decline of science in england-第7节
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； and most unwearied encouragement on science。 Great as are the merits of many of its philosophers； much of this support arises from the character of the reigning family； by whose enlightened policy even the most abstract sciences are fostered。
The maxim that 〃knowledge is power；〃 can be perfectly comprehended by those only who are themselves well versed in science； and to the circumstance of the younger branches of the royal family of Prussia having acquired considerable knowledge in such subjects； we may attribute the great force with which that maxim is appreciated。
In France； the situation of its SAVANS is highly respectable； as well as profitable。 If we analyze the list of the Institute； we shall find few who do not possess titles or decorations； but as the value of such marks of royal favour must depend； in a great measure； on their frequency； I shall mention several particulars which are probably not familiar to the English reader。 ＇This analysis was made by comparing the list of the Institute； printed for that body in 1827； with the ALMANACH ROYALE for 1823。＇
Number of the Members of the Total Number of each Class Institute of France who belong of the Legion of Honour。 to the Legion of Honour。
GrandCroix。。。。。。。。。 3 80 GrandOfficier 。。。。。 3 160 Commandeur 。。。。。。。。 4 400 Officier 。。。。。。。。。。 17 2；000 Chevalier 。。。。。。。。。 40 Not limited。
Number of Members of the Institute Total Number decorated with of the Order of St。 Michel。 that Order。
Grand Croix 。。。。。。。 2 100 Chevalier 。。。。。。。。。 27
Amongst the members of the Institute there are； Dukes 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 2 Marquis 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1 Counts 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 4 Viscounts。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 2 Barons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 14 23
Of these there are Peers of France 。。。。。。。。。。 5
We might； on turning over the list of the 685 members of the Royal Society； find a greater number of peers than there are in the Institute of France； but a fairer mode of instituting the comparison； is to inquire how many titled members there are amongst those who have contributed to its Transactions。 In 1827； there were one hundred and nine members who had contributed to the Transactions of the Royal Society； amongst these were found：…
Peer 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1 Baronets 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 5 Knights 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 5
It should be observed； that five of these titles were the rewards of members of the medical profession； and one only； that of Sir H。 Davy； could be attributed exclusively to science。
It must not be inferred that the titles of nobility in the French list； were all of them the rewards of scientific eminence； many are known to have been such； but it would be quite sufficient for the argument to mention the names of Lagrange； Laplace； Berthollet； and Chaptal。
The estimation in which the public hold literary claims in France and England； was curiously illustrated by an incidental expression in the translation of the debates in the House of Lords； on the occasion of His Majesty's speech at the commencement of the session of 1830。 The Gazette de France stated； that the address was moved by the Duc de Buccleugh； 〃CHEF DE LA MAISON DE WALTER SCOTT。〃 Had an English editor wished to particularize that nobleman； he would undoubtedly have employed the term WEALTHY； or some other of the epithets characteristic of that quality most esteemed amongst his countrymen。
If we turn； on the other hand； to the emoluments of science in France； we shall find them far exceed those in our own country。 I regret much that I have mislaid a most interesting memorandum on this subject； which I made several years since： but I believe my memory on the point will not be found widely incorrect。 A foreign gentleman； himself possessing no inconsiderable acquaintance with science； called on me a few years since； to present a letter of introduction。 He had been but a short time in London； and； in the course of our conversation； it appeared to me that he had imbibed very inaccurate ideas respecting our encouragement of science。
Thinking this a good opportunity of instituting a fair comparison between the emoluments of science in the two countries； I placed a sheet of paper before him； and requested him to write down the names of six Englishmen； in his opinion； best known in France for their scientific reputation。 Taking another sheet of paper； I wrote upon it the names of six Frenchmen； best known in England for their scientific discoveries。 We exchanged these lists； and I then requested him to place against each name （as far as he knew） the annual income of the different appointments held by that person。 In the mean time； I performed the same operation on his list； against some names of which I was obliged to place a ZERO。 The result of the comparison was an average of nearly 1200L。 per annum for the six French SAVANS whom I had named。 Of the average amount of the sums received by the English； I only remember that it was very much smaller。 When we consider what a command over the necessaries and luxuries of life 1200L。 will give in France； it is underrating it to say it is equal to 2000L。 in this country。
Let us now look at the prospects of a young man at his entrance into life； who； impelled by an almost irresistible desire to devote himself to the abstruser sciences； or who； confident in the energy of youthful power； feels that the career of science is that in which his mental faculties are most fitted to achieve the reputation for which he pants。 What are his prospects？ Can even the glowing pencil of enthusiasm add colour to the blank before him？ There are no situations in the state； there is no position in society to which hope can point； to cheer him in his laborious path。 If； indeed； he belong to one of our universities； there are some few chairs in his OWN Alma Mater to which he may at some distant day pretend； but these are not numerous； and whilst the salaries attached are seldom sufficient for the sole support of the individual； they are very rarely enough for that of a family。 What then can he reply to the entreaties of his friends； to betake himself to some business in which perhaps they have power to assist him； or to choose some profession in which his talents may produce for him their fair reward？ If he have no fortune； the choice is taken away： he MUST give up that line of life in which his habits of thought and his ambition qualify him to succeed eminently； and he MUST choose the bar； or some other profession； in which； amongst so many competitors； in spite of his great talents； he can be but moderately successful。 The loss to him is great； but to the country it is greater。 We thus； by a destructive misapplication of talent which our institutions create； exchange a profound philosopher for but a tolerable lawyer。
If； on the other hand； he possess some moderate fortune of his own； and； intent on the glory of an immortal name； yet not blindly ignorant of the state of science in this country； he resolve to make for that aspiration a sacrifice the greater； because he is fully aware of its extent；if； so circumstanced； he give up a business or a profession on which he might have entered with advantage； with the hope that； when he shall have won a station high in the ranks of European science； he may a little augment his resources by some of those few employments to which science leads；if he hope to obtain some situation； （at the Board of Longitude； for example；） ＇This body is now dissolved＇ where he may be permitted to exercise the talents of a philosopher for the paltry remuneration of a clerk； he will find that other qualifications than knowledge and a love of science are necessary for its attainment。 He will also find that the high and independent spirit； which usually dwells in the breast of those who are deeply versed in these pursuits； is ill adapted for such appointments； and that even if successful； he must hear many things he disapproves； and raise no voice AGAINST them。
Thus； then； it appears that scarcely any man can be expected to pursue abstract science unless he possess a private fortune； and unless he can resolve to give up all intention of improving it。 Yet； how few thus situated are likely to undergo the labour of the acquisition； and if they do from some irresistible impulse； what inducement is there for them to deviate one step from those inquiries in which they find the greatest delight； into those which might be more immediately useful to the public？
CHAPTER III。
GENERAL STATE OF LEARNED SOCIETIES IN ENGLAND。
The progress of knowledge convinced the world that the system of the division of labour and of cooperation was as applicable to science； as it had been found available for the improvement of manufactures。 The want of competition in science produced effects similar to those which the same cause gives birth to in the arts。 The cultivators of botany were the first to feel that the range of knowledge embraced by the Royal Society was too comprehensive to admit of suffic
