506 



that inventors, to whom we owe such inestimable accessions to the 

 conveniences and luxuries of life, should be subject to a tax peculiar 

 to their class alone ; and this must be the effect of the present law 

 so long as fees are received from the patentees exceeding the amount 

 which may be reasonably demanded for purposes in which they have 

 themselves a direct interest, and the surplus carried to the account 

 of the public Exchequer. At the same time I cannot but think that 

 a small sum in addition might justly be required from every grantee 

 of a privilege of this kind, to be carried to a fund for the promotion 

 of the researches of abstract science ; for assuredly there are none 

 who derive more direct benefit from such investigations than those 

 from whom the payment would be demanded ; and that class have, 

 and more especially in a country like this, opportunities of turning 

 their talents to pecuniary account, which are altogether denied to 

 the cultivator of abstract science, who forms his nest only to be seized 

 by some more fortunate occupier, coming in like the bird in the 

 fable, and appropriating to his own benefit the severe and long-pro- 

 tracted labours of the skilful and painstaking builder. 



On reviewing once more the position of Science in this country, I 

 find that the voluntary or independent system has been carried very 

 far indeed. That is, a great many Societies have at various periods, 

 from 1663, the date of this the most ancient, to the present time, 

 been successively founded for the promotion and encouragement of 

 science. Those who compose these various associations pay for the 

 honour of enrolling their names as members, sums which must be 

 considered large in reference to the means of some of the con- 

 tributors ; and many of those members in addition devote a con- 

 siderable portion of their valuable time to scientific researches. 

 These Societies, though contributing so much to the public weal, 

 are yet for the most part entirely unrecognized by the Govern- 

 ment, and, with certain trifling exceptions, receive no kind of public 

 aid in prosecuting their valuable labours ; but, on the other hand, 

 by a kind of hap-hazard arrangement, strongly characteristic of 

 our national character, the Government has from time to time 

 organized various bodies, which, though with few exceptions not 

 recognized by any act of the legislature, are yet invested to a certain 

 extent with an official character, and obtain greater consideration 

 from the Government in consequence. Such, for example, are the 



