decline of science in england-第29节
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y 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 life。 But 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。
SECTION 7。
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 share。
Dr。 Wollaston； 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 Dr。 W。 for 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 truth。 Wollaston never could have been a poet； Davy might have been a great one。
A question which I put； successively； to each of these distinguished philosophers； will show how very differently a subject may be viewed by minds even of the highest order。
About the time Mr。 Perkins was making his experiments on the compression of water； I was much struck with the mechanical means he had brought to bear on the subject； and was speculating on other applications of it； which I will presently mention。
Meeting Dr。 Wollaston one morning in the shop of a bookseller； I proposed this question： If two volumes of hydrogen and one of oxygen are mixed together in a vessel； and if by mechanical pressure they can be so condensed as to become of the same specific gravity as water； will the gases under these circumstances unite and form water？ 〃What do you think they will do？〃 said Dr。 W。 I replied； that I should rather expect they would unite。 〃I see no reason to suppose it；〃 said he。 I then inquired whether he thought the experiment worth making。 He answered； that he did not； for that he should think it would certainly not succeed。
A few days after； I proposed the same question to Sir Humphry Davy。 He at once said； 〃they will become water； of course；〃 and on my inquiring whether he thought the experiment worth making； he observed that it was a good experiment； but one which it was hardly necessary to make； as it must succeed。
These were off…hand answers； which it might perhaps be hardly fair to have recorded； had they been of persons of less eminent talent： and it adds to the curiosity of the circumstance to mention； that I believe Dr。 Wollaston's reason for supposing no union would take place； arose from the nature of the electrical relations of the two gases remaining unchanged； an objection which did not weigh with the philosopher whose discoveries had given birth to it。
＇The result of the experiment appeared； and still appears to me； to be of the highest importance； and I will shortly state the views with which it was connected。 The next great discovery in chemistry to definite proportions； will be to find means of forming all the simple unions of one atom with one； with two； or with more of say other substance： and it occurred to me that the gaseous bodies presented the fairest chance of success； and that if wishing； for instance； to unite four atoms of one substance with one of another； we could； by mechanical means； reduce the mixed gases to the same specific gravity as the substance would possess which resulted from their union； then either that such union would actually take place； or the particles of the two substances would be most favourably situated for the action of calori
