Decline of Science in England by Charles Babbage (red white royal blue txt) 📖

Royal Society, yet as the Council of that

body are the visitors of the Royal Observatory, it may not be

misplaced to introduce the subject here.

 

Some years since, a member of the Royal Society accidentally

learned, that there was, at an old store-shop in Thames Street, a

large quantity of the volumes of the Greenwich Observations on

sale as waste paper. On making inquiry, he ascertained that

there were two tons and a half to be disposed of, and that an

equal quantity had already been sold, for the purpose of

converting it into pasteboard. The vendor said he could get

fourpence a pound for the whole, and that it made capital Bristol

board. The fact was mentioned by a member of the Council of the

Royal Society, and they thought it necessary to inquire into the

circumstances.

 

Now, the Observations made at the Royal Observatory are printed

with every regard to typographical luxury, with large margins, on

thick paper, hotpressed, and with no sort of regard to economy.

This magnificence is advocated by some who maintain, that the

volumes ought to be worthy of a great nation; whilst others,

seeing how little that nation spends on science, regret that the

sums allotted to it should not be applied with the strictest

economy. If the Astronomer Royal really has a right to these

volumes, printed by the government at a large expense, it is,

perhaps, the most extravagant mode which was ever yet invented of

paying a public servant. When that right was given to him,—let

us suppose somebody had suggested the impolicy of it, lest he

should sell the costly volumes for waste paper,—who would have

listened for one moment to such a supposition? He would have been

told that it was impossible to suppose a person in that high and

responsible situation, could be so indifferent to his own

reputation.

 

A short time since, I applied to the President and Council of the

Royal Society, for copies of the Greenwich Observations, which

were necessary for an inquiry on which I was at that time

engaged. Being naturally anxious to economize the small funds I

can devote to science, the request appeared to me a reasonable

one. It was, however, refused; and I was at the same time

informed that the Observations could be purchased at the

bookseller’s. [This was a mistake; Mr. Murray has not copies of

the Greenwich Observations prior to 1823.] When I consider that

practical astronomy has not occupied a very prominent place in my

pursuits, I feel disposed, on that ground, to acquiesce in the

propriety of the refusal. This excuse can, however, be of no

avail for similar refusals to other gentlemen, who applied nearly

at the same time with myself, and whose time had been

successfully devoted to the cultivation of that science. [M.

Bessel, at the wish of the Royal Academy of Berlin, projected a

plan for making a very extensive map of the heavens. Too vast

for any individual to attempt, it was proposed that a portion

should be executed by the astronomers of various countries, and

invitations to this effect were widely circulated. One only of

the divisions of this map was applied for by any English

astronomer; and, after completing the portion of the map assigned

to him, he undertook another, which had remained unprovided for.

This gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Hussey, was one of the rejected

applicants for the Greenwich Observations.]

 

There was, however, another ground on which I had weakly

anticipated a different result;—but those who occupy official

situations, rendered remarkable by the illustrious names of their

predecessors, are placed in no enviable station; and, if their

own acquirements are confessedly insufficient to keep up the high

authority of their office, they must submit to the mortifications

of their false position. I am sure, therefore, that the

President and officers of the Royal Society must have sympathized

MOST DEEPLY with me, when they felt it their duty to propose that

the Society over which Newton once presided, should refuse so

trifling an assistance to the unworthy possessor of the chair he

once filled.

 

In reply to my application to the President and Council, to be

allowed a copy of the Greenwich Observations, I was informed

that, “The number of copies placed by government at the disposal

of the Royal Society, was insufficient to supply the demands made

on them by various learned bodies in Europe; and, consequently,

they were unable, however great their inclination, to satisfy the

wishes of individual applicants.” Now I have spent some time in

searching the numerous proceedings in the council-books of the

Royal Society, and I believe the following is the real state of

the case:—

 

In 1785, Lord Sidney, one of His Majesty’s principal Secretaries

of State, wrote to the Council a letter, dated Whitehall, March

8, 1785, from which the following is extracted:—

 

“The King has been pleased to consent, that any copies of the

Astronomical Observations, made at the Observatory of Greenwich,

(and paid for by the Board of Ordnance, pursuant to His Majesty’s

command, of July 21, 1767,) which may at any time remain in the

hands of the printer, shall, after you have reserved such copies

as you may think proper as presents, be given to the said Nevil

Maskelyne, in consideration of his trouble in the superintending

the printing thereof. I am to signify His Majesty’s pleasure,

that you do, from time to time, give the necessary orders for

that purpose, until His Majesty’s further commands shall be

communicated to you.

 

Soon after this letter, I find on the council-books:—

 

“Ordered, That sixty copies of the Greenwich Observations, last

published, be retained as presents, and that the rest be

delivered to the Astronomer Royal.”

 

It is difficult to be sure of a negative fact, but in searching

many volumes of the Proceedings of the Council, I have not

discovered any revocation of this order, and I believe none

exists. This is confirmed by the circumstance of the Council at

the present day receiving precisely the same number of copies as

their predecessors, and I believe that in fact they do not know

the authority on which the right to those sixty rests.

 

Supposing this order unrevoked, it was clearly meant to be left

to the discretion of the Council, to order such a number to be

reserved, “from time to time,” as the demands of science might

require. When, therefore, they found that the number of sixty

copies was insufficient, they ought to have directed the printer

to send them a larger number; but when they found out the purpose

to which the Astronomer Royal applied them, they ought

immediately to have ordered nearly the whole impression, in order

to prevent this destruction of public property. If, on the other

hand, the above order is revoked, and we really have no right to

more than sixty copies; then, on discovering the Observations in

their progress towards pasteboard, it was the duty of the Council

of the Royal Society, as visitors of the Royal Observatory,

immediately to have represented to Government the evil of the

arrangement, and to have suggested, that if the Astronomer Royal

have the right, it would be expedient to commute it for a liberal

compensation.

 

Whichever be the true view of the case, they have taken no steps

on the subject; and I cannot help expressing my belief, that the

President and Council were induced to be thus negligent of the

interests of science, from the fear of interfering with the

perquisites of the Astronomer Royal.

 

It is, however, but justice to observe, that the injury already

done to science, by the conversion of these Observations into

pasteboard, is not so great as the public might have feared. Mr.

Pond, than whom no one can be supposed better acquainted with

their value, and whose right to judge no man can question, has

shown his own opinion to be, that his reputation will be best

consulted by diminishing the extent of their circulation.

 

Before I quit the subject of the Royal Observatory, on which much

might be said, I will just refer to the report by a Committee of

the Royal Society that was made relative to it, some years since,

and which, it is imagined, is a subject by no means grateful to

the memory of any of the parties concerned in it. My object is

to ascertain, whether any amendments have taken place in

consequence. To one fact of considerable importance, I was

myself a witness, when I was present officially at a visitation.

At that time, no original observations made at the transit

instrument were ever preserved. Had I not been an eye witness of

the process of an observation, I should not have credited the

fact.

 

SECTION 7.

 

OF THE ROYAL MEDALS.

 

At a period when the attention of Government to science had not

undergone any marked change, a most unexpected occurrence took

place. His Majesty intimated to the Royal Society, through his

Secretary of State, his intention to found two gold medals, of

the value of fifty guineas each, to be awarded annually by the

Council of the Royal Society, according to the rules they were

desired to frame for that purpose.

 

The following is the copy of Mr. Peel’s

letter:—

 

WHITEHALL, December 3d, 1825.

 

SIR,

 

I am commanded by the King to acquaint you, that His Majesty

proposes to found two gold medals, of the value of fifty guineas

each, to be awarded as honorary premiums, under the direction of

the President and Council of the Royal Society, in such a manner

as shall, by the excitement of competition among men of science,

seem best calculated to promote the object for which the Royal

Society was instituted.

 

His Majesty desires to receive from the President and Council of

the Royal Society their opinion upon the subject generally of the

regulations which it may be convenient to establish with regard

to the appropriation of the medals; and I have, therefore, to

request that you will make the necessary communication to the

Council of the Royal Society, in order that His Majesty’s wishes

may be carried into effect.

 

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

(Signed) R. PEEL.

 

Nothing could be more important for the interests of science,

than this gracious manifestation of His Majesty’s concern for its

advancement. It was hailed by all who were made acquainted with

it, as the commencement of a new era, and the energies which it

might have awakened were immense. The unfettered nature of the

gift excited admiration, whilst the confidence reposed in the

Council was calculated to have insured the wavering faith of any

less-gifted body. Even those who, either from knowing the

MANAGEMENT of the Society, or from other grounds, doubted the

policy of establishing medals, saw much to admire in the tone and

spirit in which they were offered.

 

The Council immediately came to the resolution of gratefully

accepting them: and it appears that the President communicated

that resolution, on the 26th, to Mr. Peel, in a letter, which is

found on the minutes of the Council-book of the 26th of January.

 

At the same Council, the rules for the award of the Royal medals

were decided upon; they were as follow:—

 

26th January, 1826.

 

RESOLVED,

 

That it is the opinion of the Council, that the medals be awarded

for the most important discoveries or series of investigations,

completed and made known to the Royal Society in the year

preceding the day of their award.

 

That it is the opinion of the Council, that the presentation of

the medals should not be limited to British subjects. And they

propose, if it should be His Majesty’s pleasure, that his effigy

should form the obverse of the medal.