II BIOLOGY AND THE STATE 95 



that our request will eventually obtain compliance, the 

 formation in London of a College of Scientific Eesearch 

 similar to that of Paris (the College de France). It 

 is one of the misfortunes and disgraces of London that 

 alone amongst the capitals of Europe, with the 

 exception of Constantinople it is destitute of any 

 institution corresponding to the universities and 

 colleges of research which exist elsewhere. 



Either in connection with a properly organised 

 teaching university or as an independent institution, 

 it seems to me a primary need of the day that the 

 Government should establish in London laboratories 

 for scientific research. Two hundred and fifty years 

 ago Sir Thomas Gresham founded an institution for 

 scientific research in the City of London. The property 

 which he left for this purpose is now estimated to be 

 worth three millions sterling. This property was 

 deliberately appropriated to other uses by the Corpor- 

 ation of the City of London and the Mercers' Company 

 about a hundred years since, with the consent of both 

 Houses of Parliament. By this outrageous act of 

 spoliation these Corporations, who were the trustees 

 of Gresham, have incurred the curse which he quaintly 

 inserted in his will in the hope of restraining them 

 from attempts to divert his property from the uses to 

 which he destined it. "Gresham's curse" runs as 

 follows : " And that I do require and charge the said 

 Corporations and chief governors thereof, with circum- 

 spect Diligence and without long Delay, to procure 

 and see to be done and obtained, as they will answer 

 the same before Almighty God : (for if they or any of 



