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NATURE 
243 
Natural Theology being the subject for which this 
essay obtained a prize, some of its dogmas are shortly 
discussed. In answer to the statement that the hypo- 
thesis of a soul is objectionable ‘on the ground that it is 
not known to exist in nature, and cannot, therefore, be 
known to be capable of producing the effects ascribed to 
it,” it is shown “ that when the effects are such that they 
cannot be produced by any known cause, they must re- 
sult from an unknown cause or causes capable of produc- 
ing the effects ascribed to them.” However, in an earlier 
part of the work it is remarked that Mr. Darwin has 
done injustice to his theory by comparing it to the undu- 
latory theory of light, because the latter assumes the 
existence of an ether, which is an unknown agent. It is 
therefore to be inferred that the Darwinian hypothesis 
is on a better basis than that of the existence of a soul, 
from the perusal of an Actonian Prize essay ! 
Light Science jor Leisure Hours. Second Series. Fami- 
liar Essays on Scientific Subjects, Natural Phenomena, 
&c., with a Sketch of the Life of Mary Somerville. By 
Richard A. Proctor, B.A. Camb., Honorary Secretary 
of the Royal Astronomical Society, author of “ The 
Sun,” “ Other Worlds,” “ Saturn,” “ Essays on Astro- 
nomy,” “ The Orbs around Us,” &c. (Longmans, 1873.) 
THE essays in this volume have already appeared in 
various journals. Besides the life of Mrs. Somerville, the 
volume contains the following :—“ The coming Transit 
of Venus, and British Preparations for observing it ;” 
“The Ever-widening World of the Stars ;” “ Movements 
in the Star-depths ;” “ The great Nebula in Orion ;” “ The 
Sun’s True Atmosphere ;” “Something Wrong with the 
Sun ;” an article occasioned by the intense heat of July 
last year; “ News from Herschel’s Planet ;” “ The two 
Comets of the Year 1868 ;” “ Comets of Short Period ;” 
“The Gulf Stream,” “ Oceanic Circulation,” “ Addendum 
in Reply to Dr. Carpenter ;’ “Climate of Great Britain ;” 
“ Low Barometer of the Antarctic Temperate Zone.” 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
[The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed 
by his correspondents. No notice ts taken of anonymous 
communications. | 
The Pay of Scientific Men 
Tr is unfortunately too true, as stated in your last week’s leading 
article, that whether the claims of men of Science in serving 
their country are generally acknowledged in the future must to 
a large extent depend upon the men of Science themselves. I 
say unfortunately because, as a general rule, such claims, at least 
as far as pecuniary rewards go, could not be left in worse hands. 
I know so well how utterly repugnant it is to the feelings of all 
true and earnest workers in Science even to speak of such 
matters, however much they may be compelled to feel them 
sometimes, that they will be the last to force public attention to 
the question, Though this may be a natural and honvurable 
feeling as far as each individual is concerned, I cannot help 
thinking that it is one which for the sake of the Science they 
loye, it is a duty to place, for the time at least, in abeyance. 
Very much has been said and written of late about the ‘‘ En- 
dowment of Scientific Research.” I, for one, hold what you 
would probably consider rather heretical views on the subject, 
believing that the ‘‘ protesters ” against the report of the Com- 
mittee on the Organisation of Academical Study, as well as the 
writer of your recent articles on the subject, are rather running 
the risk of losing a very substantial and comparatively easily 
attainable method of reaching the end we all have in view, 
whilst so keenly pursuing a very shadowy ideal. I think that 
Scientific Research can be endowed indirectly, so effectually and 
at comparatively so little trouble in overcoming old prejudices, 
and all the various obstacles to radical changes of organisation 
who have its promotion at heart. The far more difficult question of 
direct endowment will follow more appropriately and be carried out 
more efficiently when the body of educated scientific men in the 
country is larger than it is now, and the public generally, espe- 
cially those in high places, have more appreciation of the claims 
of Science for its own sake. 
The educated men of Szience in this country are still but a 
handful ; we want more, and there is but one way of obtaining 
them. Pay them better for their work, that it may be worth 
while for parents to allow their sons of promise to take up a 
scientific calling. What our Universities and to a certain extent 
our Government are now beginning to do to encourage scientific 
education, viz. offering prizes, scholarships, and even fellowships 
is a delusion and a snare, unless followed up by something more 
substantial. 
There will never be wanting young minds ardent enough to 
commence the pursuit of Science for its own attractions, but it 
is positive cruelty to lure them on by bribes further in a path 
which will only lead them to the edge of a precipice or into a 
morass of hopeless difficulties. To be supported in a scientific 
pursuit when young, is of very doubtful advantage, if you are to 
find yourself landed in middle or old age, encompassed by all 
the stern realities of life and all the needs engendered by our 
complicated social system, with only the miserable and preca- 
rious pittance now accorded even to some of the most able 
veterans of Science. It is this which naturally and rightly dis- 
courages scientific research in this country ; and it is this which 
could to a large extent be so easily remedied. 
The urgent want is better paid appointments which can be 
held by men of high scientific attainments, more especially pro - 
fessorships at the Universities. I must confess that I am not 
one of those who think that a moderate amount of teaching work 
or even official duties of a scientific nature is any hindrance to a 
life of healthy and genuine advancement of Science by original 
research. On the contrary, ‘they may be (if not overdone, as 
usually is the case in this country) rather an assistance ; but that 
is a long question which I need not discuss on the present occa. 
sion, 
As such appointments would probably only be given to those 
who had already shown evidence of their ability by their contri- 
butions to knowledge (and this will be more and more the case 
as the number of available candidates increases, and public 
opinion forms itself in such matters) the prospect of attaining one 
would be the greatest possible stimulus to scientific research in 
young men. Scholarships and Fellowships are valuable adjuncts 
to the training of such men, but nothing more. What I contend 
for is that if Science, as a profession, is to compete in its attrac- 
tion with other callings, as law, medicine, the civil services, to 
say nothing of trade, we must provide far more liberally than at 
present for the endowment of the later half of the lives of those 
that follow it. That a man should be able to grow wealthy by 
Science is not asked for, probably not to be desired. The ad- 
vantages and pleasures of a life devoted to scientific pursuits are 
such that for myself (and probably most others would say the 
same) I would prefer them with a simple competency—by which 
I mean sufficient to join freely in intellectual society and to give 
one’s children a good education—to the wealth of a millionaire 
acquired in any other way. 
But in the present condition of things Science does not even 
do this, at least for the branches with which I am best ac- 
quainted. Some pursuits, such as chemistry, which bear more 
directly on the arts and commerce, stand on a different footing ; 
but in biological Science I do not know of a position in the 
kingdom to which a man, however distinguished he may be in 
his subject, can aspire, in which he can live as I have described, 
unless aided by independent means. 
To remedy this we want no new organisations ; nothing, in 
which I need not specify, that this should be the first object of all } act, but the simplest and most intelligible change in the present 
