NEGLECT OF THE GOVERNMENT. 383 
versities is naturally followed by a similar neglect 
on the part of government. That government being 
carried on, for the most part, by those who, as 
youths, saw how slightly such acquirements were 
held at college, and who now, as men, look upon 
them with the same feelings of indifference. The 
one is the natural consequence of the other. Until 
those to whom the executive government of a nation 
is intrusted, are impressed with a respect, if not a 
_love, for philosophical excellence, and are fully con- 
vinced of the important influence it exercises over 
the welfare of the community — in an infinity of ways, 
—it is obviously hopeless to expect more than a 
partial, if not a merely nominal improvement. Ne- 
vertheless, any encouragement in the present state 
of science, emanating from the government, may be 
regarded as beneficial, although it may fall very 
short of that which is necessary, or which exists 
in other countries. It is encouraging, therefore, to 
observe that, under the administration of Lord 
Goderich, the sum of 1000/. was devoted to the 
expenses of bringing out the zoological discoveries 
of the arctic expedition ; and that another sum, in 
like manner, was appropriated to the publication of 
Captain Beechey’s acquisitions. Yet so slight is the 
estimation in which such publications are viewed 
by the public at large, that, even with these helps, 
the publishers have made no scruple of complaining 
bitterly of the pecuniary loss that has fallen upon 
them; so that unless, on some future occasion, the 
government can be persuaded to contribute more 
largely to the publication of discoveries made at 
the national expense, it may be fairly questioned, 
