180 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
But there are still higher interests for which a scientific education 
is essential, — interests intensely national, and affecting the well- 
being of every member of the community. In expounding the 
results of the Great Exhibition of 1851, our eminent colleague, 
Dr Lyon Playfair, as one of the commissioners, did not scruple to 
tell the Government “ that all European nations, except England, 
have recognised the fact that industry must in future be supported , 
not by a competition of local advantages , but by a competition of 
intellect . . . that each foreign metropolis rejoices in an in- 
dustrial university; — that the result of the Exhibition was one 
that England may well be startled at, — and that British manu- 
facturers themselves were convinced that most of the foreign 
countries were rapidly approaching, and sometimes excelling, us 
in those very manufactures which were our own by hereditary and 
traditional right.” This voice of wisdom and of warning was 
listened to only by that noble Prince, who, but for petty jealousies 
and rival interests, would have established that great college of 
industry, with affiliated schools, which he had announced to his 
friends. 
The same mortifying lesson, thus neglected by the Government, 
was taught us by the French Exhibition of 1855. The British 
jurors were so surprised at the superiority of France and other 
nations in many of the scientific and useful arts, that it became 
the subject of frequent discussion; and at a meeting called for 
the purpose, the jurors unanimously declared “ that it was only by 
great exertion, under the most favourable circumstances, that the 
hitherto almost uncontested superiority of Great Britain in the 
mechanical and chemical arts could be maintained.”* 
This second voice of warning, like the first, found no echo 
* This meeting was attended by Sir David Brewster, who was called to the 
chair, by Sir Charles Manby, Secretary to the Institution of Civil Engineers, 
who was requested to act as secretary, and by Professor Graham, Master of 
the Mint, Professor Owen, Professor Wheatstone, Professor Cockerell, Mr 
Fairbairn, Mr George Rennie, Mr De La Rue, Mr Warren De La Rue, Dr 
Hoffmann, and Mr Crampton, civil engineer. Several jurors, Sir Charles 
Barry, and others who were unable to attend, warmly approved of the object 
of the meeting. 
Resolutions of a more specific nature were moved by Professor Owen, 
Professor Wheatstone, and Professor Cockerell, and it was resolved to repre- 
sent to the British Government the convictions of the jurors. 
