xlviii REPORT — 1855. 



Your Committee recommend that Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P. for 

 Whitby, who is well known as a distinguished Civil Engineer, be appointed 

 to fill the vacancy in their body caused by the death of the late Mr. Vivian. 

 August, 1855. Wrottesley, Chairman. 



Report presented by the Parliamentary Committee to the British Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science at Glasgow, on the question, 

 Whether any measures could be adopted by the Government or 

 Parliament that would improve the position of Science or its Culti~ 

 valors in this Country. 



It will be remembered, that we expressed our intention of presenting a 

 Report on the answers which we had received to the above question from 

 several eminent men of science. 



Tiie whole of the subjects discussed in the valuable replies which we have 

 received, or which have occurred to ourselves as material to the issue, may 

 be considered under the three following heads : — 



1st. How can the knowledge of scientific truths be most conveniently and 

 effectually extended ? 



2nd. What inducements should be held out to students to acquire that 

 knowledge ; and, after the period of pupilage has expired, to extend it, and 

 turn it to useful account ? 



3rd. What arrangements can be made to give to the whole body of com- 

 petent men of science a due influence over the determination of practical 

 questions, dependent for their correct solution on an accurate knowledge of 

 scientific principles ? 



The proper determination of these three questions appears to us of vital 

 importance to the welfare of the State. 



On the first question, Hoto is the knoioledge of science to be extended? it 

 will hardly be expected that we shotdd enter into details; but it is so inti- 

 mately connected with the second, that a few words on the subject will not 

 be out of place. 



For the purposes of this inquiry, the community may be divided into 

 those who resort to the Universities for education, and those who do not. 

 As to the former, we know of no step that would be more efi'ectual than that 

 vvliich we have already recommended in our Report of last year, viz. that a 

 certain amount of knowledge of physical science sliould be required from 

 every candidate for a degree. Tiie expediency of this course is strongly 

 urged by Professor Phillips and Mr. Grove in answer to our query, and also 

 by distinguished witnesses wiio gave evidence to the University Commis- 

 sioners. Your President, in his late address at Liverpool, has stated it as an 

 undeniable proposition, " that those who administer the affairs of the country 

 ought at least to know enough of science to appreciate its value, and to be 

 acquainted with its wants and bearings on the interests of society." 



Air. Grove observes, " that it is melancholy to see the number of Oxford 

 graduates who do not know the elementary principles of a telescope, a 

 barometer, or a steam-engine. The contempt of anything manual or me- 

 chanical, which Bacon so strongly reproved, still prevails to a large extent 

 among the upper classes." 



