New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
CATIONS MEN OF SCIENCE.

I'D. zoo. IL. Appleton x co.
In the opinion of Herr Teufclsdr5ckh set forth
BY his quaint interpreter the author Of Sartor Re-
sartus it Is no less absurd to suppose that an infant
Of genius is quite the any other infant with
the exception OF certain favorable circumstances
that accompany him. than that an acorn, under
favorable influences of soil and climate might be
nurscd into cabbage. a cabbage seed into an oak
"Ncvcytheicsss says the great Toufolsdr0ckh,
a. too acknowledge the all but omnipo-
tence Of early culture and nurture; hereby
We have either doddered dwarf bush, or
hich-towerinc, widc-shadowing tree; either
sick yellow cabbage or edible luXuriant green
cue or truth. il is the duty of all men, especially
of all philosophers. to note down with accuracy the
characteristic circumstances Of their education. what
furthercd what hidcred what in any way mod
ifod.v This lucid German oracle may be said to
furnish the keynote Of the present volume. Mr..
Cations aim is To supply what may be called natu-
ral history of the English men of science OF the
present day describing their earliest antecedens,
the hereditary influences, the Unborn qualities OF
their mind and body the causes that first impelled
them 10 the pursuit Of science, the education they
received and their opinions on lis merits. Ii Is
evident that in the existing state Of knowledge, this
inquiry must be a matter of curious speculation,
rather ;han of scientific evidence, but yet one not
without value for its suggestions, although of doubt
fu validity for its conclusions.
In treating the subject, Mr.. Gallon makes use OF
the an.obiog-aphical data with which he has been
furnished by $50 scientific men, including several OF
the most distinguished names in the United King
dom. As regards race, about tlree-foniths OF the
persons his list English, including the differ
ent varieties cf the Anglo-British population. In
point of ability the proportion to numbers seems to
he higher among persons of pure race. The Border
men aud I.owland Scotch rank next in order, While
the Anglo-rish and Ango-Welsh, vita some emit
mont exceptions come last. Out OF every five birth
places two lie in London, other important towns,
one in a small town, and two either in n village or
in the country. The branch of science pursued, in
many eases is singulary out of keeping with the in
fuences of the birthplace. Mechancians are
usually hardy country lads biologists frequently
pure townsfolk. The authors catalogue contains
names of men who have been born in every social
position from the hi CHEST Order in the peeTage down
TO the factory hand and simple peasant. Ii IL iy 10
means the case that those who have raised them
selves by their abilities found 80 be aller than
their cotemporaries who began their careers with
advantages of fortune. They are not more dis
tingished as original investigators, nor arc they
more discerning in questions Of general scen-
tiGc character There is no doubt in the opinion of
the author that The upper classes in Great Britain,
which are largely recruited by selections from be-
low, are the most productive of natural ability.
Among the successful graduates of Oxford and Cam
bridge, and among purely literary men, a considera-
BILE number are of cefVymen. But in pro-
portion To the pains bestowed upon their education
generally the sons of clergymcn rarely take n lead
in science. The clerical character TO be I'M
ccngenial to the pursuit of science. In his expert
enec on the councils Of many scientific societies, the
author recalls but three colleagues who were clergy
men. CuriGusly enough two of these, Prof. Baden
Powell and Dunbar Heath, have been prosecuted for
the want of orthodoxy, while the third, Bishop Will
barforoe can hardly be said TO have cherished love
of science. He rarely attended the meetings, but
delighted in administration and sought opporuni-
ties for indirect influence. Az a rule when clergy
ueu have TAKEN part in scientific councils they have
in nearly every case been attached TO those sub
divisions of science which have the fewest salient
points IN jar against dogma. They are all chiefly
connected with astronomy, physics, and mathe
mates. Thsrc il not sugle bolo ,st among them.
The families are usually large TO which scientific
mcn belong. But the number of their children
Is comparatively small, confirming the common be-
lief in a tendency tSan extinction of the families Of
men who work hard with the brain. The results de-
rived from the study of herediiy apt to be dsap
POINTING, on account of the difficulty Of Obtaining
good historical portraits. Even the value of these is
dimnshedby the passion Of dis;inguished persons for
uniforms wigs robes, and other dapeIies which in
dicate their office, but conceal the Onan But there
can be no doubt that certain families exhibit re-
uarkatle intellectual abilities through course of
several generations. OF this the Darwin family af
ford striking illustration. Dr. Erasmus Darwin,
the grandfather of the celebrated living naturalist,
was physician Psychologist. and poet. His Botanic
GARDEN had prodigious reputation in its day.
The ingenuity Of hiS numerous writings il remark
able. He was held ia high esteem by his scientific
friends including such celebrities Priestley and
\
niaity In the second generation, his son, Charles
Darwin, who died at the age Of INVENT -one, had al
ready achieved an honorable distinction in medical
science. Robert Waring Darwin thc father Of the
present Charles physician Of great provincial
celebrity and a sarewd observer. Another brother,
Sir Francis Darwin. originally a physician,
but FOR many years lived in secluded part of
Derbyshre surrounded by animal oddities; half
whd pigs about the woods tanned snakes fire.
quented the house. with other curious appliances for
the study of natural history. Tie third generation
is illustrated by the name OF Charles Darwin,
"whom all scientific men reverence and love, the
simplc grandeur of whose conclusions is az remark
able IA the magnitude and multf4rOdsncss of their
foundation" Another example Of hereditary intel
ectua aptitude is presented by the TaylOrs Of Ongar
Numerous members OF this family have shown stu
gllar combination OF literary talent, artistic tastes
mechanical faculty, and religious disposition. lis
founder, Isaac Taylor went 20 London with the am
biton Of artist, and became reputable eDeraver
One Of his sons Charles Taylor, learned fecluse
and edited Calmcts " Dictionary of the Bible" An
other, the Rev. Isaac Taylor was the author Of
several educational works, and in the third gen
eration his son, Isaac Taylor, anthor Of the
Natural History of Enthusiasm" and other
works. has been distinguished as writer
Of peculiar subte;y of thought. and variety
Of learning. His sisters, Ann Taylor, and Jane