4^5 
i88o.] Report on Scientific Societies . 
universities have exerted on the growth of Science in England. 
Inconsequence of the competitive system adopted at the 
examinations, tuition at the universities has developed into 
a species of “ cramming” of a very high order , or, as it may 
perhaps better be called, a species of “ drilling” rather than 
of training of the mind. As a further consequence, the 
mental grasp of a high wrangler is generally quite asto- 
nishing, and he is capable of solving, so to speak, any 
problems that may be set him ; but he has mostly lost that 
inventive faculty which busies itself about the problems 
implied by Nature, and the very existence of which must be 
divined. Mostly, great philosophers have worked at questions 
which none had formulated before them ; and many have 
declared their inability to work at others, or shown their 
incompetency with regard to such subjedts as had not been 
objedts of their predilection. To force a person to inquiries 
of any kind may be a commendable proceeding in the case 
of individuals whose callings will bring them in contact 
with the problems of the practical arts, or generally of lire ; 
but neither discoverers nor inventors of a high order can be 
bred in such fashion. And, as long as fellowships shall be 
considered as prizes to be obtained only at competitive 
examinations, it is not to be expected, in my opinion, that 
the rich foundations of the universities will bear that iruit 
to Science which they might or ought to ; although 
“Science,” in the more limited sense, be admitted in future 
on the same footing at the examinations as “ classics or 
“mathematics.” The exhaustive strain on the mind pro- 
duced by these examinations, or the preparation for them, is 
another element to be considered, and which induces Fellows 
to repose rather on their laurels than to exert themselves in 
any further fatiguing work. . . , , 
Probably a greater part than to the universities is to be 
ascribed in the spread and development of modern science 
to the Royal Institution, which has been the scene of the 
teaching and labours of the three by far greatest philosophers 
of our century, — of Young, of Davy, and of Faraday,— -for 
neither of whom was there, nor for the two latter of whom 
could there be, any room at the universities. But, however 
valuable and important the results achieved by these extra- 
ordinary men may be, and although other distinguished 
persons have worked by their side or may have a6led, in one 
or other case, as the successors of either, the Royal Institu- 
tion cannot be considered as a school or seminary of philo- 
sophers or scientific men. Such it was not even its original 
object to be ; that being, if memory deceive me not, very 
