New-York tribune., 1877-06-28
oUARRELs AMOSG MEN or SCIENCE.

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OV1BPELS AMONG MEN or SCIENCE
For months past the scientific world OF
Great Britain has been divided into two hostile
canps Strange to say, the quarrel does not
originate in any of the differences of opinion
or theory which characterize the growth of
science, lis old notions are gradually supplanted
bv new ones, or recent discoveries upset cher
ished beliefs. II cannot be compared with the
long dispute of tho mathematicians over the
souarng of the circle that called forth Swiits
sarcasm or the discussion as to the figure OF
the earth that evoked the satire of V0ltaire.
The scientific questions of the present day
have afforded ample causes fOr dispute both IN
Europe aud America but not spontaneous
generation, nor the antiquity OF man, nor the
descent of the human race from the simlan
tribes has afforded the grounds for this quarrel.
II is matter between rival ciques, and seems
to have involved chiefly personal feelings. 1t
has broken out fercely in the management OF
the Royal Society. Ii accompanied the birth,
existence, and final disposal of the Loan Col
lection of Scientific Instruments. 1t mas inter-
fered with the support of The British system
of storm warnings and metcorology. 1t has
embarrassed the selection of the recipients OF
Government and in promoting scientific re-
search. Ii has Occasioned a war OF words over
the distribution of the work on the natural
history collections that were made during the
voyage of the Challenger
Until the ast-named subject was brought up,
the quarrel was purely domestic one. Up to
that point American men OF science could LOOK
orietly on wit mt any feeling Of personal in
terest, while the combatants cut and thrust one
another in their weekly periodicals, and in
their wrath forgot their dignity. lt Is not at
all an edifying spectacle when men of rank III
the learned professions fling gibes at each other
after the fashion of college lads or rival poll
ticians but such things may become important
when they threaten to interfere with the pro-
gress of science at large. The collections made
during the voyage Of the Challenger range
through the whole field of natural history from
formless protOplasm up to the aif-breathlng
mammals of the sea. A thorough research and
study of these collections will put the world
in possession of an imner number OF new
facts Already the current theories of geology
IRE undergoing revision because at what las
been asceitained frcm the deep sea dredgiD95
of the Challenger. Obviously these collections
should be submitted to only the most accom-
Ulished experts in each line OF research. This
was the view taken by Sir c. Wyville Thomson,
the scientific director Of the exp dition. Ac
cordingly he selected list of experts best ca
p9ble of such work, and sent 10 each different
class of specimens. Three Germans, among
whom was Prof. IIaeckel, AID two Americans,
Profs. Alex. Agassiz and i. Lyman OF Cam
bridge Mass, were thus favored. One reason
for the choice of the Americans was that they
have 1T hand TIE Agassiz Museum, where is
the finest collection of the lower sea ANNALS
in The world
But such il the state Of feeling among British
men of science that this selection OF foreigners
became the occasion of an attack of some
severity on Sir C.. Wyville Thomson. 1t is
said indeed that there was conference held
on the subject, and he was urged to change
the arrane eements so that the work should fall
entirely upon Englishmen. The subject has
been largely discussed in the London papers.
Finally Nature takes it up, publishes some OF
the correspondence on both sides, and points
out that the interests of science justify such
distribution. The action taken in this country
in similar instances is cited and CONNIE aided,
the expedition on the Hassler to South Amer
lean waters and of the Porcupne to the Gulf
Stream furnishing cases in point. The com
parison in the latter instance is very remark
able: of the 16 biologists chosen to work up
the results Of the Gulf Stream expedition
only four were Americans; while Of those
chosen for the Challenger collection, II ont of
% were English. No adverse criticism in this
country followed upon the large distribution
of our collections to foreigners, aud the inter-
eats of science were well served. American
men of science may be congratulated upon a
catholic spirit and an absence of petty Jeal-
ousy. 1t is generally understood that the last
elections III the National Academy of Sciences
closed the breach of the only clique difference
by which they were ever at all separated, and
that was itself of so trivial an orign that the
present generation has forgotten all about it.