Page:Hector Macpherson - Herschel (1919).djvu/78

72 his earnings on a copy of Locke's "Essay on the Human Understanding". His early contributions to the Bath Literary Society included a number of philosophical papers. One of these dealt with the "utility of speculative inquiries". In this there occurs the following passage, which gives us some idea of the catholicity of his mind and also an insight into the secret of his success as a man of science: "It was said that speculation and metaphysics were of little use to mankind. This I deny. The perfection of our nature is evidently to be looked for in the superior powers of reason and speculation. What would all experiments avail if we should stop there and not argue upon them so as to draw general conclusions? And how can we argue and draw conclusions if the superior intellectual powers are not improved by frequent exercise in speculative researches? Half a dozen experiments made with judgment by a person who reasons well are worth a thousand random observations of insignificant matters of fact. But setting aside the very obvious consequences of improved faculties, the subjects of mere speculative knowledge are of the highest concern to those who love wisdom. By metaphysics we are enabled to prove the existence of a First Cause, the Infinite Author of all dependent beings. By mathematics we come to have a just idea of the superlative perfection of His works. By logic we can prove them to others. By ethics we are made sensible of our duty towards the Author of our existence and to our fellow-creatures."

This full-orbed conception of the world seems to have saved Herschel from falling under the influence of the spirit of scepticism then prevalent among men of science. In his mind—keen and logical as it was—there seems to have been no conflict between the scientific and religious instincts. In a letter to a correspondent, dated 1st January, 1794, he said, quite simply and without affectation: "It is certainly a very laudable thing to receive instruction from the great Workmaster of Nature,