

which have retarded the progress of the human mind, 11. A

more general diffusion of knowledge desirable, 14. Preludes

which indicate the approach of the era of intelligence, 15.

SECTION I.

INFLUENCE OF KNOWLEDGE IN DISSIPAT-

ING SUPERSTITIOUS NOTIONS

FEARS,

AND VAIN

19

Objects and circumstances which ignorance has arrayed with ima-

ginary terrors-eclipses, comets, aurora borealis, &c. 20. Ab-

surdity of astrology, 21. Belief attached to its doctrines, 22.

Various prevalent superstitious opinions-omens-witches-

spectres, &c. 24. Proof of such notions still prevailing, 28.

Superstitions indulged by men of rank and learning, 29. Bane-

ful tendency of superstition, 32-leads to deeds of cruelty and

injustice, 33. How knowledge would undermine superstition,

and its usual accompaniments-illustrated at large, 35-41.

Animadversion on Dr. S. Johnson, &c. 41.

SECTION II.

ON THE UTILITY OF KNOWLEDGE IN PRE-

VENTING DISEASES AND FATAL ACCI-

Accidents which have happened from ignorance of the properties

of the different gases, and the means of preventing them, 45. Dis-

asters which have happened in coal-mines, 48. Figure of Davy's

Safety Lamp, with description and remarks, 50. Accidents

caused by the stroke of lightning, 52. Precautions requisite to

be attended to during thunder-storms, 54. Accidents from

ignorance of the principles of Mechanics, 55. Reasons of such

accidents explained by a figure, 56. Fatal accidents caused from

ignorance of the effects produced by the refraction of light-illus-

trated by figures and experiments, 58. Accidents from the -

clothes of females catching fire, and the means of prevention, 61.

Various diseases propagated from ignorance of their nature, 62.

Pernicious effects of contaminated air, 64. Improper mode of

treating children during infancy, and its fatal effects, 67. Im-

portance of temperance, 68. General remarks, 70,

SECTION II.

ON THE INFLUENCE WHICH A DIFFUSION OF

KNOWLEDGE WOULD HAVE ON THE PRO-

GRESS OF SCIENCE,

71

Science founded on facts, 73. Every person is endowed with

faculties for observing facts, 73. Anecdote of Sir I. Newton,

75. Extraordinary powers of intellect not necessary for making

discoveries in science, 76. Ample field of investigation still

remains, 78. Discoveries would be nearly in proportion to the

number of observers, 79. Various illustrations of these posi-

tions. Geology, its multifarious objects and disiderata, 83. Na-

tural History-how it may be improved, and its range extended,

86. Meteorology, imperfection of our knowledge in regard to

many of its objects,-thunder storms, aurora borealis, meteoric

stones, &c. 91. Astronomy, disiderata in reference to, which

remain to be ascertained, 93. Illustration taken from Jupiter,

with four different views of this planet, 94. Venus, mode by

which the time of its rotation may be determined, 96-illustrated

by a figure, 97. Comets, fixed stars-Moon, plan by which our

knowledge of the scenery of this globe may be extended, 99.

Discoveries which have been made in the heavens by accident,

101. Prospects presented when knowledge shall be more gen-

erally diffused, 102. Chemistry, its objects, and the means of its

improvement, 104. Futility of framing hypotheses-importance

of observing facts-general remarks and reflections, 105–110.

SECTION IV.

ON THE PLEASURES CONNECTED WITH THE

PURSUITS OF SCIENCE,

111

Pleasures of sense and of intellect, 111. The enjoyments of the

ignorant, and of the man of intelligence contrasted, and particular-

ly illustrated, 112—121. Pleasure annexed to the gratification

of the principle of curiosity, 122. Scientific facts illustrative of

this subject-Number of effects produced by a single principle in

nature, 123. Surprising resemblances in operations where we

should least of all have expected them, 125. Grand and sublime

objects which science presents before us, 127.

and interesting objects it exhibits, 131.

chanics, hydrostatics, magnetism, optics,

Instruments connected with optics, 133.

Telescope, 135. Pleasure in tracing the steps by which dis-

coveries have been made, and the experiments by which they

are illustrated, 139-145. Beneficial tendency of scientific pur-

suits on the heart, and on social and domestic enjoyment—miscel-

laneous reflections and remarks, 145-154,

Variety of novel

Illustrated from me-

chemistry, &c. 132.

Figure of the Aërial

SECTION V.

ON THE PRACTICAL INFLUENCE OF SCIEN-

TIFIC KNOWLEDGE, AND ITS TENDENCY TO

PROMOTE THE COMFORTS OF GENERAL

SOCIETY.

I. A knowledge of science would render mechanics, &c. more skil-

ful in their respective employments-illustrated from the arts of

dyeing, calico printing, bleaching, brewing, tanning, agriculture,

&c. 155-160. Chemistry essentially requisite to surgeons and

apothecaries, 160. Utility of practical Geometry, illustrated by

a diagram, 162. Utility of Mechanics, 164. Of Hydrostatics

and Hydraulics, illustrated with various figures, 166. Hydro-

statical paradox, mode of conveying water, hydrostatical press,

perpendicular pressure of water, and the accidents it may occa-

sion, 168. Application of these facts to engineering and hydrau-

licoperations, 174. Disaster occasioned by want of attention to

hydrostatic principles, 177. Practical utility of Pneumatics-

anecdote illustrative of, 179. Mode of curing smoky chimneys,

illustrated by figures, 181. Utility of an acquaintance with

Optics, 184. Explanation of the nature of a telescope, and the

mode of its construction, 185. Mode of constructing a com-

pound microscope, with illustrative figures, 187. Burning lenses,

Sir D. Brewster's Polyzonal lens, reflecting concave mirrors for

light-houses, &c. with illustrative figures, 191. Utility of Elec-

tricity and Galvanism, 194. Mode of directing lightning as a

mechanical power, 195. Practical applications of Magnetism,

and late discoveries in-magnetized masks, &c. 196.

utility of Geology, 199. Utility of Natural History, 200. Ap-

plication of steam-steam navigation-steam carriages, 201.

Carburetted hydrogen gas, 203. Utility of science to day-labour-

ers, house-keepers, kitchen-maids, &c. 205. Instance illustrative

of the advantages of chemical knowledge, 207.

Practical

II. Scientific knowledge would pave the way for future inventions and

improvements in the arts. Circumstances which led to the in-

vention and subsequent improvement of the telescope, with a

figure of the first telescope, 209. Fraunhofer's telescope-

Guinand's experiments on the composition of flint glass-De-

scription of an achromatic object-glass, with a figure, &c. 211.

Historical sketches of certain inventions-steam engine-mari-

ner's compass-galvanic principle-pendulum clocks-watches-
air-pump—spinning jennies-safety lamp, &c. 212. Few inven-
tions owing to chance, 215. Cautions to be attended to in the
construction and use of the safety lamp, 218. Mechanics have a
greater chance of becoming inventors than mere philosophers,
220. Prospects of improvement in future ages, 221.

III. The external comforts of mankind promoted by intelligence and

improvements in the arts, 223. Contrast between the past and

the present aspect of the social state, 224. Wretched accom-

modations which still exist among the lower classes, 225. Men-

tal improvement would lead to diligence and economy-to

cleanliness in person, clothes and furniture-to tasteful decora.

tions of houses and garden-plots-improvements in foot-paths,

narrow lanes, villages, &c. 226–232.

SECTION VI.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF KNOWLEDGE IN PRO-

MOTING ENLARGED CONCEPTIONS OF THE

CHARACTER AND PERFECTIONS OF THE

DEITY,

232

Grovelling conceptions of the Deity both in heathen and Christian

countries, 232. Just conceptions of the Divinity acquired from

his external manifestations, 234. Ignorance exhibits distorted

views of the Divine character, 236. Attributes of the Deity

which science illustrates, 1. The unity of God, 239. 2. Wisdom

of the Deity-manifested in the various arrangements of sub-

lunary nature, 241. Particular illustration, 244. 3. Benevolence

of the Deity--manifested in the parts of the human frame, and

in the surrounding elements-muscles of the eye (illustrated with

figures)-gratification afforded to our different senses, 246-251.

Remedies against the evils to which we are exposed, 251. Mul-

titude of animated beings, and the ample provision made for

them, 252. Calculations in relation to the number of certain

species of birds, and the velocity with which they fly, 253.

Number of species of plants eaten by different animals, 254.

4. Science exhibits a view of the multiplicity of conceptions which

have been formed in the Divine mind, 256. Exemplified in the dif-

ferent construction and functions of the various species of animals,