Scknii^c Reviews. 353 



tion in the Universities, as one of the causes of the decline Of Science; 

 and on tliis subject he remarks,— 



*' It Is in some measure to be attributed to the defects of our system of edu- 

 cation, that scientific knowledge scarcely exists amongst the liigher classes of 

 gociety. The discussions in the Houses of Lords or of Commons, which arise 

 on the occurrence of any subjects connected with science, sufficiently prove this 

 fact, which, if I had consulted the extremely limited nature of my personal ex- 

 peiience, I should, perhaps, have doubted." — P. 8. 



■ He next speaks at greater length of the want of professional im- 

 pulses, as a cause of the retardation of science. 



- 5* The pursuit of science,*' hetemarkj, " does not, in England, constitutes 

 distinct profession, as it does in many oUier countries. It is therefore, on that 

 ground alone, deprived of many of the advantages which attach to professions. 

 One of its greatest misfortunes arises from this circumstance ; for the subjects on 

 which it is conversant are so difficult, and require such unremitted devotion of 

 time, that few who have not spent years in their study can judge of the relative 

 knowledge of those who pursue them. It follows, therefore, that the public, and 

 even that men of sound sense and discernment, can scarcely find means to distin- 

 guish between the possessors of knowledge, in the present day, merely elementa- 

 ry, and those whose acquirements are of the highest order. This remark applies 

 with peculiar force to all the more difficult applications of mathematics ; and the 

 fact is calculated to check the energies of those who only look to reputation in 

 JEngland."_P.IO. 



But this is only one of the several causes which deter men, who 

 are eager for the pursuit of science, from entering upon it with ar< 

 dour and devotion. 



" Let us look," says our author, " at the prospects of a young man at his entrance 

 into life, who, impelled by an almost irresistible desire to devote himself to the ab- 

 struser sciences, or who, confident in the energy of youthful power, feels that the 

 career of science is that in which his mental faculties are most fitted to achieve the 

 reputation for which he pants. What are his prospects ? Can even the glowing pen- 

 cil of enthusiasm add colour to the blank before him ? There are no situations 

 in the state ; there is no position in society to which hope can point, to cheer 

 him in his laborious patli. If, indeed, he belong to one of our universities, there 

 are some few chairs in his own Alma Mater to which he may at some distant 

 day pretend ; but these are not numerous ; and whilst the salaries attached are 

 seldom sufficient for the sole support of the individual, they are very rarely 

 enough for that of a family. What then can he reply to the entreaties of his 

 friends, to betake himself to some business in which perhaps they have power to 

 assist him, or to choose some profession in which his talents may produce for 

 him their fair reward ? If he have no fortune, the choice is taken away : he 

 must give up that line of life in which his habits of thought and his ambition 

 qualify him to succeed eminently, and he mtist choose the bar, or some other 

 profession, in' which, amongst so many competitors, in spite of his great talents, 

 he can be but moderately successful. The loss to him is great, but to the coun. 

 try it is greater. We thus, by a destructive misapplication of talent which our 

 institutions create, exchange a profound philosopher for but a tolerable lawyer. 



If, on the other hand, he possess some moderate fortune of his own ; and, intent 

 on the glory of an immortal name, yet not blindly ignorant of the state of science 

 in this country, he resolve to make for that aspiration a sacrifice the greater, be- 



