按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
en to but few philosophers； and but at distant intervals； to snatch a science； like Dalton； from the chaos of indefinite combination； and binding it in the chains of number； to exalt it to rank amongst the exact。 Triumphs like these are necessarily 〃few and far between；〃 nor can it be expected that that portion of encouragement； which a country may think fit to bestow on science； should be adapted to meet such instances。 Too extraordinary to be frequent； they must be left； if they are to be encouraged at all； to some direct interference of the government。
The dangers to be apprehended from such a specific interference； would arise from one； or several； of the following circumstances：That class of society； from whom the government is selected； might not possess sufficient knowledge either to judge themselves； or know upon whose judgment to rely。 Or the number of persons devoting themselves to science； might not be sufficiently large to have due weight in the expression of public opinion。 Or； supposing this class to be large； it might not enjoy； in the estimation of the world； a sufficiently high character for independence。 Should these causes concur in any country； it might become highly injurious to commit the encouragement of science to any department of the government。 This reasoning does not appear to have escaped the penetration of those who advised the abolition of the late Board of Longitude。
The question whether it is good policy in the government of a country to encourage science； is one of which those who cultivate it are not perhaps the most unbiassed judges。 In England； those who have hitherto pursued science； have in general no very reasonable grounds of complaint； they knew； or should have known； that there was no demand for it； that it led to little honour； and to less profit。
That blame has been attributed to the government for not fostering the science of the country is certain； and； as far as regards past administrations； is； to a great extent； just； with respect to the present ministers； whose strength essentially depends on public opinion； it is not necessary that they should precede； and they cannot remain long insensible to any expression of the general feeling。 But supposing science were thought of some importance by any administration； it would be difficult in the present state of things to do much in its favour； because； on the one hand； the higher classes in general have not a profound knowledge of science； and； on the other； those persons whom they have usually consulted； seem not to have given such advice as to deserve the confidence of government。 It seems to be forgotten； that the money allotted by government to purposes of science ought to be expended with the same regard to prudence and economy as in the disposal of money in the affairs of private life。
＇Who； for instance； could have advised the government to incur the expense of printing SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY copies of the Astronomical Observations made at Paramatta； to form a third part of the Philosophical Transactions for 1829； whilst of the Observations made at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich； two hundred and fifty copies only are printed？
Of these seven hundred and fifty copies； seven hundred and ten will be distributed to members of the Royal Society； to six hundred of whom they will probably be wholly uninteresting or useless； and thus the country incurs a constantly recurring annual expense。 Nor is it easy to see on what principle a similar destination could be refused for the observations made at the Cape of Good Hope。＇
To those who measure the question of the national encouragement of science by its value in pounds； shillings； and pence； I will here state a fact； which； although pretty generally known； still； I think； deserves attention。 A short time since it was discovered by government that the terms on which annuities had been granted by them were erroneous； and new tables were introduced by act of Parliament。 It was stated at the time that the erroneous tables had caused a loss to the country of between two and three millions sterling。 The fact of the sale of those annuities being a losing concern was long known to many； and the government appear to have been the last to be informed on the subject。 Half the interest of half that loss； judiciously applied to the encouragement of mathematical science； would； in a few years； have rendered utterly impossible such expensive errors。
To those who bow to the authority of great names； one remark may have its weight。 The MECANIQUE COELESTE； ＇The first volume of the first translation of this celebrated work into our own language； has just arrived in England fromAmerica。＇ and the THEORIE ANALYTIQUE DES PROBABILITES； were both dedicated； by Laplace； to Napoleon。 During the reign of that extraordinary man； the triumphs of France were as eminent in Science as they were splendid in arms。 May the institutions which trained and rewarded her philosophers be permanent as the benefits they have conferred upon mankind！
In other countries it has been found； and is admitted； that a knowledge of science is a recommendation to public appointments； and that a man does not make a worse ambassador because he has directed an observatory； or has added by his discoveries to the extent of our knowledge of animated nature。 Instances even are not wanting of ministers who have begun their career in the inquiries of pure analysis。 As such examples are perhaps more frequent than is generally imagined； it may be useful to mention a few of those men of science who have formerly held； or who now hold； high official stations in the governments of their respective countries。
Country。 Name。 Department of Public Office。 Science。
France 。。 Marquis Laplace＇1＇ Mathematics President of the Conservative Senate。
France 。。 M。Carnot Mathematics Minister of War。
France 。。 Count Chaptal＇2＇ Chemistry Minister of the Interior。
France 。。 Baron Cuvier＇3＇ Comparative Minister of Anatomy； Public History Instruction
Prussia。。 Baron Humboldt Oriental Ambassador Languages to England
Prussia。。 Baron Alexander The celebrated Chamberlain to Humboldt Traveller the King of Prussia
Modena 。 Marquis Rangoni＇4＇ Mathematics Minister of Finance and of Public Instruction； President of Italian Academy of Forty。
Tuscany 。 Count Fossombroni Mathematics Prime Minister ＇5＇ of t