Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-11-03
Advancement of Silence.

for the advancement of Science, is highly inter-
esting occasion. 1t brings together all the talent
of the empire, addicted to scientific pursuits;
places in fecund proximity phenomena and theo-
ries, which separately would have yielded no ad-7
ditions to the knowledge of the day; and by its
pecuniary and other rewards stimulates practical
inquiry. It is a season for the formation of life
long friendships among men of kindred tastes; an.
Intellectual fair, for the exchange of scientific
commodities, devised during the previous twelve
months; an Olympic festival to which men gath
er from all quarters, to contend for the prize and
the largess. The effects of such reunions upon
the interests of knowledge must be immense
The joint-stock of ideas contributed by the pro-
foundest physical philosopher of the day, must
yield heavy annual dividend. The autobiogra-
ply of some future discoverer, will show how pro-
ductive the seed sown at these autumnal seedtimes
of science, have been in the rich harvest Of useful
results. Published proceedings are the least val
liable of the products. The identical bye-play of
conversation; the occasional hint and suggestion
at the tea board the private interchange of views
and wishes; the direction of experiment to the
really important lacunes in scientific information;
these are what lend special value to the gather
ings of the Society, and they escape unnoted in
thebroad ledger where public opinion keeps its
accounts. .vs 7.-H -zs .zz,a
From the conference of such bodies, the result
ing benefits are inestimable. How much the un-
tiquated Royal Society-now supplanted by its
more youthful and migratory brother, the Associ-
ation-has done for the advance of civilization, its
voIuminous records attest The French Institute
has been the fosterfather of La Place, Delalaude,
Delambre, Leverrier. In every department of
physical study the equal patronage of such insti
tutions has been experienced benignly. Without
them, of course, discovery and improvement would
have been extremely energetic, and society owes
great deal to individuals, the Watts Arkwrghts
Whitneys, and other demi-gods of trade. But
the soul in which all practical discovery germina-
ted, was prepared by your hiving gentlemen, to
whom the tailsmanic F. R. S. belonged, and to
Messieurs les Academieiens. They cleared, and
staked out, and enriched, and sometimes plowed
the ground where personal ingenuity has grown
its thriftiest prodgies. A, community of tastes,
and the stimulating sympathy of fellow-workers,
have starred the sky with new plants, given to
chemistry it's wonderful atomic laws, and indi-
rectly reached every household, in the shape of
mechanical improvements, of which the researches
of associated savans had proved the possibility.
To the joint efforts Of the learned society is more
largely indebted than to those solitary cheerless
students, whose light was laboriously attained
without friction against their fellows.
But Societies Of the sort require nutriment.-
The world, if it want the light, must supply the
oil. And herein, apparently is the disadvantage
of Republican-institution There is not the same
free-handed lberality to encourage the labors of
the learned. The Government has not the same
selfish motives to unite its purse-strings. Where
society is framed upon the monarchial basis, and
submission is the first of the cardinal virtues there
is no interest that the Sovereign is anxious
to conciliate than that of the scholar. He has in
his hands the key of knowledge. He may be-
come the medium of that enlightenment which
precedes emancipation. He must be interested
for the Government. All the good gifts which
he has to offer to the world, must be transmitted
under the patronage of royalty; and have the
stamp of the sign-manual. Hence there
dowments for colleges; rewards and bounties for
learned societies: and pensions for authors whose
regulations render them influential. Hence the
British Association is enabled to honor its ingeni
GUS members, and hold its interesting sessions
without penurious reckonings of cost; and hence
their energetic helps to science. Hence, too, the
National Institute ofFrance enjoys the fellowship
of Leverrier and Foucault, and adorns It's records
with the richest results of scientific study.
In America, however, there are no such bribes
to excellence. In the eyes of the unlearned, ig-
norance is Democracy. That true freedom and
perfect selfgovernment must come of INSTRUCTION,
enlightment, and general education, is propo-
sition unwillingly admitted. There is even in
that eminent and decorous body, Congress a
grudging narrowness of sentiment towards scien-
tific men. No officers of any department Gov
ernment are looked at with so much dis(avor as
those indefatigable surveyors of the coast, and
typographical engineers, who have really served
the public more usefully than legion of Custom
House and Post-O Office officials. And the Amer
ican Association for the Advancement of Science
asks in vain of the Government tithe of such
help to aid its objects the British public gives
hberally. The contrast is not extremely fatter-
ing, The men who constitute that body are of
the highest scientific order. Their names are
respected wherever science is SO. They have
individually done much to honor the nation, and
Justify the honest pride each of US feels, that in
science, at least, we have such lights to boast of
as Bond, Mitchell, Hare, Kirkwood, Silman and
Hitchcock. And nowhere in the world is such
field for scientific exploration offered -as within
the broad limits of the Union.-Here the astron-
omer had clear, crisp atmoosshere for his star
gazing; the geologist and mnerologist may rev.
ell at will in primary and tertiary, bone, fossil and