APPROPRIATE OFFICES FOR SCIENTIFIC MEN. 391 
(268.) It were needless, after this, to enforce, by 
other instances, the benefits which would follow the 
appointment of scientific men to situations under 
the government, wherein their acquirements might 
be of service to the state, and their opinions taken 
upon all such questions as came within their respective 
provinces of science or of art. Nor are the pursuits 
of the naturalist altogether devoid of public utility. 
On questions regarding the fisheries, the capabilities 
of our colonies in supplying new articles of commerce 
from their natural productions, and many others 
touched upon in another part of this volume, our 
legislators need not be ashamed of seeking advice, 
or at least information, on matters upon which it 
cannot be expected they should be competent 
judges. 
(269.) But it is not only in the home depart- 
ments that Great Britain possesses ample and ap- 
propriate means of making honourable provision for 
men of knowledge, while she receives in return the 
benefit of their services. Her extensive range of 
colonies, with their numerous establishments, and 
her consulships—spread over every part of the 
world— afford situations peculiarly well adapted for 
those enterprising spirits who ardently desire to 
study nature in other climes, and under other as- 
pects, than those at home. Whatever may be 
said to the contrary, we know, from personal ex- 
perience, that the duties of colonial governments, 
however necessary, are generally very light, ad- 
mitting of much leisure, which an active and power- 
ful mind would turn to good account. Our consul- 
ships, with few exceptions, more especially, are of 
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