BY THE ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION. 797 



tures. I have always looked upon the Royal Institution as 

 a model establishment, doing honor to England, and pro- 

 ducing an immense effect upon the world. More light has 

 issued from that establishment in proportion to its means, 

 than perhaps from any other on the face of the earth. It 

 has had a series of great men connected with it, as Young, 

 Davy, and Faraday, and it is still going on in the same 

 direction. Then such an Institution as I could desire should 

 not, to any great extent, be devoted to things of a practical 

 character. Abstract science, above all, requires fostering 

 and support. 



1552. I understand you to say that you would greatly 

 distinguish between an institution whose primary object 

 should be experimental research and whose secondary ob- 

 ject should be teaching, and an institution whose object 

 should be teaching, combined with technical instruction 

 in any art or industry ? — Yes, I think that the first is prob- 

 ably of far more importance than the second. By means 

 of the second you will supply the world with engineers and 

 persons well adapted to apply science to useful purposes 

 and the arts, but among the multitude we occasionally meet 

 with a man who has the peculiar mental capacity and en- 

 dowment necessary for the advancement of original science, 

 and he, in my opinion, should be consecrated to research. 

 The discovery by him of a single principle, such as some 

 of those by Faraday, may become the parent of a hundred 

 inventions. 



1553. A question has been already put to you by Profes- 

 sor Huxley as to the means which you could suggest to be 

 adopted to prevent the professors of such an institution for 

 combined research and instruction falling to sleep and be- 

 coming inactive ; have you any suggestions to offer ? — None, 

 except the formation of a proper public opinion in regard to 

 that matter, and it being definitely understood when the 

 election was made, that if the professor does not fulfil his 

 duty, if he goes to sleep and neglects the advancement of 

 science, he must resign his position. Of course he may be- 

 come incapacitated by disease or age, and if he has done 

 good service he should then be provided for by the State. 



1554. (Dr. Sharpey.) Are you aware that in German uni- 

 versities they appoint extra professors, and they also give 

 permission to teach to what are called privat-docenten, who 

 may give instruction upon the very same subjects for which 

 the ordinary professor is appointed to teach, so that in that 

 way he may be stimulated to exertion', or defects may be 



