decline of science in england-第8章
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SECTION 2。
OF THE PRESIDENCY AND VICE…PRESIDENCIES。
Why Mr。 Davies Gilbert became President of the Royal Society I cannot precisely say。 Let him who penned； and those who supported this resolution solve the enigma：
〃It was Resolved；
〃That it is the opinion of the Council that Davies Gilbert； Esq。 is by far the most fit person to be proposed to the Society at the approaching anniversary as President； and that he be recommended accordingly。〃
To resolve that he was a FIT person might have been sufficiently flattering： to state that he was the most fit； was a little hard upon the rest of the Society； but to resolve that he was 〃BY FAR THE MOST FIT〃 was only consistent with that strain of compliment in which his supporters indulge； and was a eulogy； by no means unique in its kind； I believe； even at that very Council。
That Mr。 Gilbert is a most amiable and kind…hearted man will be instantly admitted by all who are； in the least degree； acquainted with him： that he is fit for the chair of the Royal Society； will be allowed by few； except those who have committed themselves to the above…quoted resolution。
Possessed of knowledge and of fortune more than sufficient for it； he might have been the restorer of its lustre。 He might have called round him； at the council board； those most actively engaged in the pursuits of science； most anxious for the improvement of the Royal Society。 Instead of himself proposing resolutions； he might have been； what a chairman ought to be； the organ of the body over which he presides。 By the firmness of his own conduct he might have taught the subordinate officers of the Society the duties of their station。 Instead of paying compliments to Ministers； who must have smiled at his simplicity； he might have maintained the dignity of his Council by the dignity of knowledge。
But he has chosen a different path； with no motives of interest to allure； or of ambition to betray him； instead of making himself respected as the powerful chief of a united republic； that of science；he has grasped at despotic power； and stands the feeble occupant of its desolated kingdom； trembling at the force of opinions he might have directed； and refused even the patronage of their names by those whose energies he might have commanded。
Mr。 Gilbert told the Society he accepted the situation for a year； and this circumstance caused a difficulty in finding a Treasurer： an office which he had long held； and to which he wished to return。
Another difficulty might have arisen； from the fact of the late Board of Longitude comprising amongst its Members the PRESIDENT of the Royal Society； and three of its Fellows； appointed by the President and Council。 Of course； when Mr。 Gilbert accepted the higher situation； he became； EX OFFICIO； a Member of the Board of Longitude； and a vacancy occurred； which ought to have been filled up by the President and Council。 But when this subject was brought before them； in defiance of common sense； and the plain meaning of the act of parliament； which had enacted that the Board of Longitude should have the assistance of four persons belonging to the Royal Society； Mr。 Gilbert refused to allow it to be filled up； on the ground that he should not be President next year； and had made no vacancy。
Next year Mr。 Gilbert wished again to be President one other year； but the Board of Longitude was dissolved； otherwise we might have had some LOCUM TENENS to retire at Mr。 Gilbert's pleasure。
These circumstances are in themselves of trifling importance； but they illustrate the character of the proceedings： and it is not becoming the dignity of science or of the Society that its officers should be so circumstanced as to have an apparent and direct interest in supporting the existing President； in order to retain their own places； and if such a system is once discovered； doubt immediately arises as to the frequency of such arrangements。
SECTION 3。
OF THE SECRETARISHIPS。
Whether the present Secretaries are the best qualified to aid in reforming the Society； is a question I shall not discuss。 With regard to the senior Secretary； the time of his holding office is perhaps more unfortunate than the circumstance。 If I might be permitted to allude for a moment to his personal character； I should say that the mild excellencies of his heart have prevented the Royal Society from deriving the whole of that advantage from his varied knowledge and liberal sentiments which some might perhaps have anticipated； and many will agree with me in regretting that his judgment has not directed a larger portion of the past deeds of the Councils of the Royal Society。 Of the junior Secretary I shall only observe； that whilst I admit his industry； his perseverance； and his talents； I regret to see such valuable qualities exerted at a disadvantage； and that I sincerely wish them all the success they merit in situations more adapted for their developement。
There are； however； some general principles which it may be important to investigate； which relate to the future as well as to the past state of the office of Secretary of the Royal Society。 Inconvenience has already arisen from having had at a former period one of our Secretaries the conductor of a scientific journal； and this is one of the points in which I can agree with those who now manage the affairs of the Society。 ＇These observations were written previous to the late appointment； to which I now devote Section 6。 Experience seems to be lost on the Council of the Royal Society。＇ Perhaps it might be advantageous to extend the same understanding to the other officers of the Society at least； if not to the members of its Council。
Another circumstance worthy of the attention of the Society is； to consider whether it is desirable； except in special cases； to have military persons appointed to any of its offices。 There are several peculiarities in the military character； which； though they do not absolutely unfit their possessors for the individual prosecution of science； may in some degree disqualify such persons from holding offices in scientific institutions。 The habits both of obedience and command； which are essential in military life； are little fitted for that perfect freedom which should reign in the councils of science。 If a military chief commit an oversight or an error； it is necessary； in order to retain the confidence of those he commands； to conceal or mask it as much as possible。 If an experimentalist make a mistake； his only course to win the confidence of his fellow…labourers in science； and to render his future observations of any use； is to acknowledge it in the most full and explicit manner。 The very qualifications which contribute to the professional excellence of the soldier； constitute his defects when he enters the paths of science； and it is only in those rare cases where the force of genius is able to control and surmount these habits； that his admission to the offices of science can be attended with any advantage to it。
Another objection deserving notice； although not applying exclusively to the military profession； is； that persons not imbued with the feelings of men of science； when they have published their observations； are too apt to view every criticism upon them as a personal question； and to consider that it is as offensive to doubt the accuracy of their observations as it is to doubt their word。 Nothing can be more injurious to science than that such an opinion should be tolerated。 The most unreserved criticism is necessary for truth； and those suspicions respecting his own accuracy； which every philosophical experimenter will entertain concerning his own researches； ought never to be considered as a reproach； when they are kept in view in examining the experiments of others。 The minute circumstances and apparently trivial causes which lend their influence towards error； even in persons of the most candid judgment； are amongst the most curious phenomena of the human mind。
The importance of affording every aid to enable others to try the merits of observations； has been so well expressed by Mayer； that I shall conclude these remarks with an extract from the Preface to his Observations：
〃Officii enim cujusque observatoris ease reor； de habitu instrumenti sui； de cura ac precautione； qua usus est； ad illud recte tractandum； deque mediis in errores ejus inquirendi rationem reddere publice； ut aliis quoque copia sit judicandi； quanta fides habenda conclusionibus ex nostris observationibus deductis aut deducendis。 Hoc cum minus fecissent precedentis saeculi astronomi； praxin nimis secure； nimisque theoretice tractantes； factum inde potissimum est； ut illorum observationes tot vigiliis tantoque labore comparatae tam cito obsoleverint。〃 P。 viii。
There are certain duties which the Royal Society owes to its own character as well as to the public； which； having been on some occasions apparently neglected； it may be here the proper place to mention； since it is reasonable to suppose that attention to them is within the province of its Secretaries。
The first to which I shall allude is the singular circumstances attending the fact of the Royal Society having printed a volume of Astronomical Observations which were made at the Observatory of Paramatta （New South Wales）； bearing the title of 〃The Third Part of the Philosophical Transactions for the Year 1829。〃
Now this Observatory was founded at the private expense of a British officer； the instruments were paid for out of his purse； two observers were brought from Europe； to be employed in making use of those instruments； at salaries defrayed by him。 A considerable portion of the observations so printed were made by these astronomers during their employment in his service； and some of them are personally his own。 Yet has the Royal Society； in adopting them as part of its Transactions； omitted all mention； either in their title…page； preface； or in any part of the volume； of the FACT that the world owed these valuable observations to the enlightened munificence of Lieutenant…General Sir Thomas Brisbane； whose ardent zeal in the pursuit of science induced him to found； at his own private expense； an establishment which it has been creditable to the British Government to continue as a national institution。 Had any kindred feelings existed in the Council； instead of endeavouring to shift the responsibility； they would have hastened to rectify an omission； less unjust to the individual than it was injurious to English science。
Another topic； which concerns most vitally the character and integrity of the Royal Society； I hardly know how to approach。 It has been publicly stated that confidence cannot be placed in the written minutes of the Society； and an instance has been adduced； in which an entry has been asserted to have been made； which could not have been the true statement of what actually passed at the Council。
The facts on which the specific instance rests are not difficult to verify by members of the Royal Society。 I have examined them； and shall state them before I enter on the reasoning which may be founded upon them。 In the minutes of the Council； 26th November； 1829； we find
〃Resolved； that the following gentlemen be recommended t
