FORCE. 385 



thus wound up: 'The author of the "Lectures" is 

 not, perhaps, sufficiently well acquainted with the his- 

 tory on which he professes to throw light, and on the 

 later phases of which he passes so unreserved (schroff) 

 a judgment. He thus exposes himself to the suspicion 

 which, unhappily, is not weakened by his other writ- 

 ings that the fiery Celtic blood of his country occa- 

 sionally runs away with him, converting him for the 

 time into a scientific Chauvin. Scientific Chauvinism/ 

 adds the learned secretary, 'from which German in- 

 vestigators have hitherto kept free, is more reprehensi- 

 ble (gehassig) than political Chauvinism, inasmuch as 

 self-control (sittliche Haltung) is more to be expected 

 from men of science, than from the politically excited 

 mass.' * 



In the case before this ' expectation ' would, I fear, 

 be doomed to disappointment. But Du Bois-Reymond 

 and his countrymen must not accept the writings of 

 Professor Tait as representative of the thought of Eng- 

 land. Surely no nation in the world has more effec- 

 tually shaken itself free from scientific Chauvinism. 

 From the day that Davy, on presenting the Copley 

 medal to Arago, scornfully brushed aside that spurious 

 patriotism which would run national boundaries 

 through the free domain of science, chivalry towards 

 foreigners has been a guiding principle with the Royal 

 Society. 



On the more private amenities indulged in by Pro- 

 fessor Tait, I do not consider it necessary to say a 

 word. 



* Festrede, delivered before .the Academy of Sciences of Ber- 

 lin, in celebration of the birthday of the Emperor and King, 

 March 28, 1878. 



