ration
of a power altogether beyond my grasp--an energy the thought of which
raised the temperature of the mind, though it refused to accept shape,
personal or otherwise, from the intellect. Perhaps the able critics
of the 'Saturday Review' are justified in speaking as they sometimes
do of Mr. Carlyle. They owe him nothing, and have a right to announce
the fact in their own way. I, however, owe him a great deal, and am
also in honour bound to acknowledge the debt. Few, perhaps, who are
privileged to come into contact with that illustrious man have shown
him a sturdier front than I have, or in discussing modern science have
more frequently withstood him. But I could see that his contention at
bottom always was that the human soul has claims and yearnings which
physical science cannot satisfy. England to come will assuredly thank
him for his affirmation of the ethical and ideal side of human nature.
Be this as it may, at the period now reached in my story the feeling
referred to was indefinitely strengthened, my whole life being at the
same time rendered more earnest, resolute, and laborious by the
writings of Carlyle. Others also ministered to this result. Emerson
kindled me, while Fichte powerfully stirred my moral pulse. [Footnote:
The reader will find in the Seventeenth Lecture of Fichte's course on
the 'Characteristics of the Present Age' a sample of the vital power
of this philosopher.] In this relation I cared little for political
theories or philosophic systems, but a great deal for the propagated
life and strength of pure and powerful minds. In my later
school-days, under a clever teacher, some knowledge of mathematics and
physics had been picked up: my stock of both was, however, scanty, and
I resolved to augment it. But it was really with the view of learning
whether mathematics and physics could help me in other spheres, rather
than with the desire of acquiring distinction in either science, that
I ventured, in 1848, to break the continuity of my life, and devote
the meagre funds then at my disposal to the study of science in
Germany.

But science soon fascinated me on its own account. To carry it duly
and honestly out, moral qualities were incessantly invoked. There was
no room allowed for insincerity--no room even for carelessness. The
edifice of science had been raised by men who had unswervingly
followed the truth as it is in nature; and in doing so had often
sacrificed interests which are u