| Another objection, however,
appears to me to possess far greater weight; and, however strong
the disposition of the Government might be (if such an order
existed) to fill it properly, I do not believe that, in the
present state of public opinion respecting science, it could be
done, and, in all probability, it would be filled up through the
channels of patronage, and by mere jobbers in science
Another proposal, of a similar kind, has also been talked of, one
which it may appear almost ridiculous to suggest in England, but
which would be considered so in no other countryIt is, to
ennoble some of the greatest scientific benefactors of their
country Not to mention political causes, the ranks of the
nobility are constantly recruited from the army, the navy, and
the bar; why should not the family of that man, whose name is
imperishably connected with the steam-engine, be enrolled amongst
the nobility of his country? In utility and profit, not merely
to that country, but to the human race, his deeds may proudly
claim comparison even with the most splendid of those achieved by
classes so rich in glorious recollections An objection, in most
cases fatal to such a course, arises from the impolicy of
conferring a title, unless a considerable fortune exists to
support it; a circumstance very rarely occurring to the
philosopher It might in some measure be removed, by creating
such titles only for lifeBut here, again, until there existed
some knowledge of science amongst the higher classes, and a sound
state of public opinion relative to science, the execution of the
plan could only be injurious
OF THE UNION OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
This idea has occurred to several persons, as likely to lead to
considerable advantages to science If the various scientific
societies could unite in the occupation of one large building,
considerable economy would result from the union By properly
arranging their evenings of meeting, one meeting-room only need
be required The libraries might either be united, or arranged
in adjoining rooms; and such a system would greatly facilitate
the inquiries of scientific persons
Whether it would be possible to reunite in any way the different
societies to the Royal Society, might be a delicate question; but
although, on some accounts, desirable, that event is not
necessary for the purpose of their having a common residence
The Medico-Botanical Society might, perhaps, from sympathy, be
the first to which the Royal Society would apply; and by a proper
interchange of diplomas, [A thing well understood by the
INITIATED, both at HOME and ABROAD the two societies might be
inoculated with each other But even here some tact would be
required; the Medico-Botanical is a little particular about the
purity of its written documents, and lately attributed blame to
one of its officers for some slight tampering with them, a degree
of illiberality which the Council of the Royal Society are far
from imitating
The Geological and the Astronomical Societies nourish no feelings
of resentment to the parent institution for their early
persecution; and though they have no inducement to seek, would
scarcely refuse any union which might be generally advantageous
to science
CONCLUSION
In a work on the Decline of Science, at a period when England has
so recently lost two of its brightest ornaments, I should hardly
be excused if I omitted to devote a few words to the names of
Wollaston and of Davy Until the warm feelings of surviving
kindred and admiring friends shall be cold as the grave from
which remembrance vainly recalls their cherished forms, invested
with all the life and energy of recent existence, the volumes of
their biography must be sealed Their contemporaries can expect
only to read their eloge
In habits of intercourse with both those distinguished
individuals, sufficiently frequent to mark the curiously
different structure of their minds, I was yet not on such terms
even with him I most esteemed, as to view his great qualities
through that medium which is rarely penetrated by the eyes of
long and very intimate friendship
Caution and precision were the predominant features of the
character of Wollaston, and those who are disposed to reduce the
number of principles, would perhaps justly trace the precision
which adorned his philosophical, to the extreme caution which
pervaded his moral character It may indeed be questioned whether
the latter quality will not in all persons of great abilities
produce the former
Ambition constituted a far larger ingredient in the character of
Davy, and with the daring hand of genius he grasped even the
remotest conclusions to which a theory led him He seemed to
think invention a more common attribute than it really is, and
hastened, as soon as he was in possession of a new fact or a new
principle, to communicate it to the world, doubtful perhaps lest
he might not be anticipated; but, confident in his own powers, he
was content to give to others a chance of reaping some part of
that harvest, the largest portion of which he knew must still
fall to his own shareWollaston, on the other hand, appreciated more truly the
rarity of the inventive faculty; and, undeterred by the fear of
being anticipated, when he had contrived a new instrument, or
detected a new principle, he brought all the information that he
could collect from others, or which arose from his own
reflection, to bear upon it for years, before he delivered it to
the world
The most singular characteristic of Wollaston's mind was the
plain and distinct line which separated what he knew from what he
did not know; and this again, arising from his precision, might
be traced to caution
It would, however, have been visible to such an extent in few
except himself, for there were very few so perfectly free from
vanity and affectation To this circumstance may be attributed a
peculiarity of manner in the mode in which he communicated
information to those who sought it from him, which was to many
extremely disagreeable He usually, by a few questions,
ascertained precisely how much the inquirer knew upon the
subject, or the exact point at which his ignorance commenced, a
process not very agreeable to the vanity of mankind; taking up
the subject at this point, he would then very clearly and shortly
explain it
His acquaintance with mathematics was very limited Many years
since, when I was an unsuccessful candidate for a professorship
of mathematics, I applied to Drfor a recommendation; he
declined it, on the ground of its not being his pursuit I told
him I asked it, because I thought it would have weight, to which
he replied, that it ought to have none whatever There is no
doubt his view was the just one Yet such is the state of
ignorance which exists on these subjects, that I have several
times heard him mentioned as one of the greatest mathematicians
of the age [This of course could only have happened in England
But in this as in all other points, the precision with which he
comprehended and retained all he had ever learned, especially of
the elementary applications of mathematics to physics, was such,
that he possessed greater command over those subjects than many
of far more extensive knowledge
In associating with Wollaston, you perceived that the predominant
principle was to avoid error; in the society of Davy, you saw
that it was the desire to see and make known shop truth |