ENDOWMENT FOK SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 627 



research, and arc then a[)poiiited to (toiitinue that work, and in the 

 teaching of students, to transmit to them the zeal of discovery and the 

 true nietliods of advanci'. 



It matters litth' wlietlier tiie sui>j)ort ol' tlie university or of special 

 institutions for research comes from tiie CTOvernmeut or from ))rivate 

 endowment, jjrovided the provision is adeqnate and (constant. The 

 ditticulty with us has been, and still is, that funds are insufficient, the 

 means and ecjuipnuMit inade(|uate, and the time allowed to the pro- 

 fessors for research insufficient. There has been too much of tlie 

 schoolmaster, and too little of the real professor. Too great absorption 

 of the professor's time in the work of instruction is injurious to both 

 teacher and pupil. The most stimulating of teachers is he who by 

 daily experiment is in vital touch with Nature, — he who brings from the 

 fires of the laboratory the warmth, tlie illumination, and the inspiration 

 of his own researches. 



This is now well recognize<l: and so far as their means will i)ermit, 

 the leading colleges are by degrees relieving their professors of the 

 work of elementary instruction, so that they may the better prosecute 

 original researches, and at the sanu' time become l»est qualified for the 

 highest work of instrm-tion. This system will doubtless demand 

 watchfulness and discrimination. To prevent abuses, regulation and 

 responsibility may have to be im])osed. l>ut it involves the appoint- 

 ment of additional instructors. It re(inires added means. And this is 

 in<lispensable as a part of the transition of our leading colleges to the 

 university system. It is indispensable, also, if we are to have in this 

 country any considerable systematic prosecution of original research. 

 We must use existing instrumentalities and existing institutions. And 

 all exi)erience shows that outside of the few (lovernment positions, and 

 in the absence of special institutions for research, the professorial chairs 

 are best adapted to such investigations. No greater service could be 

 <lone to science than to make such endowments as should iiisnre sys- 

 tematic and continuous resean^h by the professors as a part of the new 

 university system. 



Endowments for the same object, and operating in the same line, 

 might also take a difterent form, viz., the endowment of several pro- 

 fessorial fellowships, each, say, of $1,(H)() annual income; to be con- 

 trolled and awarded by some independent scientific body (such as this 

 Alliance might afford) for distinction in active scientific investigations, 

 either within the country or within the State. I know of no more 

 quiclvcning impuls<; to original scientific research than sucli as would 

 be given to it by thos(! means. 



How backward we have been in this country, through the lack of 

 proper endowments, in making use of the best existing opportu- 

 nities for research, may be illustrated by a single instance. Some 

 twenty years ago a school was established at Naples for the i)ros<'cu- 

 tion of marine biological research. Tt is most thoroughly equii)ped, 

 and, being a general resort, is the most advantageous for study in 



