SHOULD BE COMMENCED AT COLLEGE. 425 



Britain upon another footing, it must begin with 

 national institutions for instructing, and pecuniary 

 endowments for maturing science ; and, lastly, it 

 might then proceed to reward those who attain pre- 

 eminence. 



(292.) We thus bring our argument to the point 

 from whence it began ; namely, that a love for na- 

 tural science must be imbibed at our universities ; 

 where, to be taught effectually, it should be incor- 

 porated as a necessary part of academic education. 

 It is obvious, that tastes so acquired will have a 

 powerful influence on the minds of those who may 

 hereafter become legislators ; and that finally, a go- 

 vernment composed of such legislators, will feel a 

 personal interest, far stronger than that of political, 

 in seeking out and rewarding, both with the pensions 

 and honours of the state, those whose names are 

 the brightest jewels in the diadem of the British 

 empire. It will be only when the founts of science are 

 opened to the sons of our nobility and aristocracy, at 

 those venerable and noble institutions where they 

 are educated ; it is only then that we can expect to 

 see the philosophic spirit of the Boyles, the Caven- 

 dishes, the Montagues, the Willoughbys, and the 

 Howards of former and better times, again revive in 

 their descendants, and once more occupy their proud 

 station in the scientific annals of England. It will 

 be only then, that the honours of the state will be 

 thrown open to our philosophers and literary charac- 

 ters. Then will the sage and the hero, as in other 

 kingdoms, deliberate in the same cabinet ; they will 

 be associated among the privy councillors of the 

 king, sit together in the united parliament, bear the 



