Observations on the Decline of' Science in England. ii 



tions that had long been identified with English science, felt 

 themselves aggrieved by the mere allegation that science was 

 declining, and that their labours were gradually diminishing in 

 importance; and certain professors in universities, who had 

 never enriched science with a single fact, and yet considered 

 themselves as its guardians and depositaries, have raised a violent 

 outcry against facts which all but themselves knew, and against 

 opinions which all but themselves believe. 



Cutting off the auxiliaries from both sides, we may safely state, 

 that the parties arrayed against each other on the question of 

 the decline of science, and the unfitness of our present institu- 

 tions to advance its interests, are certain professors in our univer- 

 sities on the one side, and the philosophers actively and con- 

 stantly engaged in original research on the other. Both of these 

 classes of persons are of the highest respectability, and exercise a 

 great and a just influence over public opinion; and those who are 

 led to form their judgment chiefly from the authority of names 

 will have some difficulty in taking their place in the controversy, 

 and will probably arrange themselves under the banners of those 

 men who enjoy a temporary and deceitful reputation from their 

 influence as teachers of youth. Many of these persons never 

 heard of Mr Ivory and Mr Dalton, and would scorn the idea of 

 their being greater men than some of our well-known and justly 

 esteemed professors. We must therefore furnish the intelligent 

 reader who wishes to form a correct opinion, with a test by 

 which alone he can decide which of the two parties are most 

 likely to form the most correct judgment respecting the decline 

 of English science. 



Original discoveries in science are rewarded in two ways, 

 either by the adjudication of prizes or medals to the discoverers, 

 or by honorary admission into foreign societies. — Among the 

 living cultivators of science in England, twcnty : f'our honorary 

 medals have been adjudged by the Royal Society of London ; 

 viz. nineteen Copley medals, given chiefly for the best papers in 

 each volume of the Philosophical Transactions ; two Rumford 

 medals for discoveries on light and heat ; and four or five royal 

 medals for specific discoveries, Now it is a curious fact that 

 only a single professor received one of these medals, * viz. Pro- 



* Mr Leslie, before lie was a professor, received the Kumtbrd medals, and 

 Dr Brinkley received a Copley medal m Astronomer ltoyul of Ireland. 



