434 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



not, nor is it important to know, what were the rea- 

 sons for this additional tax being laid upon scientific 

 aspirants. It may have had its advantages, but the 

 evils it has produced have far outweighed them. It 

 is well known how very few of our philosophic en- 

 quirers are men of such independence as to render 

 the payment of so large a sum otherwise than in- 

 convenient, if not impossible. While those who 

 have already built up a reputation for themselves, 

 unaided by scientific titles, can derive no additional 

 honour from being a fellow of this or that society ; 

 and, therefore, even if their circumstances are easy, 

 they never think of expending 40/. or 50/. for such 

 an unprofitable purpose. Now, what is the con- 

 sequence of this feeling? Several of the highest 

 characters in the science of Britain do not belong 

 to the Royal Society ; and this for two reasons : first, 

 because the payment of such high fees is incon- 

 venient ; and, secondly, because scientific excellency 

 is not an indispensable requisite for admission. On 

 the other hand, the aristocracy of wealth, who, in 

 this country, measure the value of every thing by 

 what it costs, readily pay their 50/. ; and imagine, 

 that to associate with philosophers is to imbibe 

 a portion of their reputation. We firmly believe 

 that this is one among the many causes that have 

 operated of late years to the disadvantage of the 

 society, whose ranks, formerly recruited from the 

 republic of science, are now chiefly filled up by the 

 aristocracy of wealth. That it has increased its re- 

 spectability of station, according to the vulgar idea, 

 derived from wealth, there can be no doubt ; but it 

 has certainly diminished its reputation for science, 



