398 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



possible, for such men to withdraw themselves from 

 the duties of their calling, for the purpose of in- 

 vestigating complicated questions of science, and 

 after studying and experimenting, report upon 

 scientific measures affecting the public welfare? 

 They may have a strong inclination so to do ; but 

 they want the time ; and time, in a commercial 

 country, is often among the most valuable of posses- 

 sions. Its value should, therefore, be paid for, if it 

 subjects its possessor to loss ; just as we should 

 deem it unjust not to pay for any other marketable 

 commodity. If abstract science would procure meat 

 and drink to its possessor, if it would open a path to 

 the esteem or the patronage of ministers, or, finally, 

 if it was prosecuted by those who already have 

 wealth and leisure, the case would be different ; but, 

 under present circumstances, we do not see in what 

 manner the nation can procure scientific advisers 

 unless by paying for them. 



(273.) The next improvement, which can only 

 originate in the government, is of far less moment 

 than those just dwelt upon ; yet it is not unworthy 

 of our present attention, inasmuch as it relates 

 almost exclusively to natural history. We allude 

 to the removal of those taxes upon zoological pub- 

 lications now in force, and the substitution of such 

 measures as would encourage their publication. In 

 ordinary cases our copyright laws are not only un- 

 exceptionable, but liberal. They secure to an author 

 the sole right of publishing his works for twenty- 

 eight years certain, upon the presentation of eleven 

 copies to the public libraries of the kingdom. It 

 has been observed that this tax, " which is scarcely 



