" On the Decline of Science in England. 1 * 357 



as singular a severity as those of the lamb by the wolf in the 

 fable ; and the misrule of years is blazoned, on the present 

 occasion, just as if it could with justice be laid at their door. 

 The Royal Society is erroneously represented as having, in 

 turns, given " the most determined opposition" to the esta- 

 blishment of the Linneean, the Geological, and the Astrono- 

 mical Society. The most active supporters of each of those 

 Societies, were, however, fellows of the Royal Society : and 

 with regard to the first-named of them, the Linnaean, it is 

 well known, that Sir James Smith had the most important and 

 effectual assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, in its formation. So 

 far, even Sir Joseph is free from any discredit on the subject. 

 But with regard to the Geological and Astronomical Societies, 

 though Sir Joseph personally disapproved of them, it could 

 not fairly be said that they were discountenanced, either by 

 the Royal Society, or its Council. — Dr. Wollaston was an 

 early member of theGeological Society, though one of the most 

 constant, efficient, and distinguished members of the Royal 

 Society's Council; and the present President, as is well known, 

 has long given it his hearty support ; and not a great while 

 ago successfully employed his influence with Sir Robert Peel, 

 to transfer the present apartments of the Geological Society, 

 from the Royal Society, to that body. Mr. Davies Gilbert 

 was likewise an early and active member of the Astronomical 

 Society; so were Mr. Pond, the astronomer-royal; Sir Wm. 

 Herschel ; Mr. Herschel his highly-gifted son ; Dr. Wol- 

 laston; Mr. South; Mr. Groombridge; Dr. Roget the pre- 

 sent Secretary, and many others, who, like those just men- 

 tioned, from being more or less frequently on the Council of 

 the Royal Society, were, according to Mr. Babbage, more or 

 less worthy of being held up to public odium, as having sub- 

 mitted to be under the undue influence of the President. 



The habits of obedience and command, which attach to the 

 military character, are adduced as reasons why Captain Sabine 

 could not be expected to act with " the perfect freedom which 

 should reign in the Councils of Science : " and yet the ardour 

 with which it appears that men of Science are embued for 

 " loaves and fishes ; " the patronage represented to be exer- 

 cised to " staunch supporters of the system ; " the disposition 

 which we learn has been so generally exhibited in the Council, 

 to divide " all the good things " among the members of their 

 coterie, — required not, surely, the introduction of a military 

 officer into that body, to exhibit an example of implicit obe- 

 dience. 



It will hardly be gratifying to the world of Science, to have 

 it held out to them, that Dr. Wollaston, Sir Humphry Davy, 



and 



