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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 service of natural knowledge。 I think I would just as soon
be quietly chipping my own flint axe； after the manner of my
forefathers a few thousand years back； as be troubled with the
endless malady of thought which now infests us all； for such
reward。 But I venture to say that such views are contrary alike to
reason and to fact。 Those who discourse in such fashion seem to me
to be so intent upon trying to see what is above Nature； or what is
behind her； that they are blind to what stares them in the face in
her。
I should not venture thus to speak strongly if my justification
were not to be found in the simplest and most obvious facts；if it
needed more than an appeal to the most notorious truths to justify
my assertion； that the improvement of natural knowledge； whatever
direction it has taken； and however low the aims of those who may
have commenced ithas not only conferred practical benefits on
men； but； in so doing； has effected a revolution i