12 Observations on the Decline of Science in England. 



derived much benefit from the instrument, when invented as 

 applicable to determine the longitude, but for those abstruse re- 

 searches of the mathematician, which, assisted by a few obser- 

 vations, enables him to predict the exact place of the heavenly 

 bodies. It will, in fact, be found throughout, that theory and 

 practice must go on together, or, to speak more correctly, prac- 

 tice cannot move a step but as she leans on theory. The 

 limits of the latter will be the limits of the former. Now what 

 encouragement has any one, however well qualified by nature, 

 to devote himself to this branch of the subject ? If he be in- 

 dependent, he may perhaps, urged by the strong bias implanted 

 by nature, pursue a path where neither profit nor distinction, 

 as emanating from the government, await him ; but if he has 

 to struggle against the angustas res domi. he will of course 

 turn his attention and talents to some more promising occupa- 

 tion. 



" In other countries the case is different ; there men of science 

 not only reap distinction and pecuniary reward, but are consi- 

 dered eligible to the first appointments in the state. Mr Bab- 

 bage gives a long list of these ; amongst which we may men- 

 tion, as known to our readers, Laplace, a Marquis, and Presi- 

 dent of the Conservative Senate ; Carnot, Minister of War ; 

 Chaptal, a Count, and Minister of the Interior; Cuvier, a Ba- 

 ron, and Minister of Public Instruction : the latter, too, having 

 to struggle with the prejudice against his religion, (the reform- 

 ed.) The consequence of this difference of system is, that on 

 the continent, and specially in France, science is in the most 

 flourishing and prosperous condition ; while in England we are 

 day after day losing all that once made our distinction. Even our 

 mechanical arts connected with science, the encouragement of 

 which can never be trusted to the commercial spirit, are fast 

 losing ground. The achromatic telescopes of Dollond, which 

 once made us a name all over the globe, have been eclipsed by 

 the productions of an establishment at Munich, assisted as they 

 were by the successful efforts of an obscure Swiss clock-maker, 

 to manufacture glass of a superior quality, and in larger pieces. 

 This is one of the many practical evils attending that total in- 

 difference to the scientific character of the country, which is 

 particularly indicative of a Government incapable of apprecia- 



