242 G. Bentham’s Anniversary Address 
patient, and tedious devotion to one subject of limited extent 
ich such discoveries have usually resulted ; and the fact 
may be, in some measure, the result of our social habits and 
ideas. Our early education, the whole tendency of our lives, is 
generally directed to the means of advancement in the world, 
if not always to the increase of income, at any rate to the raising 
of our social position in the eyes of those amongst whom we 
live. If the enormous increase in our commercial and indus- 
trial wealth be carefully investigated, it will be found to be im 
many respects deeply indebted to the recent progress of pure 
natural science ; and yet the necessary study of that pure science 
will neither enrich the one who would devote himself to it, nor 
yet raise him in the estimation of his neighbors and associates, 
whilst it may seriously interfere with his means of bringing up 
his family, reduced as they become by the rapid increase in the 
expense of living. We have not in this country those numer- 
ous small professorships, or government or municipal places in 
provincial towns, which giveto a man of modest requirements 
. . th 
for science, have for its sake renounced all attempts to climb 
round after round on the social ladder. We have had, however, 
es as Linr 
_ well hold their own 
of Central Europe.” 3 
“ eS i 
In considering these observations it may not be uninterestit 
keep in mind a percepti ; r 
foxpae i : ptible difference between our two 8!™. 
scientific neighbors, the French and theGermans. Excelling 
