REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. Ivu 



Nor is increase of salary all that is required: care should also be taken 

 not to subject men of first-rate eminence in science to the harassing and 

 vexatious interference of men of inferior calibre, uninterested in their pur- 

 suits, and unable to appreciate their devotion. 



Mr. Ball remarks, "that it is not reasonable to expect that scientific offices 

 in themselves very desirable, and arrived at by a career in itself interesting 

 and attractive, should be rewarded by salaries equal to those which remu- 

 nerate the devotion of time and industry to pursuits comparatively arid and 



distasteful but there are a good many offices filled by men of high 



scientific attainments, which are quite below the level which at the general 

 standard of living befits the position of a gentleman." 



It is also worthy of remark, that not only ought the present scientific 

 offices to be placed on a more eligible footing in respect of remuneration, 

 but that there is need for the institution of others answering to that descrip- 

 tion, which do not now exist. 



It would be unfair, however, not to remark, while discussing these 

 matters, that the Government has already taken very important steps in 

 the right direction, and has supplied very pressing wants by the establish- 

 ment of the Department of Practical Geology, and of the Marine Depart- 

 ment of the Board of Trade, and its office for the discussion of nautical 

 and meteorological data. Much yet remains to be done ; but these and 

 other acts, having a like tendency, such in particular as the £1000 grant to 

 the Royal Society before referred to, are an earnest that a disposition is not 

 wanting " to lend Science a helping hand." 



We observed with pleasure that, in regulating the studies of candidates 

 for employment in India, Physical Science was not forgotten by the eminent 

 men whose signatures are appended to the Report thereon. 



It appears to us that the question of the propriety of instituting public 

 examinations, by which the degree of proficiency in knowledge of all candi- 

 dates for public employment might be tested, is one of great interest, and 

 that its right determination must exercise an important influence on the 

 progress of education in any country. 



Finally, under both the above general heads may be classed all measures 

 for facilitating the circulation of scientific publications both at home and 

 abroad — an object the importance of which it is difScult to over-estimate. 



3rdly. How are the proficients in science to make their opinions known and 

 cause them to he respected and adopted ? 



We have already stated that late events have shown that a disposi- 

 tion is not wanting in Government to give additional encouragement to 

 Science ; and the only way in which we can account for the I'ejection of some 

 applications for aid, which from time to time have emanated from scientific 

 societies and individuals, and which deserved a better fate, is by supposing that 

 the members of the administration, to whom the applications were made, were 

 either unwilling to prefer a demand for the necessary funds, or had some want 

 of confidence in the judgment of those by whom the requests were preferred. 



Now the period at which the application was made may have been deemed 

 an unseasonable one, as for example when the country is involved in war; 

 Ave should, however, be concerned to see our country placed by any events 

 in the position of being wholly unable to comply with demands of this kind ; 

 but for any want of confidence we think that a remedy might be devised, 

 which would relieve the Government from the performance of difficult and 

 invidious duties, and give satisfaction to the cultivators of science at large. 



We observe that the Board of Visitors of the Greenwich Observatory has, 

 in the proper discharge of its duties, been often compelled to recommend 



