The Express.
London, England, 1868-09-25 00:00:00

ORIGINAL RESEARCH.

PROFESSOR Fruiter-urn has recently published
some isilculations which tend to show that in
England neither the number of investigators nor
the amount of new foots added to our knowledge
during • given time will bear a favourable com-
parison with the activity of other nations. In
1b66, 1,273 papers were published by 803 scien-
tific chemists—rather more than one and a half
by envh worker. Of thaw Germany contributed
443 authors and 777 papers, or 1.75 paper to each
author; Irene* 17u papers and 243 papers, or 1.14
piper to each author; the United Kingdom 97
authors and 127 papers, or 1.31 paper to each
author; other countries 93 authors and 124
papers, or 1.33 paper to each author. In these
cakulations length or quality of research
is not estimated, but if we excelled in
this point, which Li questionable, there re-
mains an awkward tact as a set-off,
namely, that many of the British papers woro
contributed by foreigners resident in this country.
The absence of adequate state aid has been sug-
gested as the cause of this condition of science in
England ; at present, however, it is probably
inseparable from the eminently practical character
of the English mind, a character that will,
doubtless, sooner or later, recognise the funda7
mental value of scientific truth, which will then
receive an impetus far beyond what any Govern-
ment help could communicate. At the same
time organi.:ed effort may do much towards
bringing us abreast of other nations in this
matter o origins! research. It is satisfactory to re-
member that the British Association has nominated
an nfluezttial committee to ascertain whether or
not there exists in the United Kingdom sufficient
pr vision for the vigorous prosecution of physical
investigations, and, if not, what further provision
is needed, and what measures should be token to
secure it.

Tau Conservatives accepted the vertical ex-
tension of the suffrage, but they constantly
betray their contempt for the new stratum.
The Standard this morning, in canvassing
for some unknown Conservative candidate at
Hackney, descends to the following nonsense:—
" Bethnal-green has assuredly no thanks to offer
"to Mr. OLAVITONI for the measures which
" pornlyeed its industry and pauperised ik /ilk-
" weevers, and its voice will certainly not be un-
" heard when the day comes for a decision between
" the true and the false friends of the working
" classes." If the language of electioneer-
ing strife were like the language of ordi-
nary discuseions, this would mean that the Con-
servative party was opposed en blue to free trade,
to the conunercial treaty with France, and to every
legislative measure which has tended to open
the ports of England to the products of the world.
Of course our contemporary means nothing of the
sort. No Conservative candidate at Hackney or
anywbero else will take up such a ground. It
is merely a clap-trap appeal to tbo " residuum,"
after the fashion of Mr. Fs:utast) er Fa/Luaus;
O'CoNNolt.

The second annual meeting of the Ulster Rifle
Association was opened on Tuesday at Clutdeboye, the
beautiful seat of Lord Dufferin, the president of thq
emo-
tion• Defllk Stanley, of Westminster, who is at present
sojourning at Clandoboyr, was present during s portion
of the day.,

A 'dyer hell, weighing 28 oz., supposed to ho
rne of the hat chime of Kt. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick,
has been auridentally d'acovi rod by a diver in one of the
deeptat pool. of the abbey river in that city. The bells
were !long into the river in the old days of perKeention to
rave them trues the spoiler, end it is exported that the rent
of the chime will ho rieovered.

Tin! Liiiieti'cit /Glnttcr iduliut that tlu• colleutiml
of Peter'. I•raew in the dinr4ee of liiini•riek iu 100ilinnouitte
Ca. lid., including JOE. from tlic Liyhop of thu
dioeceic, 10/. flow Load lh uuttc 1 lu/• f Mr. 1.
Kelly.