Star.
London, England, 1830-06-10 00:00:00

INTELLIGENCE on SCIENCE. ARTS, and GENERAL
LITERATURE.

As we Intend to supply our readers with notices from time to
time, in something like regular series of what appears to us to be
generally interesting in the transactions of Scientific and Literary
Societies, we are inclined to begin this part of our labours with
some notices from the late transactions of the Royal Society. In
directing our steps to this society, which certainly has a fair claim
to precedence, we are met on the threshold by Mr. Babbage, and
his late attack, not only on the credit of the society, but on the pre.
sent scientific credit of the country. We shall therefore to.day
merely confine ourselves to some preliminary remarks on the Royal
Society, and on Mr. Babbage's pamphlet, which has lately attracted
so much attention in the world of British Science. On a perusal of
the tract in question, we think we perceive in this, as in most dia.
putes, a farther proof of the sagacious maxim of Sancho Pansa, that
much may be said on both sides of a question ; and we feel desirous,
as far as ruom will admit, with a hurried pen to sketch some of the
pros and coots which suggest themselves.

In the first place, we think Mr. Babbage has nut made out asy
logical connection or sequence between the character of the Royal
Society, and the general scientific character of the country, or
ptoved that they must necessarily sink together. All who know
anything of the history of the society, know well, that it has
been frequently made the object of attack ; and for some of the very
causes now brought forward by Mr. Babbage. It is more than
fifty years ago since the celebrated Dr. Hill, afterwards Sir John
Hill, wrote his " Review of the Works of the Royal Society,"
which although he denied it, was generally believed at the time,
to be written in revenge for not being admitted as an F.R.S.
We think as far as native strength of intellect or acquirements
qualified for that honour, it might have been properly conferred
upon him; for although he wrote too much, and, like most volu-
minous writers, wrote his own credit down, yet some of his works
are yet considered to have merit, and his Theophrastus might, we
think, have obtained him, not improperly some notice even from
Sir M. Folkes. In the introductory matter of that work, if we
forget not, there is an anticipation of what has been thought by
many a modern discovery of chemical science. We are, however,
inclined to think that other points of his character might have
been thought justly, a little to disqualify him for being received as
an associate.

We believe that Dr. James Ferguson obtained the honour of al.
mission with considerable difficulty, because he was a publiclecturer,
and we have heard that a much greater, although more neglected
name in science of that time, Mr. Benjamin Martin, a first-rate
mathematician--a man of varied acquirement—and the first who
ever attempted to communicate knowledge in an agreeable manner
to the people, bad aspired to this honour, and met with discou-
ragement because he kept& shop in Fleet-street. Here then, we have
an Instance to mark favourably the liberality and management of
the Royal Society of this age: for it has, we believe, enrolled:with
some pride a Troughton among its associates, although domiciled as
a shopkeeper not far distant from the residence of Martin.

Had we time now, other instances might be adduced to prove that
the Society of former times has sometimes, like the Society of the
present, past over the really meritorious man of science, and accepted
of others possessing no merit whatever; but what Society has not
occasionally committed the same errors? And most certainly our
contemporary Society Is not alone to be justly reprehended.

There is, however, a fault of a contrary character with which we
think the Society is justly chargeable, and with which it has always
been chargeable s that is, a ready admission to every booby with a
title, seeming entirely to forget that lilted boobies are not scarce in
the land. This is a point on which they deserve to be satirised,
and proceeding from a most vulgar and disreputable feeling. In
short, if the Royal Society wishes to support that dignity to which
it has a just claim, let it, in its elections, attend more to the intellec-
I teal character of the aspirant associate, and less to his adventitious
influence in society.
With respect to the objection of the conduct of the Council, in
admitting a heavy expense for the plates illustrative of Sir Everard
Home's Physiological Papers, and their allowing Sir Everard to
use them in his own publications, it does not strike us to be one of
much importance. Several of the papers of Sir Everard Home
are, we believe, considered as valuable contributions to the truly
important branch of science to which they belong. His papers on
the muscularity of the Iris and someothers, are explanatory of real
discoveries—and if the Society are to enjoy the credit of such paper",
it would be derogating far from its high tank did it not afford the
adequate expense for the best illustration which the present state of
the ins could afford. If a lavish, unnecessary expense, or any
thing job-like has occurred, we admit, however, it is perfectly just
to expose such extravagance ; but as the public improvement is the
great and only rational object of the Society, we cannot perceive
any wrong was committed to the Society in even allowing Sir
Everard Home to avail himself of its plates for republication in
his own works.—lt was a kind of liberal accommodation which did
nothing we think, but credit to the Soeiety.
How far the present President may be considered as qualified for
the situation he holds, is a species of inquiry which, we think,
had better been avoided. All know the contest which formerly
took place in the society between two classes of scientific literati,
who, we fear, will never be united in very close friendship : we
mean, the mathematician and the natural historian. The present
slight skirmish, we are rather inclined to consider a scion from the
same stem, or front a stem of the same genus. The two peat
classes among lherary men—those designated wits, and those
termed philosophers—have always, it is well known been on the
offensive and defensive ; and the society has often been subjected to
the attacks of the former. It is rather singular that the acute
BUTLER was an early enemy of the society, and employed his
inimitable talents for humour in rendering it, as far as he
could, ridiculous. Indeed, what is more remarkable, he not only
attacked the society, but what was then called the " fashionable
or new mode of philosophy"'.....that very mode by which Boyle was,
at that time, immortalizing himself in the laboratory of the society,
and laying the foundation for all the discoveries which have since
been made. The society did not even escape the sarcasm of Addi.
son ; for, in a paper in the Toiler, written by that elegant and
intelligent author, we find the following passage :
" There is no study more becoming a rational creature than that
of natural philosophy ; but, as several of our modern virtuosi
manage it, these speculations do not so much tend to open and
enlarge the mind, as to contract and fix it upon trifles. This, in Eng.
land, is in a great measure owing to the worthy elections that are fee.
quently made in our Royal Society. They seem to be in n confederacy
against men of polite genius, noble thought, and diffusive learning ;
and choose into their assemblies such as have no pretence to wisdom,
but want of wit ; or to natural knowledge, but ignorance of every
thing else. I have made observations on this matter so long.
that when I meet with a young fellow that is an humble ad-
mirer of the sciences, but more dull than the rest of the com.
parry, I conclude him to be a Fellow of the Royal Society."
Many passages might be quoted from celebrated writers, showing
no great kindness towards the Society ; and the amusing volume of
Dr. H ILL, before mentioned, was certainly successful in obtaining
the laugh of the public in his favour. But we are not inclined to
admit ridicule as a test of truth, whatever argument a powerful
metaphysician may have adduced in support of that doctrine ; and
we therefore pass over, as amusing lent d'esprils, such productions;
' and have only alluded to them here as, in some degree. supporting
an opinion we mean to advance—which is, that we think the
qualification requisite in the individual who fills the
Chair ;of the Royal Society, should include a general attach.
went to all branches of science and learning, and a mind rich
in general and varied acquirements Now, this character it is well
known, is inconsistent with that devotion towards one particular
study—that concentration of the human faculties, towards one point
of inquiry which is indispensable for becoming distinguished
in any one science or art—and we are of opinion, that the mere ma-
thematician however great in that truly important science, is, front
the restricted nature of his pursuits, just as unfit to 611 impartially
the chair, as the mere collector of butterflies and moths--however
great in that line. The human mind is subject to habit a, well as
the body:; and the mind of the President (or the/beau ideal of one
which we would imagine desirable) should, as much as possible, be
divested of seienhfie habit.
Another requisite is wealth, and strict purity of morals, and
amenity of disposition. Sir HUMPHREY DAVY would not have
filled the chair, had it not been for the wealthy connection be formed
by marriage, and his other unexceptionable qualities. How far
thkeetccdesent President posisesses the recommendations we have
a , we know not--except from the information of others.
We have read his writings, occasionally in our studies with
much pleasure—as a man of useful literary research, and
inclined to employ his time and messy in preserving the,
interesting remains of former times. We are told be is wealthy,
and kind, and liberal. We therefore do not consider the choice made
of him discreditable to the Society. We have written these remarks,
we confess, hastily; and must apologise foe their imperfective;
but we cannot conclude what we have said without expressing
our fall conviction that the pamphlet of Mr. Babbage-4 gentleman
whose worth and great acquirements are universally acknowledged.—
, has emanated solely from a regard for sciense.