on this occasion and in these limits, to attempt it. But let any man compare his own nature with that of a plant, of a brute beast, of an idiot, of a savage; and then consider, that it is in mind, alone, and the degree to which he improves it, that he differs, essentially, from any of them.

And let no one think he wants opportunity, encouragement, or means. I would not undervalue these, any or all of them; but, compared with what the man does for himself, they are of little account. Industry, temperance, and perseverance, are worth more than all the patrons that ever lived in all the Augustan ages. It is these, that create patronage and opportunity.

The

cases of our Franklin and Fulton are too familiar, to bear repetition. Consider that of Sir Humphrey Davy, who died in 1829, and who was, in some departments of science, the first philosopher of the age.* He was born at Penzance, in Cornwall, one of the darkest corners of England; his father was a carver of wooden images for signs, and figure-heads, and chimney-pieces. He himself was apprenticed to an apothecary, and made his first experiments in chemistry with his master's phials and gallipots, aided by an old syringe, which had been given him by the surgeon of a French vessel, wrecked on the Land's End. From the shop of the apothecary, he was transferred to the office of a surgeon; and never appears to have had any other education, than that of a Cornish school, in his boyhood. Such was the beginning of the career of the man, who, at the age of twenty-two, was selected, by our own countryman, Count Rumford, (himself a self-taught benefactor of mankind,) to fill the chair of chemistry at the Royal Institution, in London; such was the origin and education of the man, who discovered the metallic basis of the alkalies and the earths; invented the safety-lamp; and placed himself, in a few years, in the chair of the Royal Society of

*The sketch of Sir Humphrey Davy, which follows, to the end of the lecture, is abridged from the article in the Annual Biography for 1830.

London, and at the head of the chemists of Europe. Sir Humphrey Davy's most brilliant discoveries were effected by his skilful application of the galvanic electricity, a principle, whose existence had been detected, a few years before, by an Italian philosopher, from noticing the contractions of a frog's limb; a fact, which shows how near us, in every direction, the most curious facts lie scattered by Nature. With an apparatus contrived by himself, to collect and condense this powerful agent, Sir Humphrey succeeded in decomposing the earths and the alkalies; and in extracting from common potash, the metal (before unknown) which forms its base; possessing, at seventy degrees of the thermometer, the lustre and general appearance of mercury; at fifty degrees, the appearance of polished silver, and the softness of wax; so light, that it swims in water; and so inflammable, that it takes fire, when thrown on ice. These are, perhaps, but brilliant novelties; though connected, no doubt, in the great chain of cause and effect, with principles of art and science, conducive to the service of man. But the invention of the safetylamp, which enables the miner to walk, with safety, through an atmosphere of explosive gas, and has already preserved the lives of hundreds of human beings, is a title to glory and the gratitude of his fellow men, which the most renowned destroyer of his race might envy.

The counsels of such a man, in his retirement and seasons of meditation, are worth listening to. I am sure you will think I bring this lecture to the best conclusion, by repeating a sentence from one of his moral works :

"I envy," says he, "no quality of the mind or intellect, in others; not genius, power, wit, nor fancy; but, if I could choose what would be most delightful, and, I believe, most useful to me, I should prefer A FIRM RELIGIOUS BELIEF to every other blessing."

12*

ADVANTAGE OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE TO WORKINGMEN.*

NOTWITHSTANDING the numerous institutions for promoting useful knowledge, in our community, it was still found, that many were excluded from the benefit of them. The number of persons, that can be accommodated in any one hall, is, of course, limited; and it has been thought desirable to make the attempt to provide an additional course of lectures, on the various branches of useful knowledge, for the benefit of those, who have not had it in their power, for this or any other reason, to obtain access to the other institutions, which have set so praiseworthy an example, in this work of public utility. We are assembled, this evening, to make the beginning of this new course of popular instruction.

The plan of this course of lectures was suggested at so late a period, this year, that it may not, perhaps, be possible, the present season, to carry it fully into effect, in such a manner as is wished and designed, in reference to the choice and variety of subjects. It is intended, eventually, that it should extend to the various branches of natural science. It will impart useful information, relative to the Earth, the Air, and the Ocean; the wonders of the heavens; and the mineral treasures beneath the surface of the globe. It may extend to the different branches of natural history, and acquaint you with the boundless variety of the animated creation. The various properties of bodies will form a prominent subject of consideration, as the basis of so many of the arts and trades, and the sources from which so many of the wants of man are supplied. In like manner, the various natural powers, the agency of fire, water, steam,

* An Address delivered as the introduction to the Franklin Lectures, in Boston, November 14, 1831.

and weight, which, in their various combinations, produce the wonders of improved machinery, by which industry is facilitated, and the most important fabrics are furnished, cheaply and abundantly, will not be overlooked. It may be supposed, that a due share of attention will be paid to the geographical survey of the globe, to the history of our own race, the fortunes of the several nations, into which mankind have been divided, and the characters of great and good men, who, long after they have departed from life, survive in the gratitude and admiration of their fellow-men. A general and intelligible view of the constitution and laws of the country, in which we have the happiness to live, tending, as it will, to enlighten us in the discharge of our duties, as citizens, will no doubt be presented to you, by some, who will take a part in these lectures. will they, I venture to hope, be brought to a close, without having occasionally directed your thoughts to those views of our nature, which belong to man, as a rational and immortal being, and to those duties and relations which appertain to us, as accountable agents.

Nor

The general plan of these lectures extends to these and all other branches of sound and useful knowledge; to be treated in such order, as circumstances may suggest; and with such variety and selection of subjects, and fulness of detail, as the convenience of the lecturers and the advantage of the audience may dictate. They have been called the Franklin Lectures, in honor of our distinguished townsman, the immortal Franklin,* the son of a tallow-chandler, and the apprentice to a printer, in this town; a man, who passed all his early years, and a very considerable portion of his life, in manual industry; and who was chiefly distinguished by his zealous and successful efforts for the promotion of useful knowledge. His name has given lustre to the highest walks of science, and adorns one of the proudest pages of the history of our Country and the world.

* For a life of Franklin, see one of the volumes of THE SCHOOL LIBRARY.'

But we have thought it was still more a name of hope and promise, for an institution like this, which aims to promote useful knowledge (the great study of his life) among that class of our fellow-citizens, from which it was ever his pride himself to have sprung.

It would seem, at the commencement of a course of public instruction of this kind, a pertinent inquiry, Why should we endeavor to cultivate and inform our minds, by the pursuit of knowledge?

This question, to which the good sense of every individual furnishes, without meditation, some general reply, demands a full and careful answer. I shall endeavor, in this address, to state some of the reasons, which go to furnish such an answer.

All men should seek to cultivate and inform their minds, by the pursuit of useful knowledge, as the great means of happiness and usefulness.

All other things being equal, the pursuit and attainment of knowledge are, at the time, the surest source of happiness. I do not mean, that knowledge will make up for the want of the necessaries and comforts of life: it will not relieve pain, heal sickness, nor bring back lost friends. But if knowledge will not do this, ignorance will do it still less. And it may even be affirmed, and all, who have made the experiment, themselves, will testify to the truth of the remark, that nothing tends more to soothe the wounded feelings, to steal away the mind from its troubles, and to fill up the weariness of a sick chamber and a sick bed, than, for instance, some intelligible, entertaining, good book, read or listened to.

But knowledge is still more important, as the means of being useful; and the best part of the happiness, which it procures us, is of that purer and higher kind, which flows from the consciousness that, in some way or other, by example or positive service, we have done good to our fellow-men. One of the greatest modern philosophers said that knowledge is power; but it is power, because it is usefulness. It gives men influence