6 FOUNDATION AND OBJECTS 



and institutions ; to the indirect persecution of our 

 scientific and literary men by their exclusion from 

 all the honours of the State ; and to the unjust and 

 oppressive tribute which the patent law exacts 

 from inventors/ 



A negative attitude of dissatisfaction, unrelieved 

 by any constructive suggestion for improvement, 

 has probably done more harm than good to the 

 advancement of science, in individual instances, 

 from Brewster's day to this ; but Brewster's plaint 

 is not open to that charge. The constructive 

 proposal which is his culminating point in the 

 article under notice is that which concerns the 

 present record most nearly : 



' . . . Can we behold unmoved the science of 

 England, the vital principle of her arts, struggling 

 for existence, the meek and unarmed victim of 

 political strife ? An association of our nobility, 

 clergy, gentry, and philosophers, can alone draw 

 the attention of the sovereign and the nation to this 

 blot upon its fame. Our aristocracy will not decline 

 to resume their proud station as the patrons of 

 genius ; and our Boyles, and Cavendishes, and 

 Montagues, and Howards, will not renounce their 

 place in the scientific annals of England. The 

 prelates of our national Church will not refuse to 

 promote that knowledge which is the foundation of 

 pure religion, and those noble inquiries which 

 elevate the mind, and prepare it for its immortal 

 destination/ 



THE DEUTSCHER NATURFORSCHER VERSAMMLUNG- 



It is clear from other passages in the above article 

 that Brewster, like many men of science at the 



