APPROPRIATE OFFICES FOR SCIENTIFIC MEN. 391 



(268.) It were needless, after this, to enforce, by 

 other instances, the benefits which would follow the 

 appointment of scientific men to situations under 

 the government, wherein their acquirements might 

 be of service to the state, and their opinions taken 

 upon all such questions as came within their respective 

 provinces of science or of art. Nor are the pursuits 

 of the naturalist altogether devoid of public utility. 

 On questions regarding the fisheries, the capabilities 

 of our colonies in supplying new articles of commerce 

 from their natural productions, and many others 

 touched upon in another part of this volume, our 

 legislators need not be ashamed of seeking advice, 

 or at least information, on matters upon which it 

 cannot be expected they should be competent 

 judges. 



(269.) But it is not only in the home depart- 

 ments that Great Britain possesses ample and ap- 

 propriate means of making honourable provision for 

 men of knowledge, while she receives in return the 

 benefit of their services. Her extensive range of 

 colonies, with their numerous establishments, and 

 her consulships — spread over every part of the 

 world — afford situations peculiarly well adapted for 

 those enterprising spirits who ardently desire to 

 study nature in other climes, and under other as- 

 pects, than those at home. Whatever may be 

 said to the contrary, we know, from personal ex- 

 perience, that the duties of colonial governments, 

 however necessary, are generally very light, ad- 

 mitting of much leisure, which an active and power- 

 ful mind would turn to good account. Our consul- 

 ships, with few exceptions, more especially, are of 



