Decline of Science in England by Charles Babbage (red white royal blue txt) đź“–
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indistinct manner in which the object for which the medals are
awarded is sometimes specified. A medal is given to A. B. “for
his various papers.”
There are cases, few perhaps in number, where such a reason may
be admissible; but it is impossible not to perceive the weakness
of those who judge these matters legibly written in the phrase,
“and for his various other communications,” which comes in as the
frequent tail-piece to these awards. With a diffidence in their
own powers, which might be more admired if it were more
frequently expressed, the Council think to escape through this
loop-hole, should the propriety of their judgment on the main
point be called in question. Thus, even the discovery which made
chemistry a science, has attached to it in their award this
feeble appendage.
It has been objected to the Royal Society, that their medals have
been too much confined to a certain set. When the Royal medals
were added to their patronage, the past distribution of the
Copley medals, furnished grounds to some of the journals to
predict the future possessors of the new ones. I shall,
doubtless, be told that the Council of the Royal Society are
persons of such high feeling, that it is impossible to suppose
their decision could be influenced by any personal motives. As I
may not have had sufficient opportunities, during the short time
I was a member of that Council, to enable me to form a fair
estimate, I shall avail myself of the judgment of one, from whom
no one will be inclined to appeal, who knew it long and
intimately, and who expressed his opinion deliberately and
solemnly.
The late Dr. Wollaston attached, as a condition to be observed in
the distribution of the interest of his munificent gift of
2,000L. to the Royal Society, the following clause:—“And I
hereby empower the said President, Council, and Fellows, after my
decease, in furtherance of the above declared objects of the
trust, to apply the said dividends to aid or reward any
individual or individuals of any country, SAVING ONLY THAT NO
PERSON BEING A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE TIME BEING, SHALL
RECEIVE OR PARTAKE OF SUCH REWARD.”
Another improvement which might be suggested, is, that it is
generally inexpedient to vote a medal until the paper which
contains the discovery is at least read to the Society; perhaps
even it might not be quite unreasonable to wish that it should
have been printed, and consequently have been perused by some few
of those who have to decide on its merits. These trifles have
not always been attended to; and even so lately as the last year,
they escaped the notice of the President and his Council. The
Society was, however, indebted to the good sense of Mr. Faraday,
who declined the proffered medal; and thus relieved us from one
additional charge of precipitancy. [When this hasty adjudication
was thus put a stop to, one of the members of the Council
inquired, whether, as a Copley medal must by the will he annually
given, some other person might not be found deserving of it. To
which the Secretary replied, “We do not intend to give any this
year.” All further discussion was thus silenced.]
Perhaps, also, as the Council are on some occasions apt to be
oblivious, it might be convenient that the President should read,
previously to the award of any medals or to the decision of any
other important subjects, the statutes relating to them. He
might perhaps propitiate their attention to them, by stating, HOW
MUCH IT IMPORTETH TO THE CONSISTENCY OF THE COUNCIL TO BE
ACQUAINTED WITH THE LAWS ON WHICH THEY ARE ABOUT TO DECIDE.
If those who have been conversant with the internal management of
the Council, would communicate their information, something
curious might perhaps be learned respecting a few of these
medals. Concerning those of which I have had good means of
information, I shall merely state— of three of them—that
whatever may have been the official reasons for their award, I
had ample reasons to convince me of the following being the true
causes:—
First.—A medal was given to A, at a peculiarly inappropriate
time—BECAUSE HE HAD NOT HAD ONE BEFORE.
Second.—Subsequently a medal was given to B, in order TO DESTROY
THE IMPRESSION WHICH THE AWARD OF THE MEDAL TO A HAD MADE ON THE
PUBLIC THE PRECEDING YEAR.
Third.—A medal was given to C, “BECAUSE WE THINK HE HAS BEEN ILL
USED.”
I will now enter on an examination of one of their awards, which
was peculiarly injudicious. I allude to that concerning the mode
of rendering platina malleable. Respecting, as I did, the
illustrious philosopher who invented the art, and who has left
many other claims to the gratitude of mankind, I esteem it no
disrespect to his memory to place that subject in its proper
light.
An invention in science or in art, may justly be considered as
possessing the rights of property in the highest degree. The
lands we inherit from our fathers, were cultivated ere they were
born, and yielded produce before they were cultivated. The
products of genius are the actual creations of the individual;
and, after yielding profit or honour to him, they remain the
permanent endowments of the human race. If the institutions of
our country, and the opinions of society, support us fully in the
absolute disposal of our fields, of which we can, by the laws of
nature, be only the transitory possessors, who shall justly
restrict our discretion in the disposal of those richer
possessions, the products of intellectual exertion?
Two courses are open to those individuals who are thus endowed
with Nature’s wealth. They may lock up in their own bosoms the
mysteries they have penetrated, and by applying their knowledge
to the production of some substance in demand in commerce, thus
minister to the wants or comforts of their species, whilst they
reap in pecuniary profit the legitimate reward of their
exertions.
It is open to them, on the other hand, to disclose the secret
they have torn from Nature, and by allowing mankind to
participate with them, to claim at once that splendid reputation
which is rarely refused to the inventors of valuable discoveries
in the arts of life.
The two courses are rarely compatible, only indeed when the
discoverer, having published his process, enters into equal
competition with other manufacturers.
If an individual adopt the first of these courses, and retaining
his secret, it perish with him, the world have no right to
complain. During his life, they profited by his knowledge, and
are better off than if the philosopher had not existed.
Monopolies, under the name of patents, have been devised to
assist and reward those who have chosen the line of pecuniary
profit. Honorary rewards and medals have been the feeble
expressions of the sentiments of mankind towards those who have
preferred the other course. But these have been, and should
always be, kept completely distinct. [It is a condition with the
Society of Arts, never to give a reward to any thing for which a
patent has been, or is to be, taken out.]
Let us now consider the case of platina. A new process was
discovered of rendering it malleable, and the mere circumstance
of so large a quantity having been sent into the market, was a
positive benefit, of no ordinary magnitude, to many of the arts.
The discoverer of this valuable process selected that course for
which no reasonable man could blame him; and from some
circumstance, or perhaps from accident, he preserved no written
record of the manipulations. Had Providence appointed for that
disorder, which terminated too fatally, a more rapid career, all
the knowledge he had acquired from the long attention he had
devoted to the subject, would have been lost to mankind. The
hand of a friend recorded the directions of the expiring
philosopher, whose anxiety to render useful even his unfinished
speculations, proves that the previous omission was most probably
accidental.
Under such circumstances it was published to the world in the
Transactions of the Royal Society. But what could induce that
body to bestow on it their medal? To talk of adding lustre to
the name of Wollaston by their medal, is to talk idly. They must
have done it then as an example, as a stimulus to urge future
inquiries in the career of discovery. But did they wish
discoveries to be so endangered?
The discoveries of Professor Mitscherlick, of Berlin, had long
been considered, by a few members of the Society, as having
strong claims on one of its honorary rewards; but difficulties
had arisen, from so few members of the Council having any
knowledge of discoveries which had long been familiar to Europe.
The Council were just on the point of doing justice to the merits
of the Prussian philosopher, when it was suggested that its medal
should be given to Dr. Wollaston, and they immediately altered
their intention, and thus enabled themselves to reserve their
medal to Professor Mitscherlick for another year; at which
period, for aught they knew, his discoveries might possess the
additional merit of having been made prior to the limit allowed
by their regulations. That medal was, in fact, voted at a
meeting, at which no one member present was at all conversant
with the subjects rewarded. I shall, however, say no more on
this subject. They erred from feeling, an error so very rare
with them, that it might be pardoned even for its singularity.
I will, however, add one word to those whose censures have been
unjustly dealt, to those who have reproached the philosopher for
receiving pecuniary advantage from his inventions.
Amongst the many and varied contrivances for the demands of
science, or the arts of life, with which we were enriched by the
genius of Wollaston, was it too much to allow him to retain,
during his fleeting career, one out of the multitude, to furnish
that: pecuniary supply, without which, the man will want food
for his body, and the philosopher be destitute of tools for his
inventions? Had he been, as, from the rank he held in science,
he certainly would have been in other kingdoms, rich in the
honours his country could bestow, and receiving from her a reward
in some measure commensurate with his deserts,—then, indeed,
there might have been reason for that reproach; but I am
convinced that, in such circumstances, the philosopher would have
balanced, with no “niggard” hand, the claims of his country, and
would have given to it, unreservedly, the produce of his powerful
mind.
SECTION 9.
OF THE FAIRCHILD LECTURE.
Mr. Fairchild left by will twenty-five pounds to the Royal
Society. This was increased by several subscriptions, and 100L.
3 per cent. South Sea Annuities was purchased, the interest of
which was to be devoted annually to pay for a sermon to be
preached at St.Leonard’s, Shoreditch.
Few members of the Society, perhaps, are aware, either of the
bequest or of its annual payment. I shall merely observe, that
for five years, from 1800 to 1804, it was regularly given to
Mr. Ascough; and that for twenty-six years past, it has been as
regularly given to the Rev. Mr. Ellis.
The annual amount is too trifling to stimulate to any
extraordinary exertions; yet, small as it is, it might, if
properly applied, be productive of much advantage to religion,
and of great honour to the Society. For this purpose, it would
be desirable that it should be delivered at some church or
chapel, more likely to he attended by members of the Royal
Society. Notice of it should be given at the place of worship
appointed, at least a week previous to its
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