4:34: STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
not, nor is it important to know, what were the rea- 
sons for this additional tax being laid upon scientific 
aspirants. It may have had its advantages, but the 
evils it has produced have far outweighed them. It 
is well known how very few of our philosophic en- 
quirers are men of such independence as to render 
the payment of so large a sum otherwise than in- 
convenient, if not impossible. While those who 
have already built up a reputation for themselves, 
unaided by scientific titles, can derive no additional 
honour from being a fellow of this or that society ; 
and, therefore, even if their circumstances are easy, 
they never think of expending 40/. or 50/. for such 
an unprofitable purpose. Now, what is the con- 
sequence of this feeling? Several of the highest 
characters in the science of Britain do not belong 
to the Royal Society ; and this for two reasons: first, 
because the payment of such high fees is incon- 
venient ; and, secondly, because scientific excellency 
is not an indispensable requisite for admission. On 
the other hand, the aristocracy of wealth, who, in 
this country, measure the value of every thing by 
what it costs, readily pay their 50/.; and imagine, 
that to associate with philosophers is to imbibe 
a portion of their reputation. We firmly believe 
that this is one among the many causes that have 
operated of late years to the disadvantage of the 
society, whose ranks, formerly recruited from the 
republic of science, are now chiefly filled up by the 
aristocracy of wealth. That it has increased its re- 
spectability of station, according to the vulgar idea, 
derived from wealth, there can be no doubt; but it 
has certainly diminished its reputation for science, 
