Doubtless, however, notwithstanding the wide range of phenomena now shown by science to be subject to the action of invariable law, there are a considerable number of social and moral facts, the causes of which cannot be proved to be within that category, and there are many able and estimable minds which not only deny that they are, but cannot conceive that they ever will be proved to be so regulated. Hence it is disputed whether Comte has really done more, with respect to such social and moral phenomena, than point out, by means of analogy (the spirit of induction) and hypothesis (that primary resource of genius), and a review of history from the inductive stand-point, that is, as a chain of causes and effects, that the balance of probability is in favour of his extended views. As, however, it is the faith of the inductive philosopher, that in the moral world, as in the physical, there can be nothing anomalous, nothing unnatural, nothing mysterious, but that all is order, symmetry, and law; he looks forward with confidence to the time when the most irregular and apparently inexplicable occurrences will be explained, brought within the scope of scientific treatment, and under the domain of law. Even now, no one competent to the task could conceive the compilation of a complete code of morals1 that should ignore physiology, an inductive science; or contend that vice and virtue have no connection with health, health being a subject confessedly dependent on the observance of natural law; the theological theory of disease becoming gradually stamped out by statistics, the grand inductive weapon of sanitary science.

1 Note G, p. 61.

6

I am reluctant to close my observations on the Inductive Philosophy without presenting to your notice some concrete example of it, and I will therefore mention one that the late historian Hallam1 was accustomed to consider as comprising an almost perfect instance of the Inductive Method, viz., the Essay on the Principle of Population,' by Malthus; 2 whose arguments were pronounced by Archbishop Whately to be as unanswerable as the Elements of Euclid. Malthus, by means of investigations into the condition of every known inhabited country, established inductively two propositions. One, that the natural law of animal increase applied to and regulated the production of human beings. The other, that there is everywhere a tendency in population to exceed the limits of subsistence; whence he drew this indisputable deduction: That unless people, by prudence, forethought, and selfrestraint, deferred entering upon the marriage state until they had before them the prospect of maintaining a family, more children must inevitably be born than the condition of the country could support. Oppressed as he felt by the appalling fact, which still oppresses

1 Hallam's Literature of Europe, part 3, chap. iii. sec. 2.—' On the Philosophy of Lord Bacon,' 4th ed., Murray, 1854.

2 An Essay on the Principle of Population; or, a View of its Past and Present Effects on Human Happiness, &c., by the Rev. T. R. Malthus, A.M., F.R.S., &c. 6th edition. Murray, 1826.

Dr. Paley's Works, a Lecture by Richard Whately, D.D., Archbishop of Dublin. Parker and Son, 1859. 'And even now persons may be found among what are called "the educated classes," who decry that eminent and most valuable writer (Malthus). They do not indeed disprove his facts, or answer his arguments. In truth, one might as well talk of answering Euclid.'-Note H, p. 62.

D

Doubtless, however, notwithstanding the wide of phenomena now shown by science to be st to the action of invariable law, there are a consider number of social and moral facts, the causes of w cannot be proved to be within that category, and i are many able and estimable minds which not deny that they are, but cannot conceive that they will be proved to be so regulated. Hence it is puted whether Comte has really done more, respect to such social and moral phenomena, i point out, by means of analogy (the spirit of induc and hypothesis (that primary resource of genius), a review of history from the inductive stand-po that is, as a chain of causes and effects, that the bala of probability is in favour of his extended views. however, it is the faith of the inductive philosop! that in the moral world, as in the physical, there be nothing anomalous, nothing unnatural, noth mysterious, but that all is order, symmetry, and lahe looks forward with confidence to the time wh the most irregular and apparently inexplicable occa rences will be explained, brought within the scope scientific treatment, and under the domain of la Even now, no one competent to the task could co ceive the compilation of a complete code of mora that should ignore physiology, an inductive science; contend that vice and virtue have no connection wi health, health being a subject confessedly dependent c the observance of natural law; the theological theor of disease becoming gradually stamped out by statistics the grand inductive weapon of sanitary science.

1 Note G, p. 61.

conscientious care to clothe rest language has impressed ance of painstaking precision, the power of reflecting any delity of the philosopher and We miss also from Comte's y of wit, luxuriance of fancy, tion, with which the genius n adorning the rugged ascent nd which are to the striving g profusion of many-coloured ly greet the gaze and refresh he climbs the Alpine heights. special mathematical training, is respect more accomplished w and expressly asserted that

us; that of the children that are brought into existence

1

not one half ever live to arrive at manhood; 1 well might the benevolent Malthus exclaim, 'I am not an enemy to population; I am an enemy to vice and misery; and the reason why I desire that no more children should be born than the condition of the country can support is this, that of those that are born the greatest possible number may live.' 2

In concluding our review of the Inductive Philosophy, as we find it expounded in the works of Lord Bacon and Comte, the mind is naturally inclined to contemplate some parallel between such remarkable men, who seem to have been gifted with considerable similarity of genius, however much the striking diversity of their styles prevent this being obvious.

The student of Lord Bacon has ever found himself fascinated by the stately eloquence of his style. It is indeed distinguished by such a weight of words, and depth of thought, so combined with dignity and gravity, a splendour of imagery, and an authority of expression, as to make it, so to say, the very majesty of speech. This is indeed in striking contrast with

Thirty per cent. at least die under ten years of age !'-Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, edited by M'Culloch, 1846, note 4, on Population; and the authorities there cited. On the physical causes of premature deaths, see Dr. Southwood Smith's Philosophy of Health, chap. iii., and Edwin Chadwick's Reports, cited in Combe's Science and Religion.'-Note I.

'The wholesale slaughter of children in our civilised country is truly appalling. Out of 233,515 deaths at all ages, 94,804, or 40.60 per cent., were those of children under five years of age.'-Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's Religion of Health, 1871.

2 Malthus, book iv. chap. xiii.; and App. vol. ii. p. 444.