NATURE 



THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1S72 



MENTAL DARKNESS IN HIGH PLACES 



WE have long ago been told in the most forcible 

 language and by the highest authority what will 

 be the fate of a people whose leaders are blind ; and the 

 same authority has likewise informed us that the worst 

 possible form of darkness is that in which we think we 

 see. To have a one-sided, a short-sighted, or a distorted 

 view of any principle or policy is frequently worse than 

 not to sec it at all, more especially in those who claim to 

 wield the national power or to direct the national will. 

 To have a short-sighted steersman is very bad, especially 

 if the navigation be dangerous ; but what must be the fate 

 of the vessel if her steersman and look-out are both 

 equally short-sighted ? 



It is at the present moment a point of vital importance 

 that our leaders should be well informed as to the true 

 nature of the claims advanced by Science for a better re- 

 cognition by the Government of this country. Yet we 

 question very much whether the leaders of Government 

 have a just conception as to what is demanded by men of 

 science, and why it is demanded, nor do we think that 

 some of our leading journals are much better informed. 



We quote the following extract from the Times of April 

 26, referring to a speech made by Mr. Gladstone at the 

 annual banquet of the Civil Engineers : — 



'"A fair field and no favour' is the maxim of English 

 administration. A field so fair, so extensive, and so 

 promising, that all industry may find its place, and such 

 an absence of favour that one as well as another may hope 

 for success. If under such conditions of Government 

 the State ' does nothing for Science,' it cannot be helped, 

 nor need it be much lamented, considering how very little 

 Science stands in need of the aid." 



We will do Mr. Gladstone and the Times the justice to 

 own that these sentiments embody much that is true. To 

 be meddhng and muddling in private concerns is certainly 

 not the province of any Government ; and some think that 

 the present Government were wrong when they undertook 

 the management of the telegraphs. 



The State should neither on the one hand attempt too 

 much, nor on the other hand should it neglect to perform 

 its obvious duties. What, then, are the principles which 

 should guide a conscientious and intelligent Government 

 as to its action in such matters ? There can, we think, 

 be no doubt as to these principles. If a certain course of 

 procedure be for the obvious benefit of the whole people, 

 and if its accomplishment be beyond the power of private 

 associations, but not beyond that of Government, then 

 surely it ought to be undertaken. 



Let us test the truth of this maxim by one or two illus- 

 trations. It is for the obvious benefit of this country that 

 it should have good steam communication with the conti- 

 nent of Europe and with America. Nevertheless our 

 steam packets ought certainly to remain as they are, in 

 the hands of private companies. Natural laws may here 

 be left to themselves, and they will doubtless work in such 

 a manner that the companies will on the one hand receive 

 a handsome profit, while the public will on the other hand 

 be supplied with efficient steam communication. 



VOL. VI. 



Again, it is of great importance that the country should 

 bs well furnished with animal food, and here, as before 

 the task of supplying it may with advantage be left to 

 private enterprise. 



But in connection with this supply, wc come to a case in 

 which Government have very properly interfered. It is very 

 important that the meat should be good and wholesome, 

 and that diseased cattle should not be imported. On the 

 other hand the people themselves, apart from Government, 

 have no power of stopping the importation of such cattle, 

 and therefore Government have very properly come for- 

 ward and lent their aid in securing to the people a 

 thoroughly wholesome supply of animal food. 



It will at once be seen from these and similar instances, 

 that legislative interference is uncalled for wherever 

 natural laws are at work to perform the required objects. 



Such natural laws are in operation in all, or nearly all, 

 of the arts and industries of life. To meddle with car- 

 penters, or bricklayers, or shoemakers, is entirely beyond 

 the province of Government. If a man has a genius for 

 improving shoes, he must not expect Government to start 

 him in business ; but he must look around for the co- 

 operation of a capitalist; in fact, he must carry his genius 

 to market and dispase of it to the highest bidder. 



But what if the man have a genius for discovering 

 natural laws ? Will Mr. Gladstone or the Times be good 

 enough to indicate the whereabouts of the market in which 

 his genius will be rewarded ? We have just been told 

 that it is not at the Treasury ; well, but where is it 1 Or 

 will they tell us that such a discovery will never be of any 

 practical advantage ? Hardly so ; the time for saying 

 such things is past. It will in all probability be of im- 

 mense importance to all industries, and they will all de- 

 rive much profit in consequence of this man's discovery ; 

 yet he himself will derive none. 



But wc need not here attempt to prove that the advance- 

 ment of Science is a question of national importance. This 

 has been already demonstrated very conclusively by Col. 

 Strange and others who have recently devoted much 

 attention to the subject. We pass on to consider whether 

 its advancement can be undertaken by private bodies, 

 such as the Royal Society or the British Association. 



The recent actions of these bodies speak for themselves. 

 The former has just discontinued a series of sun observa- 

 tions taken under its superintendence ; while the latter 

 has given up the maintenance of the Kew Observatory — 

 both on the plea of want of funds. Again, the main- 

 tenance of meteorological observatories has already been 

 undertaken by Government as a thing beyond the means 

 of private individuals. 



In all directions the spread of Science is cramped by 

 this want of money ; to illustrate which we shall conclude 

 by giving a short account of the recent attempt made by 

 the British Association to establish a series of electrical 

 standards on a scientific basis. One of the most im- 

 portant, and at the same time most difficult, determina- 

 tions was that of the unit of resistance. In order to 

 establish this unit upon the principles proposed by Weber 

 and Thomson, it was necessary to associate together in an 

 experimental investigation a scientific electrician, a 

 mathematician, a metallurgist, and the director of a 

 magnetic observatory. It was necessary first of all to de- 

 termine the best kind of wire in which to embody the 



