that the improved produce if left alone should in time revert to its old state of comparative coarseness -degenerate as we say !

It is needless to give examples of this latter principle, which whether we refer to vegetables of the most ordinary description, or to fruits, or to many and various other things is one of regular, we were going to say, daily occurrence-Nature seems determined to permit only of a certain amount of tampering with her laws, and says to the ingenuity of man, "thus far shall't thou go and no

further."

Yet no one will deny that this gradual refinement of cultivation is an advancement and an improvement in the particular subject treated, and so far therefore is an undoubted evidence of progress.

The discovery of botanical science is another phase of the beneficent appointments of Providence-the wonderful results of experiments in materia medica producing as they have done the means of treating the most difficult diseases with which our humanity and the lower animals are daily affiicted.

The world-wide cures, whether by the Indian in a state of nature or the polished professor of medical science, are for the most part effected by the use of herbal growths and preparations derived therefrom, the result either of natural instinct or watchful testings and deductions ranking under the term "progress."

There is indeed nothing which has ever been invented or made use of in any, even the smallest

degree, that is not either compounded of earth itself or not closely or remotely connected, or in someway produced from it—and so far as human knowledge or foresight is able to form an opinion there never will be!

Perhaps these are bold assertions-yet can we name any case in controversion of them!

The fabric of a balloon, the very gas that inflates it, and causes it to ascend and entirely separate itself from earth is the product of that earth! The astronomer in his observatory discovers 'new' planets, 'new' comets, but he does so by means of telescopic and other optical instruments themselves made from the products of the earth!

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The electric light per se even without accompanying appliances, is produced from substances provided by the earth!

Such questions however may at once be solved when we recollect that in all inventions, man himself the dust of the earth is the discoverer and the medium!

We have mainly had in view the superstratum of the earth only, but however wonderful and multitudinous the gifts on nature's surface, how incomplete would they all be did we not also possess those beneath it. Whether we consider her vast seams of coal and iron, and the mode of winning them, the other various kinds of rich minerals, the oil mines of America, or other the numerous products of the earth's bowels, we ask what next!

Truly the discoveries of man developed through the past ages are so great and exhaustive, that one is inclined almost to say there is not much more room for the exercise of his inventive genius before his progress shall utterly come to an end!

What we call the great inventions certainly have the semblance of completeness, and when we turn our attention to those of the printing press, or steam, and the immeasurably useful purposes to which it is applied, or the electric telegraph, we are at a loss to conceive what great fact can yet be hidden from our view-nevertheless there can be no doubt but that some of the earlier discoveries simple and trivial as we may now regard them, were at the time looked upon as marvellous and wonderful-indeed savouring of the sorcerous, and although perhaps their inventors were unceremoniously treated and deprived of the prizes that should have rewarded their genius and labours, large profits as well as great strides were made by reason of those discoveries.

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We have said we cannot bring our mind to the supposition that many great discoveries are still unfolded, yet how dare we say so when we see in the London papers such announcements for instance, as the following:

"A POWERFUL TELESCOPE.-The Globe understands that Sir Henry Bessemer, has almost completed the construction at his house at Denmark Hill, of a telescope at which he has been working for two years.

The instrument will be of such power that Sir Henry expects to be able by means of it, to read newspapers placed against the side of the Crystal Palace, three miles and a half distant."

Such a notification needs no comment from us further than if the eminent scientist carry out his expectation, we may truly say wonders will never

cease.

Another great development of mental exercise and tests in the wide fields of science, is that relating to electricity, a subject to which we have directed our very casual attention so far as it relates to telegraphic powers, and it would seem that like the great and startling inventions of the past, this is destined to become in the future not only one of the most interesting and wonderful subjects, but also one of the most useful.

What should we say if by an application of its means we were not only awakened in the morning, but washed, shaved, dressed and deposited in our accustomed chair at the breakfast table?

Yet such were the disclosures of Professor Perry, on a recent occasion, that even amongst strong-minded females, absolute alarm was felt at the completeness of the possible strides of this branch of knowledge.

Telegraphs, telephones, phonographs, electric pens, and the like he said, are the mere beginnings of the science.

As for lighting purposes, coal gas we are told is positively doomed!-but we must not say this to gas company shareholders, nor yet to bituminous colliers-and by and bye we shall not only have our houses lighted and heated, but our machinery and locomotives driven by the agency of electricity.

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The professor is confident of the future-we shall have wires laid along our streets, with branches into every house-the quantity of electricity to be registered as gas now is the electric current directed in such a form as to move machinery, produce ventilation, and render stoves and fires unnecessary. It is to work apple parers apple parers and mangles, and "barbers' brushes," as well as give to all an electric light!

The general construction and working of electric railways also, as shewn by Dr. Siemens, is only a work of time for the sacrifice of existing plant is but the chief drawback, locomotives being rendered unnecessary!

The conclusion of the learned Professor's Lecture which was delivered before the Society of Arts went to shew amongst numerous useful results, that it would be possible by means of electricity, for a person in London, not simply to hear but to see an occurrence going on in a distant town! Does not all this make one's mouth water, or at least our hair stand on end? What are we to say to it?

If as we are told Sir Walter Scott laughed at the idea of coal gas, and Dr. Chalmers, on account of his belief in it was put down by his own countrymen as "off his head," surely, after our experience of the wonderful uses to which coal gas has been since applied, we may not deride or become sceptical as to the fulfilment of those prognostications which the results of carefully worked out experiment may enable a man of science in our own day to make!