Scientific Reviervs. 119 



new doctrines into the eyes of the populace^ till they blindly ele- 

 vate him on their subservient shoulders, and proclaim him to be a 

 true prophet who is come amongst them, he speedily resigns him- 

 self to an easy indifference as to the progress of knowledge around 

 him, and sleeps in his cushioned chair. But other minds are not 

 stagnant ; the march of science advances with a quick though silent 

 tread ; the universal activity soon becomes an object of importance, 

 and at length a novel and unexpected sound effectually rouses the 

 sleeper. Then the coterie is brought into play, as an engine of 

 power and self-preservation, and that which before shed a certain 

 magnificence about the sinecurist, becomes to him a seat of thorns. 



In France we find the most opposite extreme from what we ob- 

 served in Germany. There every thing is centred in the metro- 

 polis. Paris has all, — the provinces nothing. The student has to 

 run a hundred leagues to find even the rudiment of a library or 

 museum ; and he must go double the distance to meet with a man 

 capable of conversing on a scientific subject. From all parts of 

 France the young savans hasten to Paris, — there they must in- 

 trigue, — there they must gain, — ^there tliey must profess, — there 

 they must publish. The coteries there are found within the same 

 walls, and at the same banquets ; and consequently if one become 

 more powerful than the rest, it imposes silence on all : the others 

 murmur, but they dare not raise a complaint. The subaltern cote- 

 ries soon join themselves to the principal, and seeing that the har- 

 vest is monopolized, they are glad to glean : places, favours, prizes, 

 the eulogiums of scientific journals, all fall under the disposition of 

 the privileged coterie ; and woe to the refractory, for their talents 

 ■will only hasten their fall ! 



Such a coterie, we are told, has for some years existed in Paris, 

 beseiging the doors of the Academy of Sciences ; and, thanks to its 

 alliances, it enjoys exceeding favour in certain corners of the hall. 

 No one esteems it, every one fears it ; but like those serpents which 

 fascinate, it draws around it even those who hold it in abhorrence. 

 " Mark that man of talent," observes an eloquent \vriter, "who stands 

 near one of these coryphaei, — humble, subdued, — forming his man- 

 ners after those of the man whom he nevertheless hates. He listens 

 gravely to the most palpable absurdities, — to assertions in which he 

 sees the most extreme puerility : he does not even dare to defend 

 his calumniated friend : he is ill at ease, but is obliged to smile: 

 he finds it necessary to become himself, and the intriguer turns his 

 back : then he sighs and finds himself relieved. This scene afl^icts 

 the soul with grief ; at this moment one would desire to know no- 

 thing of a man of genius but his writings." 



From this academical coterie emanated the insidious means which 

 were employed, as above related, to put down the independent 

 journal of MM. Saigey and Raspail, — ^a publication which does ho- 

 nour to continental science. Showing favour to no individuals, and 

 impartially weighing all doctrines, as far as human frailty will per- 

 mit, it was eminently calculated to disturb the repose of those who 



