224 
On the Aristocracy of Science. 
[JULT, 
VI . — On the Aristocracy of Science. 
To the Editor of Gleanings in Science. 
Sir, 
It has been said with truth, that Science is of no country in particular ; and 
that with one solitary, hut striking exception, the practice of all civilized nations 
throughout the world is uniform in considering her votaries as belonging to no 
class in particular. Hence the freedom, the equality, the free masonry of the 
constituents of learned societies on the continent, contrasted with the exclusion, 
the formality, and I may add, the jealousy observable in similar institutes in Eng- 
land. For one practical man in the latter, will be found ten theorists, or indivi- 
duals whose only recommendation to the honor of being ranked with men of science, 
is the strength of their purse, or superior local position in society. Hence all our 
great improvements in the arts and sciences have been accomplished by practical 
men, from the humbler ranks of life: witness an Arkwright — a Watt — a Fulton— a 
Davy — a Lawrence; while on the continent, it will be observed, nearly all their in- 
ventions have been the result of the labor of professed scavans. In England, the 
vast majority of the members of bodies termed scientific, have no claim to that 
title, the weight of practical talent resting with the unclassed and humbler sons of 
science. The natural consequence of this state of things in England is beginning 
to be felt : many individuals of sound scientific acquirements, but who had not the 
good fortune to be considered “ eligible" to the honors of the Royal Society, or 
Society of Arts and Manufactures, in consequence of not moving in a line of life 
sufficiently elevated or aristocratical, have been received with open arms by the 
learned Societies of the continent. It has been sarcastically remarked, that these 
individuals were “over-scientific that is, possessed of too much practical know- 
ledge to deem it safe for them to be placed in contact with the mass of pretence 
which could be sifted out of some of the learned and scientific bodies of England- 
Be the cause what it may, we see how the wpong has worked its own cure, in th< 
“ Mechanics Institute,” and the establishment of that able and practical publiu 
tion, the “ Mechanics Magazine.” 
From this harsh picture, let us turn to India — I should be wanting in respect to 
many gifted individuals, from whom I have experienced much kindness, were 1 to 
sert that the case is similar here. There is not amongst the European portion ^ 
Society in India, rich as it is in a concentration of talent, far exceeding t w 
of any other of such limited extent, any institution specifically diiecte 
those objects, to which the Society of Arts and Manufactures of London de'O t 
its attention. Indeed, there is but one learned institution on this s *'^ e 
India, the Asiatic Society; and its honors are not attainable by men 
class in question, whose claims it would, however, be but justice 
of the 
to consi- 
der, and policy to admit. Practical men, conscious of their own powers, ^ 
too proud to solicit notice ; and not being possessed of influence, or iich 
to command the honor of becoming members of societies, whose vei} ex ^ 
depends on their profession of cultivating literature and the arts, rest con 
their own attainments, and their knowledge perishes with them. Under this^ 
of the case, the recent proposition of admitting honorary local membeis 11 
list of the Asiatic Society, is truly praiseworthy and liberal, with whomsoev er ^ 
ginated ; and I trust it will be carried into effect, thereby gaining for the oC ^ 
vast accession of strength, not merely numerical, but rich in that which c0 
tutes the chief recommendation of all scientific or learned societies, the agg J - 
of practical information possessed by their members. In all such bodies, to ^ 
