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„ With equal contempt we notice insinuations of the inutility of the measure. A philosopher
should despise the narrow minded notions entertained by those, who wiewingthe subject as
merely one of profit and lofs, are unable to form any other notion of its inutility; and just
have sagacity enough to discover that i f a passage should be found one year; it may happen
to be closed the next! We can well imagine that many such sinister bodings were heard, when
Bartholomew Di a z returned without doubling the cape of good hope, and when Magelhaens
had effected a southern passage into the Pacific. Briefly then, we shall not degrade the noblest
and most disinterested enterprize, that was undertaken in ancient and modern times, by
♦ ) Quarterly Review, vol. XVIII. pag. 457.'
loudescending to justify it to the selfish and calculating horde, whose cavils we have recor- *
E d but to the honourable and liberal mind that thinks the pursuit of science worthy of a
tre a t a prosperous, a id an enlightened nation like England, we would say that the point in
luestion involves an infinity of results of the utmost importance to the perfection of science;
L t the benefits of science are not to be calculated, and that no guefs can be formed to what
fx te n t thay may be carried. Who could have imagined that the polarity of the magnet, whtch
lay hid for ages after its attractive virtue was known, would lead to a discovery of the new
world; and who can tell what farther advantage mankind may derive from the magnetical influence
so v e r y remarkable, yet so very little unterstood? or pretend to limit the discoveries
to which electricity and galvanism may yet open the way ? Had any one, thirty years ago, been
bold enough to assert, that he would light up our shops and houses, and theatres and streets s
with a more brillant fire than yet had been produced; that this flame should be extracted
iom common fuel and carried for miles, if necessary, under ground in iron pipes, he would
at once have been set down as little better than a madman or an impostor. — Both expeditions
may fail in the main object of the arduous enterprize; but they can scarcely fail in being
the means of extehding the sphere of human knowledge; and if they bring back an accession
of it, they cannot be said to have been sent out in vain. “
■ Slote itt 1820. 25a® biefer 3t»ecf »»Kfommeit erfuttt iff, l»etm a it* gtei* bie itbrbti*e^affage«i*t
; gefunben t»arb, bason geben nun bie SRefuttatejener ©petition, bie ft* in ben »on berfetben be«
fannt gema*ten iRa*ri*ten befttiben, ben f*bnfien SBetoeiS.
Ä t u f c n l l c K n .