pose of stating, that to men like him, possessing the most eminent wisdom and learning, are to be traced most of the inventions of inferior minds by which useful knowledge has been propagated amongst mankind. All the mechanical arts have derived their improvement, if not their origin, from such discoveries. All the machinery to facilitate human labour, such as ships and wheel carriages,-the plough, the loom, the crane, the steam-engine, have been conferred upon us by the sagacity of men of eminent science. Thousands are now daily enjoying the use of a common pump, who must have continued to draw by hand, had not a philosopher perceived that water invariably rises in a cylinder from which the air is exhausted. The amazing discoveries in natural philosophy within our own times have rendered most important services to the community at large. Few years are past since air and water were held to be simple elements, though each of these is now known to be compounded of two distinct fluids, and the discovery has been applied, with beautiful success, to the common conveniences of life. The knowledge of these principles is not indeed necessary to the enjoyment of the benefits which spring from such discoveries; the acquirement of such knowledge would be incompatible with the laborious duties of humble life.

The farmer manures the ground without regarding the chemical process by which vegetation is thus promoted. The millwright dexterously applies the sublime discoveries of Newton and Watt, without pretending to understand the mechanical principles on which machinery is constructed. The miner confidently descends the shaft, grateful to Sir Humphrey Davy for the invaluable gift of the safety-lamp, without puzzling himself to comprehend how this little instrument so surely averts the dangers of explosion. The bleacher, the dyer, the painter, the manufacturer, and the agriculturist, owe most of their arts to the improvements in natural philosophy, although they perceive in them little more than their results. Commerce has expanded her sails throughout every

region of the globe, by the combination of many profound discoveries in Science, of which the mariner is wholly ignorant. He securely navigates his vessel, without one thought of his obligations to the nameless Chinese, of some remote period, who first discovered the properties of the magnet. Guided by that needle which points steadily towards the north, the navigator fearlessly quits the shore, and steers direct for his destined port. Furnished with a few simple rules of geometry, the principles of which are beyond his attainment, he now ascertains his exact position amidst the wide waste of waters, by observation of the heavenly bodies.

What astonishing discoveries do we owe to Galileo, that illustrious Italian, by whom the invention of the telescope was rendered of the utmost importance to astronomy. This noble instrument has brought to view myriads of worlds- -a creation without limits-of the existence of which mankind were wholly ignorant scarce two centuries ago. Nor less wonderful the knowledge revealed to us by the microscope, which opens to the delighted observer the minutest objects in nature. The magnifying powers of this beautiful instrument have not merely been employed in gratifying curiosity; they have rendered the most important advantages to the study of anatomy, of plants, of minerals, and many other objects of natural science.

Philosophy is a word of forbidding aspect to a simple man; we too commonly entertain a prejudice against that which we do not understand; and as the bulk of mankind cannot spare time from their daily occupations, it would be absurd to expect that the riches of philosophy should ever be shared beyond a very limited number of our countrymen. A slight knowledge of the wonders of nature-such a knowledge as may enlarge our gratitude towards the Creator, and quicken our enjoyment of the beauties which he spreads around us-is within the reach of most persons in this country, who have the capacity to read, and who are not absolutely engrossed with the drudg

eries of life. But great caution should be used in indulging what are called philosophical speculations, which are but too often the wanderings of ignorance and presumption. To superior wisdom and learning we had better leave the attempt to sound those unexplored depths of science, which have busied and perplexed the acutest minds. While engaged in investigations of the greatest importance to mankind, men of great genius have sometimes made shipwreck of their faith, by resting upon their own strength, and have presumptuously ventured to doubt of that truth which had hitherto enlightened their understandings, forsaking that secure and only guide which Revelation has supplied to prevent us from wandering

into error.

Sir Isaac Newton, who by the common voice of his countrymen is acknowledged to have possessed one of the most exalted minds which ever adorned human nature, was a splendid example of humility of disposition, blended with amazing sagacity of intellect. We might truly say, that a humble opinion of himself was the marked peculiarity of his character; and though a few of his greatest admirers have regretted the extreme modesty of his nature, as having restrained him from following out some of his boldest speculations in science, we are rather disposed to consider this diffidence of his own judgment as highly advantageous to his reputation, for it led him to examine and re-examine every principle which he laid down in science; and thus secured upon the most solid basis, all those mighty discoveries which he bequeathed to posterity.

Sir Isaac Newton was born on Christmas day, 1642, at Woolsthorpe, in the county of Lincoln. When born he was so little that his mother used to say he might have been put into a quart mug, and it was thought he could not live an hour. He was descended from Sir John Newton, Bart. He lost his father young, and his mother having married again, settled some land upon him previously to this second union. At twelve he was put to the grammar school

at Grantham, and soon gave proofs of genius by his mechanical contrivances, making wooden models of all sorts, for his amusement, and was very dexterous in the use of his tools. It happened that a new windmill was erected in the neighbourhood, and he soon completed an exact model of it, to the delight of his schoolfellows. These pursuits so engrossed him, that sometimes a dull boy got above him in his class, but his master perceived that it always cost him little effort to regain his place. His mother having lost her second husband, returned to Woolsthorpe, and took her son from school to assist in managing the farm. He was sent on Saturdays to Grantham market to sell corn, along with an old trusty servant to teach him his business; but Isaac used to leave the man to manage alone, and generally retired to a garret in the house where he had lodged while at school, and employed himself with his books till the hour arrived to return home. In summer, however, he would stop with his book under a hedge by the way, where the man was sure to find him on his return from market. Newton's mother, after a trial of nine months, despaired of making him a farmer, and sent him back to Grantham school, from whence in the year 1660, he was removed to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he soon attracted the notice of the celebrated Dr. Barrow, who was the most learned scholar and mathematician of that period.

Such were the capacities of young Newton's extraordinary mind, that he appeared not to require to ascend to the heights of science by the steps which are necessary to ordinary men. At a glance he detected the fallacy of every unfounded theory in philosophy, and made himself master of the most abstruse and difficult subjects by a method of inquiry peculiar to himself.

His diffidence and dislike of public notice was so great, that none but his most intimate friends were aware of his amazing progress; and although the publication of a paper on light, which was laid before the Royal Society of London, (then newly instituted,)

drew upon him the general attention of philosophers, both at home and abroad, yet at that very time, though scarcely twenty-four years of age, he had laid the foundation of all the great discoveries which he gave to the world in after-life. In the year 1665, when the plague was raging in London, he retired to his little estate at Woolsthorpe; where the trifling circumstance of the fall of an apple from a tree, while sitting in his garden, led his mind by a delicate train of investigation to discover the great law of gravitation, which he afterwards published to the world, and which constitutes one of his most important claims to reputation. In 1669 he succeeded Doctor Barrow as mathematical professor at Cambridge. In 1671 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society.

When King James II. rashly endeavoured to compel the University to confer the degree of Master of Arts on a Roman Catholic priest, Newton was distinguished as one of the most zealous of the Delegates appointed to resist this innovation. The following year he was chosen to represent the Univer> sity in Parliament, and again in 1701. In 1696 the Earl of Halifax, who loved science, obtained him the office of Warden of his Majesty's Mint; and he saved no less than £80,000 to the public by his judicious management, in the new coinage which took place soon after. In 1699 he was advanced to the more important trust of Master of the Mint, which he continued to hold till his death. In 1703 he was chosen President of the Royal Society. In 1705, he received the honour of knighthood from Queen Anne, upon her visit to Cambridge. He never married, but for the last twenty years, his niece, who married Mr. Conduit, his successor, resided with him.

He

He lived chiefly at a house, still standing, at the corner of Long's-court, St. Martin's-street, Leicesterfields, on which he erected a small observatory. was hospitable, generous, and charitable; few men havegiven away so much as he did, during his life; his favourite maxim was, that those who gave nothing till they died, never gave;—and this was perhaps one