I 



Why research is not encouraged. 41 



America, the Smithsonian Institution " was founded 

 at Washington by benevolent and patriotic persons,* 

 " for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men," and one of the objects of that institution is 

 " to enlarge the existing stock of knowledge by the 

 addition of new truths," and a portion of its plan is 

 "to stimulate men of talent to make original re- 

 searches by offering suitable rewards for memoirs 

 containing new truths," and "to appropriate annually 

 a portion of the income for particular researches." 



What is the reason that scientific research is not 

 sufficiently encouraged in England ? It is chiefly 

 ignorance. There are very few good and important 

 subjects, understood by the public, which are not in 

 this country greatly assisted, nor many valuable 

 public servants, whose labours are understood, who 

 do not receive liberal payment and reward ; and 

 scientific research and discoverers therefore are 

 neglected, not wilfully, nor because persons are un- 

 willing to encourage good objects, but because scien- 

 tific discovery and its great value to the nation are 

 so little known. Scarcely a member of our legislature, 

 or of our Universities, is fully acquainted with the 

 national importance of scientific discovery,t and it 



being indebted to the public funds. A fund has already been collected 

 for carrying on the work. The building is called 'The Institute of 

 Scientific Kesearch.' " See Nature, January 7th, 1881, p. 366 ; the 

 Athenccum, February 5th, 1881, p. 204 ; the English Mechanic, p. 537, 

 February llth, 18Si. 



* Professor Bache left 50,000 dollars, and Smithson bequeathed 

 5-il,000 dollars to this Institution. 



f Respecting the Members of our Houses of Legislature, a former 

 Postmaster-General remarked to me, that a dose of scientific research 

 would be too much for them. 



