ON FORCE 405 



however small, of carping at Mayer's claims. Tlie action 

 of the Academy of Sciences and of the Eoyal Society sum- 

 marily disposes of this detraction, to which its object, 

 during his lifetime, never vouchsafed either remonstrance 

 or reply. 



Some time ago Professor Tait published a volume of 

 lectures entitled "Eecent Advances in Physical Science," 

 which I have reason to know has evoked an amount of 

 censure far beyond that hitherto publicly expressed. 

 Many of the best heads on the continent of Europe agree 

 in their rejection and condemnation of the historic por- 

 tions of this book. In March last it was subjected to a 

 brief but pungent critique by Du Bois-Eeymond, the cele- 

 brated Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Sciences in 

 Berlin. Du Bois-Eeymond's address was on "National 

 Feeling," and his critique is thus wound up: "The au- 

 thor of the 'Lectures' is not, perhaps, sufficiently well 

 acquainted with the history 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 weak- 

 ened by his other writings — that the fiery Celtic blood of 

 his country occasionally runs away with him, converting 

 him for the time into a scientific Chauvin. Scientific 

 Chauvinism," adds the learned secretary, "from which 

 German investigators have hitherto kept free, is more 

 reprehensible (gehassig) than political Chauvinism, inas- 

 much as self-control (sittUche Haltung) is more to be 

 expected from men of science than from the politically 

 excited mass." * 



' Festrede, delivered before the Academy of Sciences of Berlin, in celebra- 

 tion of the birthday of the Emperor and King, March 28, 1878, 



