56 Comparative fewness of discoverers. 



ever, mean to imply that these large emoluments are 

 not deserved. Whilst also there are nearly 13,000 

 church benefices in England (See the " Clergy List," 

 also " Whitaker's Almanack," 1873, pp. 153 and 155, 

 and " Walford's County Families," 1872, pp. 173 and 

 610), there is scarcely a single appointment entirely 

 devoted to scientific discovery, nor a single professor- 

 ship in original research in science. I leave my 

 readers to judge to what extent these instances 

 illustrate the statement that discoverers are not 

 treated by us as we treat other valuable members of 

 the community. Partly in consequence of the fore- 

 going neglect, the proportion of persons wholly 

 devoted to scientific research in this country probably 

 does not much exceed one in one million of the 

 population. 



It is scarcely credible that in a wealthy and 

 civilized country, whilst the non-productive classes 

 are protected in the enjoyment of titles and material 

 wealth which in many cases they have not earned, 

 the greatest scientific benefactors of the nation are 

 constrained to live in straitened circumstances whilst 

 working for the pecuniary and other advantages of 

 those classes, and of manufacturers, capitalists, land- 

 owners, and the nation in general. By these remarks 

 it is not intended to imply that discoverers are inten- 

 tionally neglected ; but that the injustice they suffer 

 is a disgrace to this country, and reflects discredit 

 upon the governing classes, and especially upon those 

 who reap the greatest advantage. 



