Decline of Science in England. - ? A5 



" professors than by any univcrsitarian regulations.' 1 '' Hut 

 notwithstanding these hard hits our author is such a lover of 

 things as they are, that he tells us " that in this as in many 

 " other things the best plan seems to be to let things take their 

 " natural level and not interfere in every particular with legis- 

 " latory provisions." He very soon, however, repents of this 

 toleration of abuses, for in a few lines, when he gets hold of 

 an abuse that he really understands, he seems resolute enough 

 to have it rectified. 



" It is generally understood,"" says he, " that there are ma- 

 " thematical and astronomical professors both at Oxford and 

 " Cambridge who seldom or never lecture, and who often do 

 " not reside at all at the university. I am possibly blinded 

 " by continental prejudice, but to me this appears a glaring 

 " abuse, which elsewhere would call for a speedy remedy. 11 



Having his eyes thus opened by one intelligible abuse, our 

 author begins to see too sharply. He attacks the Duke of 

 Wellington in the most tender point, and levels a general blow 

 at the institutions of our country, which, if it is true, or even 

 approximates to truth, presages the speedy downfall of mighty 

 England. If there is one feature in our institutions more noble 

 than another, or more flattering to our national vanity, it is 

 the accessibility of high office to character and talent. It has 

 ever been our boast, and we trust it long will, that the hum- 

 blest individual may, by the force of education and character, 

 rise to the highest offices that a subject can fill — to the Archie- 

 piscopal Mitre — the Woolsack, and the Horse Guards. Our 

 author, however, believes and asserts the contrary. 



" Mr Babbage, 11 says our author, " illustrates his argument 

 " by asking what would have been the military renown of 

 " England, if, with an equally improvident waste of mental 

 " power, its institutions had forced the Duke of Wellington 

 " to employ his life in drilling recruits, instead of planning 

 "campaigns? 1 To this we might answer, omnia cmupitratio 

 " elaud'uat. Hut admitting the simile, it would have been a 

 *' great waste of mental power certainly, if the whole life of 

 ('the noble duke had been employed 'in drilling recruits; 

 " but it must be remembered thai the greatest captain of thi 

 " last century, Frederick tin 1 Great, amidst all liis various oc- 

 " cupations, literary and political, always employed part <>l 



