decline of science in england-第6节
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actions 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 the Grand Duke of Tuscany。
Saxony 。。 M。 Lindenau＇6＇ Astronomy Ambassador。
＇1＇ Author of the MECANIQUE COELESTE。 ＇2＇ Author of TRAITE DE CHIMIE APPLIQUE AUX ARTS。 ＇3＇ Author of LECONS D'ANATOMIE COMPAREERECHERCHES SUR OSSEMENS FOSSILES &c。 &c。 ＇4＇ Author of MEMORIA SULLE FUNZIONI GENERATRICI； Modena； 1824； and of various other memoirs on mathematical subjects。 ＇5＇ Author of several memoirs on mechanics and hydraulics； in the Transactions of the Academy of Forty。 ＇6＇ Author of TABLES BAROMETRIQUES； Gotha； 1809TABULAE VENERIS； NOVAE ET CORRECTAE； Gothae； 1810INVESTIGATIO NOVA ORBITAE A MERCURIO CIRCA SOLEM DESCRIPTAE； Gothae； 1813； and of other works。
M。 Lindenau； the Minister from the King of Saxony to the King of the Netherlands； commenced his career as astronomer at the observatory of the Grand Duke of Gotha； by whom he was sent as his representative at the German Diet。 On the death of the late reigning Duke； M。 Lindenau was invited to Dresden； and filled the same situation under the King of Saxony； after which he was appointed his minister at the court of the King of the Netherlands。 Such occurrences are not to be paralleled in our own country； at least not in modern times。 Newton was； it is true； more than a century since； appointed Master of the Mint； but let any person suggest an appointment of a similar kind in the present day； and he will gather from the smiles of those to whom he proposes it that the highest knowledge conduces nothing to success； and that political power is almost the only recommendation。
SECTION 3。
Of Encouragement from Learned Societies。
There are several circumstances which concur in inducing persons pursuing science； to unite together； to form societies or academies。 In former times； when philosophical instruments were more rare； and the art of making experiments was less perfectly known； it was almost necessary。 More recently； whilst numerous additions are constantly making to science； it has been found that those who are most capable of extending human knowledge； are frequently least able to encounter the expense of printing their investigations。 It is therefore convenient； that some means should be devised for relieving them from this difficulty； and the volumes of the transactions of academies have accomplished the desired end。
There is； however； another purpose to which academies contribute。 When they consist of a limited number of persons； eminent for their knowledge； it becomes an object of ambition to be admitted on their list。 Thus a stimulus is applied to all those who cultivate science； which urges on their exertions； in order to acquire the wished…for distinction。 It is clear that this envied position will be valued in proportion to the difficulty of its attainment； and also to the celebrity of those who enjoy it； and whenever the standard of scientific knowledge which qualifies for its ranks is lowered； the value of the distinction itself will be diminished。 If； at any time； a multitude of persons having no sort of knowledge of science are admitted； it must cease to be sought after as an object of ambition by men of science； and the class of persons to whom it will become an object of desire will be less intellectual。
Let us now compare the numbers composing some of the various academies of Europe。…The Royal Society of London； the Institute of France； the Italian Academy of Forty； and the Royal Academy of Berlin； are amongst the most distinguished。
Name Number of Number Population。 Members of Country。 of its Foreign Academy。 Members
1。 England。 22；299；000 685 50 2。 France 。 32；058；000 76 8 Mem。 100 Corr。 8。 Prussia 。 12；915；000 38 16 4。 Italy 。 。 12；000；000 40 8
It appears then； that in France； one person out of 427；000 is a member of the Institute。 That in Italy and Prussia； about one out of 300；000 persons is a member of their Academies。 That in England； every 32；000 inhabitants produces a Fellow of the Royal Society。 Looking merely at these proportions； the estimation of a seat in the Academy of Berlin； must be more than nine times as valuable as a similar situation in England； and a member of the Institute of France will be more than thirteen times more rare in his country than a Fellow of the Royal Society is in England。
Favourable as this view is to the dignity of such situations in other countries； their comparative rarity is by no means the most striking difference in the circumstances of men of science。 If we look at the station in society occupied by the SAVANS of other countries； in several of them we shall find it high； and their situations profitable。 Perhaps； at the present moment； Prussia is； of all the countries in Europe； that which bestows the greatest attention； and most unwearied encouragement on science。 Great as are the merits of many of its philosophers；
