TRUE CAUSE OF MINISTERIAL NEGLECT. 423 



for thus acting in opposition to the plainest dictates 

 of reason and of justice, to the feelings of all other 

 civilised governments, and to those even of the in- 

 telligent classes of this country ? It is not because 

 the value of science is unknown to our rulers ; for 

 they have, as it seems, so enlarged a conception of 

 its worth, that they imagine it can provide for itself. 

 It is not because the nation at large disregards it, 

 because in no other country are there so many 

 public associations for its culture. No. It is because 

 science enters not into the strife of politics, she 

 " brings up no reserve to the minister, to swell his 

 triumph or to break his fall ;" she remains passive 

 in the warfare of elections, she possesses no courtly 

 influence, and flatters no courtier ; she neither comes 

 recommended by wealth, by power, by titles, or by 

 interest. She has, in short, nothing to give ; and 

 therefore it is, that she has nothing to receive. All 

 other reasons for her neglect merge into this ; and it 

 may be fairly questioned, whether her votaries, " now 

 depressed to the level of hewers of wood and drawers 

 of water," will ever recover their caste, until those 

 who direct public affairs will abandon the line of 

 argument we have here attempted to refute. These 

 arguments have been investigated more closely, 

 perhaps, than may appear necessary; but as emanat- 

 ing from a late cabinet minister, they deserved every 

 attention, since they clearly show, in language not 

 to be mistaken, the sentiments which pervade that 

 particular school of politics which has hitherto been 

 paramount in the national councils. 



(291.) And yet, so far from desiring to see a new 

 order of merit at once instituted for our philosophers, 

 ee4 



