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the progress of the Royal Society stands without a parallel
in the history of mankind。
A series of volumes as bulky as the 〃Transactions of the Royal
Society〃 might possibly be filled with the subtle speculations ＇35＇
of the Schoolmen；＇36＇ not improbably； the obtaining a mastery over
the products of mediaeval thought might necessitate an even greater
expenditure of time and of energy than the acquirement of the 〃New
Philosophy〃； but though such work engrossed the best intellects of
Europe for a longer time than has elapsed since the great fire； its
effects were 〃writ in water；〃＇37＇ so far as our social state is
concerned。
On the other hand； if the noble first President of the Royal
Society could revisit the upper air and once more gladden his eyes
with a sight of the familiar mace； he would find himself in the
midst of a material civilisation more different from that of his
day； than that of the seventeenth was from that of the first
century。 And if Lord Brouncker's ＇38＇ native sagacity had not
deserted his ghost； he would need no long reflection to discover
that all these great ships； these railways； these telegraphs； these
factories； these printing…presses； without which the whole fabric
of modern English society would collapse into a mass of stagnant
and starving pauperism；that all these pillars of our State are
but the ripples and the bubbles upon the surface of that great
spiritual stream； the springs of which only； he and his fellows
were privileged to see； and seeing； to recognise as that which it
behoved them above all things to keep pure and undefiled。
It may not be too great a flight of imagination to conceive our
noble revenant ＇39＇ not forgetful of the great troubles of his own day；
and anxious to know how often London had been burned down since his
time and how often the plague had carried off its thousands。 He
would have to learn that； although London contains tenfold the
inflammable matter that it did in 1666； though； not content with
filling our rooms with woodwork and light draperies； we must needs
lead inflammable and explosive gases into every corner of our
streets and houses； we never allow even a street to burn down。 And
if he asked how this had come about； we should have to explain that
the improvement of natural knowledge has furnished us with dozens
of machines for throwing water upon fires； any one of which would
have furnished the ingenious Mr。 Hooke； the first 〃curator and
experimenter〃 of the Royal Society； with ample materials for
discourse before half a dozen meetings of that body； and that； to
say truth； except for the progress of natural knowledge； we should
not have been able to make even the tools by which these machines
are constructed。 And； further； it would be necessary to add； that
although severe fires sometimes occur and inflict great damage； the
loss is very generally compensated by societies； the operations of
which have been rendered possible only by the progress of natural
knowledge in the direction of mathematics； and the accumulation of
wealth in virtue of other natural knowledge。
But the plague？ My Lord Brouncker's observation would not； I fear；
lead him to think that Englishmen of the nineteenth century are
purer in life； or more fervent in religious faith； than the
generation which could produce a Boyle；＇40＇ an Evelyn；＇41＇ and
a Milton。 He might find the mud of society at the bottom； instead
of at the top； but I fear that the sum total would be as deserving
of swift judgment as at the time of the Restoration。＇42＇ And it
would be our duty to explain once more； and this time not without
shame； that we have no reason to believe that it is the improvement
of our faith； nor that of our morals； which keeps the plague from
our city； but； again； that it is the improvement of our natural
knowledge。
We have learned that pestilences will only take up their abode
among those who have prepared unswept and ungarnished residences
for them。 Their cities must have narrow； unwatered streets； foul
with accumulated garbage。 Their houses must be ill…drained； ill…
lighted； ill…ventilated。 Their subjects must be ill…washed； ill…
fed； ill…clothed。 The London of 1665 was such a city。 The cities
of the East； where plague has an enduring dwelling； are such
cities。 We； in later times； have learned somewhat of Nature； and
partly obey her。 Because of this partial improvement of our
natural knowledge and of that fractional obedience； we have no
plague； because that knowledge is still very imperfect and that
obedience yet incomplete； typhoid is our companion and cholera our
visitor。 But it is not presumptuous to express the belief that；
when our knowledge is more complete and our obedience the
expression of our knowledge； London will count her centuries of
freedom from typhoid and cholera； as she now gratefully reckons her
two hundred years of ignorance of that plague which swooped upon
her thrice in the first half of the seventeenth century。
Surely； there is nothing in these explanations which is not fully
borne out by the facts？ Surely； the principles involved in them
are now admitted among the fixed beliefs of all thinking men？
Surely； it is true that our countrymen are less subject to fire；
famine； pestilence； and all the evils which result from a want of
command over and due anticipation of the course of Nature； than
were the countrymen of Milton； and health； wealth； and well…being
are more abundant with us than with them？ But no less certainly is
the difference due to the improvement of our knowledge of Nature；
and the extent to which that improved knowledge has been
incorporated with the household words of men； and has supplied the
springs of their daily actions。
Granting for a moment； then； the truth of that which the
depreciators of natural knowledge are so fond of urging； that its
improvement can only add to the resources of our material
civilisation； admitting it to be possible that the founders of the
Royal Society themselves looked for not other reward than this； I
cannot confess that I was guilty of exaggeration when I hinted；
that to him who had the gift of distinguishing between prominent
events and important events； the origin of a combined effort on the
part of mankind to improve natural knowledge might have loomed
larger than the Plague and have outshone the glare of the Fire； as
a something fraught with a wealth of beneficence to mankind； in
comparison with which the damage done by those ghastly evils would
shrink into insignificance。
It is very certain that for every victim slain by the plague；
hundreds of mankind exist and find a fair share of happiness in the
world by the aid of the spinning jenny。 And the great fire； at its
worst； could not have burned the supply of coal； the daily working
of which； in the bowels of the earth； made possible by the steam
pump； gives rise to an amount of wealth to which the millions lost
in old London are but as an old song。
But spinning jenny and steam pump are； after all； but toys；
possessing an accidental value； and natural knowledge creates
multitudes of more subtle contrivances； the praises of which do not
happen to be sung because they are not directly convertible into
instruments for creating wealth。 When I contemplate natural
knowledge squandering such gifts among men； the only appropriate
comparison I can find for her is to liken her to such a peasant
woman as one sees in the Alps； striding ever upward； heavily
burdened； and with mind bent only on her home； but yet without
effort and without thought； knitting for her children。 Now
stockings are good and comfortable things； and the children will
undoubtedly be much the better for them； but surely it would be
short…sighted； to say the least of it； to depreciate this toiling
mother as a mere stocking…machinea mere provider of physical
comforts？
However； there are blind leaders of the blind； and not a few of
them； who take this view of natural knowledge； and can see nothing
in the bountiful mother of humanity but a sort of comfort…grinding
machine。 According to them； the improvement of natural knowledge
always has been； and always must be； synonymous with no more than
the improvement of the material resources and the increase of the
gratifications of men。
Natural knowledge is； in their eyes； no real mother of mankind；
bringing them up with kindness； and； if need be； with sternness； in
the way they should go； and instructing them in all things needful
for their welfare； but a sort of fairy god…mother； ready to furnish
her pets with shoes of swiftness； swords of sharpness； and
omnipotent Aladdin's lamps；＇43＇ so that they may have telegraphs to
Saturn； and see the other side of the moon； and thank God they are
better than their benighted ancestors。
If this talk were true； I； for one； should not greatly care to toil
in the s