Decline of Science in England [12]
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 COMPAREE--RECHERCHES 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, 1809--TABULAE VENERIS, NOVAE ET CORRECTAE, Gothae, 1810--INVESTIGATIO 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
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 COMPAREE--RECHERCHES 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, 1809--TABULAE VENERIS, NOVAE ET CORRECTAE, Gothae, 1810--INVESTIGATIO 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