NEGLECT OF THE GOVERNMENT. 383 



versities is naturally followed by a similar neglect 

 on the part of government. That government being 

 carried on, for the most part, by those who, as 

 youths, saw how slightly such acquirements were 

 held at college, and who now, as men, look upon 

 them with the same feelings of indifference. The 

 one is the natural consequence of the other. Until 

 those to whom the executive government of a nation 

 is intrusted, are impressed with a respect, if not a 

 love, for philosophical excellence, and are fully con- 

 vinced of the important influence it exercises over 

 the welfare of the community — in an infinity of ways, 

 — it is obviously hopeless to expect more than a 

 partial, if not a merely nominal improvement. Ne- 

 vertheless, any encouragement in the present state 

 of science, emanating from the government, may be 

 regarded as beneficial, although it may fall very 

 short of that which is necessary, or which exists 

 in other countries. It is encouraging, therefore, to 

 observe that, under the administration of Lord 

 Goderich, the sum of 1000/. was devoted to the 

 expenses of bringing out the zoological discoveries 

 of the arctic expedition ; and that another sum, in 

 like manner, was appropriated to the publication of 

 Captain Beechey's acquisitions. Yet so slight is the 

 estimation in which such publications are viewed 

 by the public at large, that, even with these helps, 

 the publishers have made no scruple of complaining 

 bitterly of the pecuniary loss that has fallen upon 

 them ; so that unless, on some future occasion, the 

 government can be persuaded to contribute more 

 largely to the publication of discoveries made at 

 the national expense, it may be fairly questioned, 



