398 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
possible, for such men to withdraw themselves from 
the duties of their calling, for the purpose of in- 
vestigating complicated questions of science, and 
after studying and experimenting, report upon 
scientific measures affecting the public welfare? 
They may have a strong inclination so to do; but 
they want the time; and time, in a commercial 
country, is often among the most valuable of posses- 
sions. Its value should, therefore, be paid for, if it» 
subjects its possessor to loss; just as we should 
deem it unjust not to pay for any other marketable 
commodity. If abstract science would procure meat 
and drink to its possessor, if it would open a path to 
the esteem or the patronage of ministers, or, finally, 
if it was prosecuted by those who already have 
wealth and leisure, the case would be different ; but, 
under present circumstances, we do not see in what 
manner the nation can procure scientific advisers 
unless by paying for them. 
(273.) The next improvement, which can only 
originate in the government, is of far less moment 
than those just dwelt upon; yet it is not unworthy 
of our present attention, inasmuch as it relates 
almost exclusively to natural history. We allude 
to the removal of those taxes upon zoological pub- 
lications now in force, and the substitution of such 
measures as would encourage their publication. In 
ordinary cases our copyright laws are not only un- 
exceptionable, but liberal. They secure to an author 
the sole right of publishing his works for twenty- 
eight years certain, upon the presentation of eleven 
copies to the public libraries of the kingdom. It 
has been observed that this tax, ‘“ which is scarcely 
a ~ ie 
