Advantages derived by Governments from research. 51 



scientific knowledge. The additional taxes upon 

 increased incomes from agriculture, arts, manufac- 

 tures, mines ; increased value of land and rents ; 

 investments in railway, telegraph, steam-ship and 

 other companies, have been extremely great. From 

 the sale of patents alone, a surplus sum of nearly 

 six hundred thousand pounds has already accumu- 

 lated. Our Governments are also indebted to 

 original research for the use of percussion-powder, 

 gun-cotton, improvements in cannon, projectiles, 

 rifles, armour-plated ships, the ocean telegraph, 

 field telegraph, the telephone, rapid postal com- 

 munication, the speedy transport of troops and war- 

 material, and a multitude of other advantages. The 

 value of science to Governments in the prevention 

 of war by means of more ready correspondence 

 through telegraph is incalculable. Mr. Sumner, of 

 America, at the period when the Atlantic telegraph 

 was first employed, stated that the use of that tele- 

 graph averted a probable rupture between Great 

 Britain and America. There was a period when we 

 did not possess such evidence of the great value of 

 science ; but that time has now passed away, and 

 our governing men have had abundant proof of the 

 national importance of scientific discovery, and of 

 the essential dependence of the welfare of this 

 country upon scientific research. 



Whilst vast sums of money are spent upon the 

 applications of science in military and naval affairs, 

 research itself is neglected ; the superstructure is 



