time； England had to show statesmen like Burleigh； Strafford； and
CromwellI mean men who were real statesmen； and not intriguers；
seeking to make a reputation at the expense of the nation。 In the
course of that time； the nation had begun to throw off those swarms of
hardy colonists which； to the benefit of the worldand as I fancy； in
the long run； to the benefit of England herselfhave now become the
United States of America； and； during the same epoch； the first
foundations were laid of that Indian Empire which； it may be； future
generations will not look upon as so happy a product of English
enterprise and ingenuity。 In that time we had poets such as Spenser；
Shakespere； and Milton； we had a great philosopher； in Hobbes； and we
had a clever talker about philosophy； in Bacon。 In the beginning of
the period； Harvey revolutionized the biological sciences； and at the
end of it； Newton was preparing the revolution of the physical sciences。
I know not any period of our historyI doubt if there be any period of
the history of any nationwhich has precisely such a record as this to
show for a hundred years。 But I do not recall these facts to your
recollection for a mere vainglorious purpose。 I myself am of opinion
that the memory of the great men of a nation is one of its most precious
possessionsnot because we have any right to plume ourselves upon
their having existed as a matter of national vanity； but because we
have a just and rational ground of expectation that the race which has
brought forth such products as these may； in good time and under
fortunate circumstances； produce the like again。 I am one of those
people who do not believe in the natural decay of nations。 I believe；
to speak frankly； though perhaps not quite so politely as I could
wishbut I am getting near the end of my lecturethat the whole
theory is a speculation invented by cowards to excuse knaves。 My
belief is； that so far as this old English stock is concerned it has in
it as much sap and vitality and power as it had two centuries ago； and
that； with due pruning of rotten branches； and due hoeing up of weeds；
which will grow about the roots； the like products will be yielded
again。 The 〃weeds〃 to which I refer are mainly three： the first of
them is dishonesty； the second is sentimentality； and the third is
luxury。 If William Harvey had been a dishonest manI mean in the high
sense of the worda man who failed in the ideal of honestyhe would
have believed what it was easiest to believethat which he received on
the authority of his predecessors。 He would not have felt that his
highest duty was to know of his own knowledge that that which he said
he believed was true； and we should never have had those
investigations； pursued through good report and evil report； which ended
in discoveries so fraught with magnificent results for science and for
man。 If Harvey had been a sentimentalistby which I mean a person of
false pity； a person who has not imagination enough to see that great；
distant evils may be much worse than those which we can picture to
ourselves； because they happen to be immediate and near （for that； I
take it； is the essence of sentimentalism）if Harvey had been a person
of that kind； he； being one of the kindest men living； would never have
pursued those researches which； as he tells us over and over again； he
was obliged to pursue in order to the ascertainment of those facts which
have turned out to be of such inestimable value to the human race； and
I say； if on such grounds he had failed to do so； he would have failed
in his duty to the human race。 The third point is that Harvey was
devoid of care either for wealth； or for riches； or for ambition。 The
man found a higher ideal than any of these things in the pursuit of
truth and the benefit of his fellow…men。 If we all go and do likewise；
I think there is no fear for the decadence of England。 I think that our
children and our successors will find themselves in a commonwealth；
different it may be from that for which Eliott； and Pym； and Hampden
struggled； but one which will be identical in the substance of its
aimsgreat； worthy； and well to live in。
End