NATURE 



THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1874 



I 



THE SCIENCE COMMISSION 



IT would be difficult, we think, to overestimate the 

 value of the evidence brought together in the second 

 volume published by the Science Commission. The first 

 volume dealt mainly with the diffusion of knowledge ; the 

 second is concerned mainly with the advancement of Sci- 

 ence. The Commission has done good service in bring- 

 ing before Parliament and the country the carefully 

 weighed opinions of men of the highest mark in all de- 

 partments of Science on subjects of the first importance, 

 not only in their bearing on the advancement of Science 

 but also on some of the best interests of this country. 

 We propose to show the general bearing of the evidence 

 contained in the volume on some of the questions on which 

 the Commission sought information, omitting all opinions 

 of our own. 



The unanimity of opinion among the witnesses ex- 

 amined — and their number is large — as to the duty of 

 the State in the matter of Abstract Science is striking ; 

 without exception, so far as we have been able to 

 examine the evidence, the opinion is unanimous that it 

 is the duty of the State to encourage original research in 

 Abstract Science. As might naturally be expected opinions 

 vary as to the method which the State should adopt in 

 carrying out this duty, but that some action ought to be 

 taken by the State in this direction is the all but unanimous 

 conviction of the best men in all departments of Science. 

 We need only mention in this connection such names 

 as those of Lord Derby, Lord Salisbury, Sir Stafford 

 Northcote, as statesmcn,Sir W m. Thomson, Dr. Joule, Dr. 

 Sanderson, Col. Strange, Mr. Gedrge Gore, Dr. Carpenter, 

 Mr. T. H. Farrer, Prof. A. W. Williamson, Dr. Frankland, 

 Mr. E. J. Reed, General Sir Edward Sabine, Prof. Balfour 

 Stewart, Prof. Owen, Admiral Richards, Dr. C. W. 

 Siemtn'^, Mr. P. L. Sclater, Dr. Hooker, Dr. De la Rue, 

 &C.J to show the weight and comprehensiveness of opinion 

 on this point, and that it is held not only by men con- 

 cerned solely with Abstract Science but also by those 

 concerned with some of the most important practical 

 applications of Science. 



Of course the principal way in which the State can aid 

 scientific research is by granting money for the purpose ; 

 as to how such a grant ought to be applied various 

 opinions are offered by the witnesses, each witness, as a 

 rule, naturally looking at the matter from the point of 

 view of his own branch of Science, but all are decidedly 

 of opinion that a very large sum should be put on the 

 estimates annually for the promotion of Science. 

 Nearly all the witnesses who have been examined 

 on this point are of opinion that Government, under 

 judicious advice, ought to make grants to existing 

 scientific institutions, to university laboratories, and to 

 private individuals, to enable them to carry on research 

 that is likely to lead to valuable scientific results. In 

 addition to this, however, such men as Sir VVm. Thomson, 

 Dr. Frankland, General Strachey, Prof. Owen, Dr. Joule, 

 Dr. De la Rue, Dr. Carpenter, Col. Strange, Mr. Gore, 

 and others, express a most decided conviction that one of 

 the most efficient methods by which Government could 

 Vol. X. — No. 237 



further research in this country is by the establishment 

 of public laboratories for the pursuit of scientific research 

 in connection with the various and ever-multiplying de- 

 partments of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, adequate 

 research in connection with which is admittedly quite 

 beyond the means of private individuals. The evidence 

 in favour of institutions of this kind is very strong indeed 

 whether we consider the number and position of the 

 witnesses or the earnestness and decision with which they 

 express their convictions. It is clearly stated that in this 

 country we are very far behind continental states and 

 America in this respect, and that not only is Science a 

 loser from want of assistance from the State, but the 

 general welfare of the country is seriously impeded. 

 The evidence in favour of the establishment of State in- 

 stitutions for the prosecution of scientific research is so 

 voluminous and strong that it is dil'ficult to select any 

 particular part for quotation. As an example of its 

 nature, however, we may quote what Dr. De la Rue says 

 on the subject of chemical laboratories : — 



" I hold it to be so important that chemistry should be 

 extensively cultivated in England, that I would strongly ad- 

 vocate that there should be a State laboratory. That State 

 laboratory should undertake ail the chemical work which 

 the Government might require ; but at the same time, ac- 

 cording to the views which I hold, it ought to be such an 

 establishment as could afford facilities to men who have 

 completed their scientific education, and who might be 

 desirous of continuing original investigations, in which 

 space for working and instruments should be afforded 

 them, and, moreover, if men were not in a position of 

 fortune to continue their researches, in some cases 

 materials and even money might be granted to them on 

 the recommendation of the Council. I may state that of 

 my own knowledge I know that chemical science at pre- 

 sent is not progressing in England in a satisfactory 

 mmner, that we do not make so many original researches 

 as our continental neighbours, particularly the Germans, 

 do. In Germany very great patronage is given to Science, 

 magnificent laboratories have been built, and the students, 

 who after they are sufficiently a ivanced are encouraged to 

 make original investigations, contribute at present most 

 largely to scientific chemistry." 



On the question of establishing a Public Physical 

 Laboratory, Col. Strange says : — 



" I^think it is an absolute necessity on the ground of 

 my second postulate, in which I say that all science 

 should be cultivated, even branches of Science which do 

 not appear to promise immediate advantage. It is one of 

 the most important parts of Science, and cannot be 



omitted without detriment to all the other parts 



Investigations connected with almost the whole of our 

 material economy are required. There is no question 

 connected with sanitary improvement, with water supply, 

 or sewage, or telegraphy, or the enormous number of the 

 requirements of the army and navy, which would not de- 

 rive advantage more or less from investigations of a phy- 

 sical nature such as would be conducted in a physical 

 laboratory. I think that the whole of our naval and 

 military and social economy is dependent upon in- 

 vestigations such as would be carried on in a physical 

 laboratory." 



A similar tone pervades the evidence of the witnesses 

 who were questioned on the subjects of physiological and 

 biological laboratories, metallurgical laboratories, botani- 

 cal laboratories, and observatories for astronomical 

 physics. Of those in favour of an observatory of the last- 

 mentioned kind, we might mention the names of Lord 



