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I have found it necessary； in the course of this volume； to speak of the departed； for the misgovernment of the Royal Society has not been wholly the result of even the present race。 It is said； and I think with justice； in the life of Young； inserted amongst Dr。 Johnson's； that the famous maxim； 〃DE MORTUIS NIL NISI BONUM；〃 〃appears to savour more of female weakness than of manly reason。〃 The foibles and the follies of those who are gone； may； without injury to society； repose in oblivion。 But； whoever would claim the admiration of mankind for their good actions； must prove his impartiality by fearlessly condemning their evil deeds。 Adopt the maxim； and praise to the dead becomes worthless； from its universality； and history； a greater fable than it has been hitherto deemed。
Perhaps I ought to apologize for the large space I have devoted to the Royal Society。 Certainly its present state gives it no claim to that attention； and I do it partly from respect for its former services； and partly from the hope that； if such an Institution can be of use to science in the present day； the attention of its members may be excited to take steps for its restoration。 Perhaps I may be blamed for having published extracts from the minutes of its proceedings without the permission of its Council。 To have asked permission of the present Council would have been useless。 I might； however； have given the substance of what I have extracted without the words； and no one could then have reproached me with any infringement of our rules： but there were two objections to that course。 In the first place； it is impossible； even for the most candid； in all cases； to convey precisely the same sentiment in different language； and I thought it therefore more fair towards those from whom I differed； as well as to the public； to give the precise words。 Again： had it been possible to make so accurate a paraphrase； I should yet have preferred the risk of incurring the reproach of the Royal Society for the offence； to escaping their censure by an evasion。 What I have done rests on my own head； and I shrink not from the responsibility attaching to it。
If those； whose mismanagement of that Society I condemn； should accuse me of hostility to the Royal Society； my answer is； that the party which governs it is not the Royal Society； and that I will only admit the justice of the accusation； when the whole body； becoming acquainted with the system I have exposed； shall； by ratifying it with their approbation； appropriate it to themselves： an event of which I need scarcely add I have not the slightest anticipation。
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CONTENTS。
PREFACE Introductory Remarks CHAP。 I。 On the Reciprocal Influence of Science and Education。 CHAP。 II。 Of the Inducements to Individuals to cultivate Science。 Sect。 1。 Professional Impulses。 2。 Of National Encouragement。 3。 Of Encouragement from learned Societies。 CHAP。 III。 General State of learned Societies in England。 CHAP。 IV。 State of the Royal Society in particular。 Sect。 1。 Mode of becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society。 2。 Of the Presidency and Vice…Presidencies。 3。 Of the Secretariships 4。 Of the Scientific Advisers。 5。 Of the Union of several Offices in one person。 6。 Of the Funds of the Society。 7。 Of the Royal Medals。 8。 Of the Copley Medals。 9。 Of the Fairchild Lecture。 10。 Of the Croonian Lecture。 11。 Of the Causes of the Present State of the Royal Society。 12。 Of the Plan for Reforming the Society。 CHAP。 V。 Of Observations。 Sect。 1。 Of Minute Precision。 2。 On the Art of Observing。 3。 On the Frauds of Observers。 CHAP。 VI。 Suggestions for the Advancement of Science in England。 Sect。 1。 Of the Necessity that Members of the Royal Society … should express their Opinions。 2。 Of Biennial Presidents。 3。 Of the Influence of the Colleges of Physicians and … Surgeons in the Royal Society。 4。 Of the Influence of the Royal Institution on the Royal … Society。 5。 Of the Transactions of the Royal Society。 6。 Order of Merit。 7。 Of the Union of Scientific Societies。 CONCLUSION。 APPENDIX NO。 1。 … NO。 2。 … NO。 3。
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REFLECTIONS ON THE DECLINE OF SCIENCE IN ENGLAND； AND ON SOME OF ITS CAUSES。
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS。
It cannot have escaped the attention of those； whose acquirements enable them to judge； and who have had opportunities of examining the state of science in other countries； that in England； particularly with respect to the more difficult and abstract sciences； we are much below other nations； not merely of equal rank； but below several even of inferior power。 That a country； eminently distinguished for its mechanical and manufacturing ingenuity； should be indifferent to the progress of inquiries which form the highest departments of that knowledge on whose more elementary truths its wealth and rank depend； is a fact which is well deserving the attention of those who shall inquire into the causes that influence the progress of nations。
To trace the gradual decline of mathematical； and with it of the highest departments of physical science； from the days of Newton to the present； must be left to the historian。 It is not within the province of one who； having mixed sufficiently with scientific society in England to see and regret the weakness of some of its greatest ornaments； and to see through and deplore the conduct of its pretended friends； offers these remarks； with the hope that they may excite discussion；with the conviction that discussion is the firmest ally of truth；and with the confidence that nothing but the full expression of public opinion can remove the evils that chill the enthusiasm； and cramp the energies of the science of England。
The causes which have produced； and some of the effects which have resulted from； the present state of science in England； are so mixed； that it is difficult to distinguish accurately between them。 I shall； therefore； in this volume； not attempt any minute discrimination； but rather present the result of my reflections on the concomitant circumstances which have attended the decay； and at the conclusion of it； shall examine some of the suggestions which have been offered for the advancement of British science。
CHAPTER I。
ON THE RECIPROCAL INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION。
That the state of knowledge in any country will exert a directive influence on the general system of instruction adopted in it； is a principle too obvious to require investigation。 And it is equally certain that the tastes and pursuits of our manhood will bear on them the traces of the earlier impressions of our education。 It is therefore not unreasonable to suppose that some portion of the neglect of science in England； may be attributed to the system of education we pursue。 A young man passes from our public schools to the universities； ignorant almost of the elements of every branch of useful knowledge； and at these latter establishments； formed originally for instructing those who are intended for the clerical profession； classical and mathematical pursuits are nearly the sole objects proposed to the student's ambition。
Much has been done at one of our universities during the last fifteen years； to improve