68 REPORT — 1872. 



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 mig-ht 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., 

 mio-ht institute an Associateship, 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 sufficient to entitle them already to the Fellowship. 

 It is suggested, too, that the Chemical Society might give some medal, or diploma, 

 or some similar distinction 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 enlightened Englishman to be any thing 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 neutralized by sugar. But, indeed, the so-caUed 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 ignorance. Then, 

 again, there is the excessive preference of practical inventions over theoretical dis- 

 coveries — or rather, perhaps, the inability to appreciate any thing 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 ask. What is it useful for ? and the rigorous determination of an atomic 

 weight has for them no meaning, or interest, or beauty. The general appreciation 

 of science must be of gradual growth ; j'et there are wealthy men who know its 

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

 at present funds a^'ailable for the purpose — such as the Government Grant, and the 

 surplus funds of this Association ; but the money is given simply to cover actual 

 outlay; and this, though very useful, scarcely meets the case of those young philo- 

 sophers who have no balance at their bankers, and yet must live. Will not some 

 of these wealthy men endow experimental scholarships, or professorships, in con- 

 nexion 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 mentioned the purpose 

 of Mr. J. B. Lawes, not only to continue his elaborate experiments at Rothamsted 

 throughout his lifetime, but to place his laboratory and experimental fields in 

 tAist, together with £100,000, so that investigations may be continued in the 

 wider and more scientific questions which the progress of agTiculture may suggest. 



Tlie Government of our country, through the Science and Art Department, ren- 

 ders good assistance to the teaching of science; and if the recommendations of the 

 Royal Commission on Scientific 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 certainlj^ foster a spirit of research. It 

 has been generally held that the promotion of research is within the legitimate 

 scope of government ; and where, as in the case of Aristotle and Alexander, genius 

 and industry have been sustained by princety munificence, the happiest results 

 have ensued. Yet this question of Government aid is a delicate one : for genius, 

 when put into swaddhng clothes, is apt to be stifled by them; and were science 

 to depend on political favour or imperial support, it would be a fatal calamity. 

 Still I think it will be everywhere admitted that science might with propriety be 

 subsidized from the public funds in cases where the results may be expected to 

 confer a direct benefit upon the community, and where the inquirj', either from its 

 expense, its tediousness, its uninteresting character, or the amount of cooperation 

 required, is not likely to be carried out by voluntary effort. The astronomical 

 work which is paid for by Government bears upon navigation, and answers both 

 these requirements ; and it is easy to conceive of inquiries in our owti science that 

 might equally deserve the assistance of the State. Some of these might also more 

 than repay the outlay, though perhaps the profit would not fall into next year's 

 budget. 



I believe that this diminution of original research, which we deplore, is partly 

 due to a cause in which we rejoice — the recent extension of science-teaching. The 

 professorships of chemistry are scarcely more numerous now than they were twenty 



