34 
FIRST REPORT- 1831. 
tliematlcal sciences, for which, during the last seventy years, 
they have been so conspicuous.’ 
“ One great benefit, at least, in addition to her maritime ex¬ 
peditions, England, as a nation, has conferred on the science of 
the world. She has had reason to be proud of her astronomical 
observations ; though perhaps it is not equally gratifying to re¬ 
flect that these observations have been turned to account, of late 
years, less by her own geometers than by the national school of 
mathematicians in France. But there are many other sciences, 
Gentlemen, on wdiich the resources of states are no less depen¬ 
dent ; and in them also there are physical data, which require to 
be ascertained by masters in science, with the most rigorous pre¬ 
cision, and not without the most persevering labour. And I may 
be permitted to think with Mr. Herschel, that ‘it may very 
reasonably be asked, why the direct assistance afforded by go¬ 
vernments to the execution of continued series of observations, 
adapted to this especial end, should continue to be, as it has 
hitherto almost exclusively been, confined to Astronomy.’ 
“ The Chairman of the Meeting, adverting to this subject, 
has said that ‘ there are enterprises in science which none but 
a nation can undertake;’ let me add also, that there are esta¬ 
blishments for science which none but a nation can support. I 
remember, Gentlemen, to have heard the greatest philosopher 
of this age for variety and extent of attainments, M. de Hum¬ 
boldt, speak of Great Britain, as he was showing me the splen¬ 
did collections of natural history in the Museum at Paris. What 
country in the world, said he, has such opportunities as England 
for collecting in her capital specimens of all the productions of the 
earth! I reflected, Gentlemen, on those unrivalled advantages,— 
but felt, I confess, no elation of national pride when I recollected 
the state of the British Museum. Since that time, however, one 
material step has been taken towards improvement; and when 
an adequate building shall have been prepared, let us hope that 
we may at length see a public school of natural history in Lon¬ 
don, so furnished, and so appointed, as not to be unworthy of 
the British nation. I am persuaded that even our statesmen 
would have no cause for regret, if, whilst the stores of this na¬ 
tional repository were replenished by scientific missions judi¬ 
ciously employed, a more accurate knowledge were at the same 
time obtained of our distant possessions, and of their natural 
riches, than has been sometimes discovered in our diplomatic 
transactions. 
“All the remarks, Gentlemen, which I have this day made, 
have been made with an anxious desire to say neither more nor 
less than the truth. I have spoken both of scientific societies 
