Iviii REPORT — -1855- 



large outlays upon that establishment and matters connected with astronomy ; 

 and we believe there is no instance on record of tlie measures recommended 

 being rejected, or even postponed, whatever might be the condition of public 

 affairs, or whatever party might be in power. We believe that this is to be 

 accounted for, in a great measure, by supposing that tlie Board of Visitors 

 and the Astronomer Royal possess more of the confidence of Government 

 than the governing bodies of societies can hope to acquire. This is probably 

 owing to the permanent nature of this Board, the mode in which its members 

 are appointed, and the kind of quasi connexion with the Government which 

 its particular constitution involves. Again, the late Board of Longitude, 

 and the similar institution in France, afford in like manner illustrations of 

 the superior means possessed by public bodies so constituted of inspiring 

 the ruling powers with confidence in their recommendations, and so causing 

 their opinions to be respected and adopted. 



These considerations suggested the question, Whether some Board could 

 not be organized, somewhat after the model of these Boards, but with 

 improvements, which should distribute Government grants, perform for 

 the whole domain of Science the i'unctions which two of the above-men- 

 tioned Boards still discharge for Navigation and Astroiiomy, and more- 

 over act as a referee and arbitrator in matters connected with science 

 brought under its cognizance by Government? At present, in Science, as in 

 Art, Government has no responsible adviser, and the acceptance or rejection 

 of any proposal of a scientific character, or of one for the proper deter- 

 mination of which some knowledge of science is required, depends upon 

 the fiat of those who preside over the several public departments by virtue of 

 qualifications, high it may l)e for the general purposes of the State, but 

 wholly inadequate to the proper solution of the particular questions at issue. 



If such a Board as is above proposed could be constituted, which should 

 acquire and deserve to possess the confidence of the Government and Par- 

 liament, it would be clearly for the interests of the naticm and of science 

 that it should exercise the above functions. What kind of constitution, 

 then, must be given to the new Board, in order that it may fulfil the above 

 requirements ? 



We will begin with setting out the opinions of those who have done us the 

 honour to favour us with suggestions, premising that the late Professor Forbes, 

 Colonel Sabine, Admiral Smyth, Sir Philip Egerton, and the Astronomer 

 Royal have all expressetl themselves in favour of the establishment of a new 

 Board of Science, though, as might be expected, there is some difference of 

 opinion as to its functions and the mode in which it ought to be constituted. 



Professor Forbes, who appears to have reflected much and well on the 

 questions raised in this Report *, says, " I do not think anything like an Insti- 

 tute desirable . . . but I think that some Board, having at once authority 

 and knowledge, should be constituted for the regulation and disposition of 

 Government grants for scientific purposes, such as the assistance and 

 endowment of scientific expeditions, the publication of their results, &c. ; 

 matters at present disposed of by capricious, often extravagant, oftener par- 

 simonious, and sometimes pernicious methods. An approximation towards a 

 right course is already made in the case of the disposal of the £1000 grant 

 for assisting scientific researches. Now I would work all Government grants 

 for such purposes as the above mentioned, by a modification of that scheme, 

 viz. through an unsalaried committee, constituted much as the Kecommenda- 

 tion Committee is at present, combined with an endowed staff, consisting of a 



* It is a great source of regret to us, that he was not spared to give us further advice and 

 assistance in the adTocacy and carrying out of reforms which he had so much at heart. 



