316 
NATURE 
{May 20, 1915 

will be found to be at least moderately efficient as 
regards persons, but woefully inadequate as regards 
subjects. 
The difference is well pointed by an incident at a 
dinner in connection with a scientific meeting a few 
years ago. The speaking, after dinner, had become 
rather informal, and one of the foreign representa- 
tives urged the desirability of a professorship in, say, 
seismology—the particular subject is unimportant— 
and, in reply, the chairman said that he had recog- 
nised the need for a long time, and was uncertain 
whether the best way of approaching its satisfaction 
was to appeal directly to the universities, or to begin 
with the schools and so create a demand which the 
universities would find it to their interest to meet. 
The German representative on leaving the dining- 
room remarked: ‘‘ But, of course, your Government 
must create a professorship.” The only reply to that 
is that it is not our way. 
Then what is our way? To what authority in 
this country does one appeal for the promotion of 
the study of any scientific subject which is felt to 
be in want of support ? 
There is the Royal Society, which is known 
to be a remarkably powerful body for  dis- 
criminating between the merits of the scientific 
workers in this country. Some years ago one of 
its presidents devoted a series of presidential addresses 
to the claims of science in education; but to ask 
the Royal Society to put machinery in motion to 
supply the need for university professorships in certain 
subjects would be simply to court a rebuff, and for 
an obvious reason. It is understood that the Royal 
Society, though it is, for some purposes, a representa- 
tive body, does not regard itself as the proper body 
to take the initiative in approaching the Government 
for the support of a new scientific project. The 
proper course is supposed to be for those who are 
interested in the project to approach the Government 
themselves, and for the Government to refer the matter 
to the Royal Society as a kind of jury. By that mode 
of procedure the promcters, without the official sup- 
port of the representatives of science, have first to 
convince the Government that their project comes 
within its province, a task that in itself is enough to 
damp the ardour of many enthusiasts. 
If the Royal Society is shy of approaching the 
Government, it would be still more shy of approaching 
directly an academic corporate body. That is not to 
be thought of. Besides, it is itself academic enough 
to know the answer without going through the 
formality of making the inquiry. 
Nor is it likely that an avenue to the purse of the 
private benefactor could be found through the cor- 
porate action of the Royal Society, although without 
such action any appeal is prejudiced from the start. 
It can scarcely be doubted that if the Royal Society 
would from time to time set out the gaps in the 
professorial ranks of the universities on account of 
subjects of deep human and scientific interest which 
have no exponents in the academie life of this country 
(and so, by conscious or unconscious imitation, of the 
British Empire), the appeal would carry conviction to 
some of those who are willing to consider a worthy 
outlet for part of their wealth. The contention 
that the British Empire is not rich, or at least not 
rich enough to staff its universities properly, will not 
really bear examination; and yet the very dignity of 
the Royal Society seems too great for it to undertake 
the duty of appealing for funds for separate subjects 
that need support. 
So we are back again at the usual refuge for 
science in distress: the Government. The front door 
is closed, as we have seen, but we can try the back. 
NO. 2377, VOL. 95] 
| ledge 

“cc 
Let us concentrate our attention on the ‘‘research”’ 
aspect of the question and appeal for support to the 
“Government grant for scientific research’’ which is 
administered with a free hand by a committee ap- 
pointed by the Royal Society. It is common know- 
that the committee acts ostensibly on the 
principle that for research in this country all that the 
Government needs to provide is a number of small 
doles to enthusiastic workers who find themselves 
deficient in apparatus and materials. The sums neces- 
sary for the maintenance and remuneration of these 
workers have to be provided by other means—into 
which the Government Grant Committee is careful 
not to inquire. 
But with the neglected subjects to which we have 
been referring, research has to be initiated and workers 
found and paid: the Government Grant Committee 
draws the line there. It is a very unfortunate con- 
clusion, because any appeal to Government for re- 
search from anybody but the Royal Society can be, 
and indeed is, rightly estopped by a reference to the 
provision which already exists for scientific research, 
and which is not officially known to be inadequate. 
Here again the Royal Society shows itself admir- 
ably efficient in discriminating between the merits of 
the persons who apply for the doles, but it has prac- 
tically nothing to say to the appeal for subjects left 
entirely in the cold. 
Is it unjust to sum up the situation with 
regard to the subject-aspect of our national organisa- 
tion of scientific effort by saying that it is in this 
unfortunate position: that on the one hand nothing 
can be done without the Royal Society, and on the 
other hand, with all respect and admiration, nothing 
can be done through the Royal Society ? 
Yet things are done from time to time; ways out 
of the dilemma have been found; our existing 
organisation must have other aspects. Parenthetically 
it is a matter for wonder how the subject of 
mineralogy came by the provision which it now enjoys 
at the older universities. One has the feeling that if 
it had not been endowed long ago it would never be 
endowed now. It seems even further from the im- 
portant consideration of the *‘main chance’? which 
appeals to the universities than some other subjects 
which have still no academic status. 
Looking back at the history of the other subjects 
which may be included in the title of out-of-door 
physics, we find that the British Association for the 
Advancement of Science stands out as the specialised 
organ of our national organisation for giving things 
a start. One knows the mode of procedure quite well. 
Certain prominent men of science (who when they are 
back in London will be the Royal Society) meet in 
some provincial town, discuss the matter, appoint a 
committee, and make a grant out of the members’ 
pounds for out-of-pocket expenses. The subject 
prospers by the unpaid work of some indefatigable 
member of the committee; after some years an appeal 
is made to Government. The British Association 
conducts the appeal, which is thereby guaranteed 
respectful consideration; and its reception by the 
Royal Society jury is also guaranteed by the 
personnel of the committee; there is no element of 
danger in the reference, and so the plan is brought 
to some sort of fruition. 
To the operation of the British Association can be 
traced the origin of what provision there is (outside 
the Royal Observatories, the Hydrographic Depart- 
ment of the Navy, and one division of the Meteoro- 
logical Office) for meteorology, terrestrial magnetism, 
solar physics, seismology and the so-called ‘‘ Stan- 
dardisation "’ of instruments, now represented by the 
National Physical Laboratory. For each of these one 


