ii TRUTH AND TESTIMONY 33 



have been satisfied. Newton himself was, at one time 

 of his life, in such poverty that he asked to be excused 

 from the weekly payment of one shilling which the 

 Royal Society required of its members. 



Patronage is not wanted, but encouragement in a 

 practical form may be of the greatest service if given 

 early. Bis dat qui cito dat is particularly applicable to 

 the needs of young men trained for scientific investiga- 

 tion and eager to pursue it if the means which will permit 

 them to do so are provided. The position is like that 

 stated in Dr. Johnson's celebrated letter to Lord 

 Chesterfield concerning his Dictionary. Johnson worked 

 for seven years " without one act of assistance, one word 

 of encouragement, or one smile of favour " from his 

 lordship, who, however, when the Dictionary was on 

 the eve of publication, made professions of friendship in 

 the hope, it is said, that the work would be dedicated 

 to him. Johnson wrote : 



Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a 

 man struggling for life in the water, and when he has reached 

 ground, encumbers him with help ? The notice which you have 

 been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been 

 kind ; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot 

 enjoy it ; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it ; till I am 

 known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity, 

 not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or 

 to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that 

 to a patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself. 



When men of science ask for funds for scientific 

 research they do not wish to bury the talents they 

 receive or to derive personal profit from them. What- 

 ever amount is entrusted to them is returned a hundred- 

 fold in the results achieved. How many are the re- 

 searches worthy of assistance, and how small are the 

 funds available for investigations having no obvious 



G.D. C 



