NATURE 
297 
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1873 
THE ENDOWMENT OF RESEARCH 
v. 
ALTHOUGH it is not within the purpose of these 
articles to propose an elaborate scheme in which the 
Endowment of Research in all its branches may be com- 
pletely provided for, yet it may be reasonably expected 
that some suggestions should be now put forward to serve 
as an answer to those who urge the hopeless imprac- 
ticability of the attempt, and as a foundation upon which 
a definite plan may be constructed, by the help of criti- 
cism, from those who can speak with authority in their 
own particular subjects. 
In the first place, it is above everything important that 
the need of a systematic organisation of a central cha- 
racter with entire freedom of action should be at once 
recognised. It is absurd to suppose that the lack of 
pecuniary means can be the main difficulty which has 
hitherto, in the richest country in the world, hindered 
original investigation in the Sciences, The natural 
harvest of scientific discoveries which England ought 
annually to reap has rather been checked by the irregu- 
larity with which the labourers have been rewarded, and 
the comparative indignity with which they have been 
treated. For a certain class of scientific investiga- 
tions of a strikingly practical character the public will 
always be willing to sanction large parliamentary grants ; 
but for the permanent Endowment of Research, and the 
continuous support in a worthy position of the re- 
searchers, not only the aid of the nation at large, but 
the wealth and the prestige of our ancient Univer- 
sities are required. There is, of course, no reason 
for any interference with the valuable work at present 
accomplished by the London Societies, but their work 
is of a different character. The new organisation 
would not grow into a monopoly, but would naturally 
take to itself those departments of knowledge which 
are least cared for, and in which the benefits of 
endowments will be most felt. Its wealth would enable 
it to be liberal, and its public position would impose just 
that amount of responsibility which should protect it 
from ‘those dangers to which its wealth might render it 
exposed. 
It is impossible to give a precise account of the actual 
manner in which the endowment should be distributed. 
To advance a crude scheme would be disadvantageous to 
the cause at heart, and to descend into detail would be to 
offer an unnecessary advantage to the enemy. Much 
must be left for the future to develope, and much must be 
left to the men to whom the administration is entrusted. 
If a scheme were to be worked out in detail in accord- 
ance with the demands of Science as understood at the 
present day, and if strict rules were to be adopted for its 
application, it might very well happen that before many 
years have gone our new Foundation would become an 
obstruction rather than a help to the advancement of 
Science. That a system may be vague, and yet eminently 
useful, and that its managers may safely be trusted with 
~ powers almost irresponsible,may be learnt from the ex- 
ample of the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. 
No, 198—VoL, vit. 
It is there found that to the Secretary of that institution, 
who at present is Professor Henry, may be confided the 
management of about 8,000/. a year, subject only to the 
nominal control of a board of American politicians, upon 
the trust to further “the advancement and diffusion of 
knowledge.” Many incidental lessons may be gathered 
from the manner in which the funds of this Institution 
are applied. There are no professors, and no oral in- 
struction of any kind: 'money is advanced to individual 
investigators,' not to support them while engaged in their 
scientific labours, but merely to provide the apparatus and 
the materials necessary for their researches; but the 
largest part of the funds would appear to be devoted to 
the publication of jthe work which they have encou- 
raged, and which under the title of “ Smithsonian Con- 
tributions to Knowledge,” are well known all over Europe. 
In this case, therefore, Research is indirectly endowed 
by means of a moderate pecuniary assistance to the 
investigators, whereas in Germany it is indirectly endowed 
through the professoriate ; but our proposal is that nothing 
but a direct endowment will satisfy the peculiar wants of 
this country. 
There is yet a further reason why any plan now put 
forward should be purposely indefinite and incomplete. 
The funds which the colleges will ultimately yield can 
only fall in very gradually. It is, according to the modern 
practice, quite impossible to make anything out of the ~ 
present holders of fellowships, who are in most cases 
young men, who may retain their appointments if they 
choose up to the limit of their lives. It would also, for 
manifest reasons, be inexpedient to divert each several 
fellowship as it becomes vacant from its present destina- 
tion. The machinery of the University organisation is 
so delicate that the occasions for introducing changes 
into it must of necessity be left to those who are best ac- 
quainted with the manner in which it works. Many years 
must elapse before that portion of the College revenues 
to which original research is now putting in a claim can 
be handed over to this account. In the meantime it is 
the duty of all those who support this claim not to dis- 
pute about details, but to force a hearing for that prin- 
ciple which they advocate in common, and which, when 
once publicly recognised, will render easy the remainder 
of the task. 
It is not, however, difficult to point out roughly the 
lines in which the endowment will have to proceed, and 
so to meet by anticipation the apparent objections which 
are certain to be alleged.. The form the endowment 
should take, the persons who are to be entrusted with the 
distribution, and the guarantee that the appointments 
shall not degenerate into sinecures, are all matters which 
require explanation. With regard to the first question, 
it is necessary to clear away a prevalent misunderstand- 
ing, which would seem to be based upon the existing 
system of Fellowships. It is not an essential part of the 
new scheme that a given number of Research Fellowships 
should be forthwith founded, to be awarded to young 
students who have passed successful examinations in 
Science. The very opposite course is the one which would 
commend itself to those who are aware of the evils of the 
present practice. The number of the new appointments 
should not be fixed; at first it should be small, but 
capable of increase as the suitable candidates come for- 
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