A7i^. 15, 1872J 



NA TURE 



319 



prefer the latter. But I hold that, as a means of educating the 

 mental faculties, chemistry, faithfully taught, has in many re- 

 spects the advantage over literary studies. There is superabundant 

 scope for the exercise of the memory ; the powers of observation 

 are developed by it to a wonderful degree; the reasoning powers 

 may be well disciplined on tlie philosophy of chemical change, 

 or the application of the laws of Dalton, Mitscherlich, and 

 Avogadro ; while the imagination may be cultivated by the at- 

 tempt to form a conception of the ultimate particles of matter, 

 with their affinities and atomicities, as they act; and react upon 

 one another under the control of ;the physical forces. 



Our Government insists on a certain standard of education for 

 all who are allowed to teacli in our elementary schools. In those 

 schools which receive no State]/ aid it is only public opinion 

 which can insist that the teacher shall be duly qualified himself. 

 Such bodies as the British Association form this public opinion, 

 and will deserve well of their country if they demand that these 

 masters and mistresses shall know something of the material 

 universe in which they move, and be alile to impart to every 

 child such scientific knowledge as shall afford him an interesting 

 subject for thought, give him useful information, and discipline 

 his mental powers. 



Among the many services rendered by the monthly reports of 

 the progress of chemistry which the Chemical Society publishes, 

 and the British Association helps to pay for, there is one which 

 is rather salutary than pleasant. They bring prominently before 

 our notice the fact that in tlie race of original research we are 

 being distanced by foreign chemists. I refer not to the quality 

 of our work, about which opinions will probably dilTer, but to 

 the quantity, which can be determined by very simple arithmetic. 

 This is a matter of no small importance, not only for the honour 

 of^England, but still more for the advancement oi science, and 

 the welfare of man. From the Physical Chair of this Associa- 

 tion last year, a note of warning was uttered in the following 

 words, after a reference to the sad fate of Newton's successors, 

 who allowed mathematical science almost to die out of the 

 country : — " If the successors of Davy and Faraday pause to 

 ponder even on /'//tvV achievements, we shall soon be again in the 

 same state of ignominious inferiority." The President of the 

 Chemical Society, also in the last Anniversary Address, drew 

 Tttention to the diminished activity of Chemical discovery, and 

 to the lamentable fewness of original papers communicated. He 

 traces this chiefly to "the non-recognition of experimental re- 

 search by our universities," and suggests that in granting of 

 science-degrees every candidate should be required, as in Ger- 

 many, to prove his ability for original investigation. 



Concurring in this,*I would remark that other causes have also 

 been assigned, and other suggestions have been made. There is 

 the small recognition of original research even by our learned 

 societies — at least such recognition as will come home to the 

 understanding of the general public. It is true the Fellowship of 

 the Royal Society is aw-arded mainly for original discoveries, and 

 there are two or three medals to be disposed of annually ; but 

 these distinctions fall to the lot of the seniors in science, often 

 men who are beyond the need of encouragement, and though 

 they doubtless are serviceable as incentives, there is many a be- 

 ginner in the honourable contest of discovery who is too modest 

 even to hope for the blue ribbon of science. While the Victoria 

 Cross is awarded to few, every soldier who has borne part in a 

 victory expects his clasp, and so might every man who has won 

 victories over the secrets of nature fairly look for some public 

 recognition. It has been suggested, for instance, that the Royal 

 Society, in addition to the F. R.S. , might institute an Associate- 

 ship, with the letters A.R..S. , designed exclusively for those 

 younger men who have shown zeal and ability in original research, 

 but whose discoveries have not been sufiicient to entitle them 

 already to the Fellowship. It is suggested, too, that the Chemical 

 Society might give some medal, or diploma, or some similar dis- 

 tinction, to those who contribute papers of sufficient merit. 



But beyond this is the non-recognition of scientific research by 

 society in general. We can scarcely expect the average en- 

 lightened Englishman to be anything but scared by a graphic 

 formula, or a doubly sesquipedalian word containing two or 

 three compound radicals ; but he need not continue to talk of 

 the four elements, or of acids being neutralised by sugar. But, 

 indeed, the so-called educated classes in England are not only 

 supremely ignorant of science, they have scarcely yet arrived at 

 the first stage of improvement — the knowledge of their own igno- 

 rance. Then, again, there is the excessive preference of prac- 

 tical over theoretical discoveries ; or rather, perhaps, the in- 



ability to appreciate anything but tangible results. Thus a new 

 aniline compound is nothing unless it will dye a pretty colour ; 

 if we speak of the discovery of a new metal by the spectroscope, 

 they simply a^k — What is it useful for? and the rigorous deter- 

 mination of an atomic weight has for them "no meaning nor 

 interest nor beauty. The general appreciation of science must be 

 of gradual growth ; yet there are wealthy men who know its 

 value, and who might well become the endowers of research. 

 There are, indeed, at present funds available for the purpose — 

 such as the Government grant, and the surplus funds of this 

 association ; but the money is given simply to cover actual out- 

 lay, and this, though very useful, scaicely meets the case of 

 those young philosophers who have no balance at their bankers, 

 .and yet must live. Will not some of these wealthy men endow 

 experimental scholarships, or professorships, in connection with 

 our colleges, institutions, or learned societies? As an instance 

 of the good that may be effected in this way, may be cited the 

 Fullerian professorships ; and as a very recent example, worthy 

 of all honour, may be msntioned the purpose of Mr. J. B. 

 Lawes, not only to continue his elaborate experiments at Rot- 

 hamsted throughout his lifetime, but to place his laboratory and 

 experimental fields in trust, together with 100,000/., so that in- 

 vestigations may be continued in the wider and more scientific 

 questions which tlie progress of agriculture may suggest. 



The Government of our country, through the Science and Art 

 Department, renders good assistance to the teaching of science ; 

 and if the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Scien- 

 tific Instruction and the Advancement of Science be adopted, 

 the introduction of practical examinations for the obtaining of 

 certificates for a superior grade of science-master will certainly 

 foster a spirit of research. It has been generally held that the 

 promotion of research is within the legitimate scope of Govern- 

 ment ; and where, as in the case of Aristotle and Alexander, 

 genius and industry have been sustained by princely munificence, 

 the happiest results have ensued. Yet this question of Govern- 

 ment aid is a delicate one : for genius, when put into swaddling 

 clothes, is apt to be stifled by them ; and were science to depend 

 on political favour or imperial support, it would be a fatal cala- 

 mity. Still I think it will be everywhere admitted that science 

 might with propriety be subsidised from the public funds in 

 cases where the results may be expected to confer a direct bene- 

 fit upon the community, and where the inquiry, either from its 

 expense, its tediousness, its uninteresting character, or the amonnt 

 of co-operation required, is not likely to be carried out by volun- 

 tary effort. The astronomical work which is paid for by Govern- 

 ment bears upon navigation, and answers both these require- 

 ments ; and it is easy to conceive of inquiries in our ovm science 

 that might equally deserve the assistance of the State. Some of 

 these might also moi'e than repay the outlay, though perhajDS 

 the profit would not fall into next year's budget. 



I believe that this diminution of original research, \vh ch we de- 

 plore, is partly due to a cause in which we rejoice — the recent exten- 

 sion of science-teaching. The professorships of chemistry are 

 scarcely more numerous now than they were twenty years ago, 

 while the calls upon the professor's time in conducting classes or 

 looking over examination papers have greatly augmented. Thus 

 some of the most capable men have been drawn away from the 

 investigation of nature ; and in order to afford them sufficient 

 leisure for the purpose, means must be found to multiply the 

 number of the professorships in our various colleges. 



While the rudiments of science are being infused into our 

 primary education, now happily becoming national, while physi- 

 cal science is gradually gaining a footing in our secondary and 

 our large public schools, and while it is winning for itself an 

 honoured place at our universities, it is to be hoped that many 

 new investigators will arise, and that British chemists will not 

 fall behind in the upward march of discovery, but will continue 

 hand in hand with their continental brethren thus to serve their 

 own and future generations. 



SECTION C 

 GEOLOGICAL SECTION 



Opening Address by the President, R. A. C. Godwin- 

 AUSTEN, F.R.S. 



The Geological Section is fortunate in respect of this year's 

 place of meeting of the British Association. The county 

 oi Sussex presents a wide range to the geological observer; there 



