366 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



in science should alone be excluded from those 

 honours of the state which are liberally bestowed 

 upon " the mere possessors of animal courage," or 

 the enj overs of mere wealth ? Surely there must 

 be something in all this, quite inconsistent with the 

 national character for liberality and right feeling. 

 Men of the highest talent, pursuing different studies, 

 and therefore viewing the same question from dif- 

 ferent bearings, belonging to no political party, 

 upbraiding no particular ministry, and having no 

 selfish interests to warp their judgments, — such 

 men, we may safely conclude, would not simultane- 

 ously raise their voices, and proclaim their own dis- 

 honoured state, without urgent cause. Let us at 

 least be candid, and fairly admit there must be 

 something which calls for amendment ; and under 

 this spirit, those who possess the power will be better 

 qualified to consider, in coolness of judgment, what 

 measures are best calculated to restore the science 

 of Britain to a healthy state. 



