Annihilated by any one of the elements if singly opposed to its power, he by his genius yet brings their united forces into bondage, and compels obedience from all their manifold combined strength. We penetrate the earth, we turn the course of rivers, we exalt the valleys and bow down the mountains; and we die and return to our dust, and they remain and remember us no more. Often enough, indeed, the names of the great inventors and projectors have been overshadowed or effaced by mere finishers of their work or adaptors of their idea, who have reaped the honor and emolument due to an obscure
...more
