1 82 Suggested mode of rewarding discoverers. 



appropriately rewarded by fame, but time, unusual 

 skill, labour and expenditure, should be repaid by 

 money. 



It has been suggested that an investigator, if he is 

 a man of practical ability, is very often put into an 

 office, the duties of which he can efficiently discharge,, 

 and yet have leisure for original research, as in the case 

 of the late Dr. Graham, the eminent Master of the Mint,* 

 our Astronomers Royal, &c., and thus obtain his 

 reward. But this is a very imperfect plan, because 

 research is very difficult, and to be carried out effec- 

 tualy, requires the whole of a man's time and atten- 

 tion ; the investigator would also be taken from more 

 important work to do that which is of less value to 

 the nation, and which might be performed by a more 

 suitable person ; appointments also of the kind 

 referred to are much too few in number. Such a plan 

 as this, of relegating important national work to odd 

 hours spared from official duties, is a makeshift, and 

 quite unworthy of this nation. Entire occupation in 

 research, combined with efficient publication of the 

 results, is the only satisfactory plan of procedure. 



Probably one of the most satisfactory ways of re- 

 warding scientific discoverers and serving national 

 interests at the same time, would be to create salaried 

 professorships of original research, and appoint dis- 

 coverers of repute to fill them. 



The time is near at hand when this nation will be 

 compelled by the injurious consequences arising from 

 its neglect of scientific research, to acquire a know- 



* The Mastership of the Mint is no longer given to scientific men. 



