by Richard H. Horne (uncredited).
Originally published in Household Words (Bradbury & Evans) vol.2 #52 (22 Mar 1851).
Different periods of the world have been signalised by different struggles of art or science, or other intellectual endeavour, in which the greatest nations, or those possessing most mental energy, were constantly engaged. Thus, we find the early Egyptians devoted themselves to astronomy, architecture, and mythological sculpture,—and produced wonders. War, as an art, was not cultivated; they thought only of vast armies swarming like clouds of locusts, to devastate an enemy's country. The early Greeks brought the art of sculpture to perfection; accomplished master-pieces in philosophy, and in the tragic drama, and greatly advanced the art of war. The early Romans brought the art of war to a higher state, and devoted themselves to it more than to any other study. Long periods of barbarism and feudal battles succeeded, until the revival of letters in Italy; and then we find the greatest intellects devoting themselves sedulously to all the chief branches of learning, science, and the fine arts. Astronomy was greatly advanced; chemistry, also, in many respects, by means of the passion for alchemy that so long prevailed; but painting was only brought to perfection in the time of Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Titian. It was the most highly patronised of all things—kings, nobles, and the clergy, leading the way. The history of the world shows no patronage equal to it. Though adverse circumstances, by exciting the will of genius, have often proved advantageous to the ultimate development of greatness, it is yet well worth noticing what great and rapid results may be produced by the most favourable circumstances.
A period has been seen, when voyages of discovery amounted almost to a passion, with some nations. A period has likewise been witnessed, when philosophy and theology have been the leading subjects that occupied the minds of the first intellects in a given country; nor must we forget that a rage for destroying all old systems, both of theology and philosophy, without setting up, or even searching for new systems, was displayed in France to an extraordinary degree, before the first great revolution. In modern Germany, the efforts of the profouudest minds have been devoted to philosophy, literature, science, and the fine arts, pretty generally, in all their numerous branches, and without any special or exclusive devotion.
In America, the great national efforts in commerce, navigation, and the resolution to become a great maritime power, has hitherto nearly absorbed most other considerations, though men of intellectual energy have not been wanting in several departments of literature and learning. With America, however, steam and steam-boats have, for some time, been the predominating science; just as, in modern Italy, the science of music and the art of singing, have received an almost exclusive attention. In England we have seen many changes of general study and devotion of public interest. We have been great voyagers, travellers, and discoverers; and, without being in any real danger in modern times from the attack of foreign foes, we have been much too fond of meddling in wars of almost incalculable expense, and taking the debt upon ourselves. During fifty or sixty years the British army and navy were the "rage" among all classes, and the arts of war by land and sea were our most popular subjects of admiration. Other studies were, comparatively, of small importance with us. Since then we have absolutely had, though it is very difficult to believe it at the present time, a rage for poetry (originating with Byron), rapidly followed by a rage for novels (originating with Scott), and we have also had something very like a rage for political economy (originating with Malthus), and something nearly approaching a rage for travels and voyages of discovery (dating from Bruce, Belzoni, and Parry), which has almost extended down to the present time, in consequence of the prolonged doubt as to the fate of Sir John Franklin.
But have we not done great things in learning, science, and the fine arts? We have but to point to the works of Bacon, Newton, Shakespeare, and Milton, to answer this question. But to speak of the present time. We have several fine historians, and they are extensively read; we have astronomers, though they are not duly regarded; and we have some great physiologists, but they also, (except from their regular classes) receive little or no public attention. To speak generally, geology and botany are studied at the present day, and natural history is neglected—always excepting the actual exhibition of zoological specimens. In general prose literature much is constantly doing, and with extensive success; while for periodical literature, of a cheap kind, yet containing varied knowledge and information for the people, there is at present an unexampled craving. In learning, though we have many learned men, little is done beyond compilation, the age being much too "fast" to admit of a man, who has not an independent fortune, devoting half his life to a single great work of profound research.
In the fine arts, painting has been cultivated very successfully, but it seldom meets with any special patronage from the highest quarters, though sculpture has fared better, on account of its monumental character.
As for poetry, it is a curious, and indeed an almost anomalous fact, that England, whose people are fond of substantialities and realities, and are, apparently, not at all disposed to idealisms, has produced more really fine poets than all the rest of the world put together; and though living poets, with two or three exceptions, are little read at the present time, there are, even now, more real poets in England than all other countries combined can produce.
In music, there is little to be said for us, as composers; but some fine singers, and instrumentalists, we certainly have possessed. Of all native arts, however, those which at present must be pronounced as receiving the greatest amount of attention and encouragement, are the industrial arts; and, with respect to science, all those sciences which can be applied to the immediate efforts, designs, and necessities of the present day. Among these latter, the most prominent are evidently those of engineering and chemistry.
For the study of military engineering, there exist first-rate institutions; but for civil engineering, there is, we believe, only one college or public institution. Chemistry is taught in a great number of public and private institutes, but merely as a branch of knowledge included in a course of general studies. We have, however, only a very few good laboratories, where studies and experiments in chemistry are practically conducted.
Of the extraordinary and highly valuable services rendered to chemistry in Germany, by the indefatigable labours of Müller, Liebig, and others;—as in Stockholm, by Berzelius; in France, by Orfila, Lavoisier, &c. &c.—we need not offer any comment, as they deservedly possess a European fame. And in our own country, since the time of Davy and Priestley, down to our present most eminent chemists—Faraday, Graham, Kane, Ure, Brande, Cooper, &c.—we have not been far behind our friends on the Continent. But eminent, as are our men, so few have been our regular chemical schools, and special means of communicating instruction in this department of science, that our manufacturers in various branches of the useful arts have been beaten, and are beaten, to this day, in many of the most important of these branches, by the French, German, and Belgian manufacturers, as the Great Exhibition of 1851 will, in all probability, most fully demonstrate.
In the sciences of chemistry and engineering, however, we are rich in great names, and in other names of well-deserved eminence. With respect to chemistry, if we except Faraday and Graham, our own country may be somewhat outshone by the extraordinary labours and discoveries of Liebig and Orfila; nevertheless, as we have already shown, we possess many professors of first-rate excellence; and although the metropolis may lay claim to by far the greater number, we must not forget our provincial celebrities, whose energetic efforts have done much to promote the study. Foremost among these we should mention Mr. Herapath of Bristol, Dr. Musprat of Liverpool, and Mr. Daniel Stone of Manchester. In the engineering sciences, we are fully entitled to take the highest place among all nations; and though we are well aware of the great things done in Germany and France, and (in steam science) in America, we may still assert with safety, that the great works of a Brunel, a Babbage, and a Stephenson (we are only mentioning the living) justly place England at the head of all those, of whatever country, who have contributed to the engineering works of this most engineering age.
To sum up the gist of this concise, but comprehensive view, of the top favourites of the present time—for though there is "A time for all things," the world never takes to them all at once, but in succession—we should say that Periodical Literature, Foreign Music, and the sciences of Chemistry and Engineering, were the chief objects of practical study, and extensive patronage by the public at large, in our own country.
Having placed our great civil engineers at the head of all others, in this most extensively employed department of science, a few words should be added concerning the most important works, which the combined powers of the country have been long called upon, both by the people and by parliament, to perform. Need we say that we allude to the Sanitary regulations, affecting the interment of the dead, the removal of fever-breeding nuisances from crowded thoroughfares of the metropolis, the provision of a constant supply of pure water for every house, and a new and efficient system of drainage for London, and its environs.
Why have none of these things been done? A Tunnel under the Thames is called for—and it is accomplished. A stupendous iron Tubular Bridge is called for—and it is accomplished. An enormous Exhibition Palace for the Industry of all Nations is called for—and it is accomplished. But there, lie our over-crowded burial-grounds, generating a poisonous atmosphere in the thick of the living and loathing people! There, runs the polluted Thames, of which we are compelled to drink! There, stands Smithfield and other nuisances! And there, sit the Corporation of London, and the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers! Why are none of these evils removed? Why do these great and universally-demanded national works stick fast in the mud of obstinacy and imbecility, and leave us all in the "Slough of Despond." We will answer why, in few words. Dr. Southwood Smith may work early and late, and devise, and exhort; Mr. Chadwick may issue report upon report; the best science may be employed; the best surveys, and the clearest statements, made and proved: the Press may denounce the Board of Health; the country may shout and wonder; Lord Ashley may uplift his hands and smite his forehead;—but so long as men so incapable of all great action as the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers (whose deepest anxiety, for a long time past, has been to escape out of office by a quiet back door, without even attempting to commence, or even lay down definitely, any really comprehensive system of drainage) are allowed to twaddle away so much money and time; so long as any nobleman, or gentleman, holds an authority for running wild in "woods and forests" to qualify himself for controlling the Board of Health, precisely because it is known that he will do nothing efficient himself, nor permit anybody else under his authority; so long as the Treasury is allowed to adopt every subterfuge for delay and evasion; and finally, so long as the people of England will endure all this, no one of these most desirable and universally demanded works will ever be accomplished. There is a time for all things; the time for these has absolutely come; but
if the country has not strength and perseverance to insist upon them, we shall never obtain them, nor shall we really deserve them.