106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



as well might the scientific man undertake to award reputation in 

 law learning or acumen to the jurist, or in medical skill and 

 power to the physician, or in mercantile knowledge and judgment 

 to the merchant, as to have his place fixed by these instead of his 

 scientific peers. " JVe sutor ultra crepidam^^ — " I love a quotation 

 which is not hackneyed " 



While upon this subject of the award of reputation, I wish to 

 be permitted to say a few words about the carelessness with which 

 American doings are too often treated abroad, chiefly to establish 

 the proposition that in science and literature, as in other things, 

 we should rather seek the judgment of our countrymen than that 

 of foreigners, and that we should endeavor to establish a more 

 wholesome public opinion upon this subject, struggling for an 

 American reputation derived from our peers, as, in Europe, a 

 European reputation is derived. The public, generally, would 

 be more amused than edified if I went into a chapter of facts 

 within my own knowledge, upon the mode sometimes adopted for 

 attempting to secure a European reputation. The congratula- 

 tions upon the receipt of a medal from a foreign potentate — which 

 required an act of Congress to be permitted to accept, and which 

 I know to be due to the amiable character of his representative, 

 through social intercourse had with him — seemed to me like those 

 ironical cheers of hear ! hear ! hear ! by which the English oppo- 

 sition benches greet a minister's speech for the crown. 



Few books for the times have been written which gave to their 

 authors greater national reputation than Robert Walsh's Appeal 

 of 1819. It was a warm and glowing appeal from the injustice of 

 Great Britain in reference to America and American institutions. 

 As far as the science of the two countries are concerned, I should 

 say that a different feeling exists now; that if there are icy remains 

 of a once bad understanding and selfish professional jealousies, 

 they are fast disappearing before the warmth of personal acquain- 

 tance, rising even to the genial glow of friendship. 



I wish I could so speak for the Continent, and especially for 

 France. Since the wane of that great light of the French academy, 

 Arago, American scientists have had much to complain of. Since 

 its final earthly eclipse they have more. The oflicial publications 



