334 



NA TURE 



[August 2, 1905 



by the administrative departments of Government would 

 be more appropriate to a committee appointed by the 

 Council of the Association for this purpose than to the 

 Presidential Address. 



At the same time, I think the present occasion is one 

 on which attention should be drawn in general terms to 

 the fact that science is not gaining " advancement " in 

 public and oflficial consideration and support. The reason 

 is, I think, to be found in the defective education, both 

 at school and university, of our governing class, as well 

 as in a racial dislike among all classes to the establish- 

 ment and support by public funds of posts which the 

 average man may not expect to succeed by popular clamour 

 or class privilege in gaining for himself — posts which 

 must be held by men of special training and mental gifts. 

 Whatever the reason for the neglect, the only remedy 

 which we can possibly apply is that of improved education 

 lor the upper classes, and the continued effort to spread a 

 knowledge of the results of science and a love for it 

 amongst all members of the community. If members of 

 the British Association took this matter seriously to heart 

 they might do a groat deal by insisting that their sons, 

 and their daughters too, should have reasonable instruc- 

 tion in science both at school and college. They could, 

 by their own initiative and example, do a good deal to 

 put an end to the trilling with classical literature and the 

 absorption in athletics which is considered by too many 

 schoolmasters as that which the British parent desires as 

 the education of his children. 



Within the past year a letter has been published by a 

 well-known nobleman, who is one of the Trustees of the 

 British Museum, holding up to public condemnation the 

 method in which the system laid down by the officials 

 of the Treasury and sanctioned by successive Govern- 

 ments, as to the remuneration of scientific men, was 

 applied in an individual case. I desire to place on record 

 here the Earl of Crawford's letter to the Times of 

 October 31, iqo5, for the careful consideration of the 

 members of the British Association and their friends. 

 When such things are done, science cannot be said to have 

 advanced much in public consideration or Governmental 

 support. 



To the Editor c/ the " rimes. 

 Sir. — The death, noted by you to-day, of my dear friend and colleague, 

 Dr. Copeinnd, His Maiestv's Astron mer for Scoiland, creates a vacancy in 

 the scientific staff of Great Britain. 



Will you permit me. Sir, to offer a word of warning to any who may be 

 asked to succeed him? 



Students or masters of astronomy are not, in the selfish sense, business 

 men. nor are thev as a general rule overburdened with this world's goods. 

 It behoves them henceforth to take more rare as to their future in case of 

 illness or physical infirmity, anrl not to trust to the gratitude or generous 

 impulse of the Treasury Department. 



In old days it was the custom when a man distinguished in science was 

 brought into a high posiiion in the I ivil Service that he wa^ credited with a 

 certain number of years service ranking for pension. This practice has 

 been don" away with and a bargain syst. m suh-iltuled. A short while ago 

 the growing agonies of heart disease cau-eH Dr Copeland to f- el that he 

 was less able to carry ^n the duties of his post, and he determined to resign ; 

 but he learnt that under the scale, and in the absence of any special bargain, 

 the pension he would receive would not suffice for the necessities of life. 

 The only increase his friends coulH get from the Treasury was an offer to 

 allow him about half-a.crown a week ex'ra by way rf a house. 



Indignant and ashamed of my Governm-nt, I persuaded Dr. Copeland to 

 nd to retain ibe official position which he has 



edtill hisde 



lir, that this memf^randum of mine may cause 

 o are asked to enter the .service of the Slate when already of 

 middle age to take heed for their future welfare. 



I am. Sir, your obedient servant, 

 2 Cavendish Square, October sS. Crawfoud. 



It is more agreeable to me not to dwell further on the 

 comparative failure of science to gain increased influence 

 and support In this country, but to mention to you some 

 instances on the other side of the account. As long ago 

 as 1842 the British Association took over and developed 

 an observatory in the Deer Park at Kew, which was 

 placed at the disposal of the A-ssociation by Her Majesty 

 the Queen. Until 1871 the Association spent annually a 

 large part of its income — as much in later years as dool. 

 a year— -in carrying on the work of the Kew Observatory, 

 consisting of magnetic, meteorological and physical observ- 

 ations. In 1871 the .Association handed over the Observ- 

 atory to the Royal Society, which had received an endow- 

 ment of 10,000;. from Mr. Gassiot for its maintenance, 

 . NO. 1 918, VOL. 74I 



and had further devoted to that purpose considerable sums 

 from its own Donation Fund and Government grant. 

 Further aid for it was also received from private sources. 

 From this Observatory at last has sprung, in the beginning 

 of the present century, the National Physical Laboratory 

 in Bushey Park, a fine and efficient scientific institution, 

 built and supported by grants from the State, and managed 

 by a committee of really devoted men of science who are 

 largely representatives of the Royal Society. In addition 

 to the value of the site and buildings occupied by the 

 National Physical Laboratory, the Governtnent has con- 

 tributed altogether 34,000/. to the capital expenditure on 

 new buildings, fittings, and apparatus, and has further 

 assigned a grant of 6000Z. a year to the working of the 

 laboratory. This institution all men of science are truly 

 glad to have gained from the State, and they will re- 

 member with gratitude the statesmen — the late IVIarquis of 

 Salisbury, the Right Hon. Arthur J. Balfour, Mr. Haldane, 

 and others — as well as their own leaders — Lord Rayleigh, 

 Sir William Huggins, and the active body of physicists in 

 the Royal Society — who have carried this enterprise to 

 completion. The British Association has every reason to 

 be proud of its share in early days in nursing the germ at 

 Kew which has at length expanded into this splendid 

 national institution. 



I may mention also another institution which, during 

 the past quarter of a century, has come into e.xistence and 

 received, originally through the influence of the late Lord 

 Playfair (one of the few men of science who have ever 

 occupied the position of a Minister of the Crown), and 

 later by the influence of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamber- 

 lain, a subsidy of loooZ. a year from the Government and 

 a contribution of 5000?. towards its initial expenses. This 

 is the Marine Biological Association, which has a labor- 

 atory at Plymouth, and has lately expended a special 

 annual grant, at the spontaneous invitation of His 

 Majesty's Treasury, in conducting an investigation of the 

 North Sea in accordance with an international scheme 

 devised by a central committee of scientific experts. This 

 scheme has for its purpose the gaining such knowledge of 

 the North Sea and its inhabitants as shall be useful in 

 dealing practically and by legislation with the great fisheries 

 of that area. You will, perhaps, not be surprised to hear 

 that there are persons in high positions who, though 

 admittedly unacquainted with the scientific questions at 

 issue or the proper manner of solving them, are discon- 

 tented with the action of the Government in entrusting 

 the expenditure of public money to a body of scientific men 

 who give their services, without reward or thanks, to 

 carrying out the purposes of the international inquiry. 

 Strange criticisms are offered by these malcontents in re- 

 gard to the work done in the international exploration of 

 the North Sea, and a desire is expressed to secure the 

 money for expenditure by a less scientific agency. I do 

 not hesitate to say here that the results obtained by the 

 Marine Biological Association are of great value and 

 interest, and, if properly continued and put to practical 

 application, are likely to benefit very greatly the fishery 

 industry ; on the other hand, if the work is cut short or 

 entrusted to incompetent hands it will no doubt be the 

 case that what has already been done will lose its value — 

 that is to say, will have been wasted. There is imminent 

 danger of this perversion of the funds assigned to this 

 scientific investigation taking place. There is no guarantee 

 for the continuance of any funds or offices assigned to 

 science in one generation by the officials of the next. The 

 Mastership of the Mint held by Isaac Newton, and finally 

 by Thomas Graham, has been abolished and its salary 

 appropriated by non-scientific officials. Only a few years 

 ago it was with great difficulty that the Government of 

 the day was prevented from assigning the Directorship of 

 Kew Gardens to a young man of influence devoid of all 

 knowledge of botany ! 



One of the most solid tests of the esteem and value 

 attached to scientific progress by the community is the 

 dedication of large sums of money to scientific purposes by 

 its wealthier members. We know that in the United 

 States such gifts are not infreouent ; they are rare in this 

 country. It is, therefore, with esnecial pleasure that I 

 call your attention to a great gift to science in this 



