decline of science in england-第21章
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which I felt myself bound to attempt； even though I should stand alone； as I had the misfortune of doing on that occasion。 ＇It is but justice to Mr。 South； who was a member of that Council； to state； that the circumstance of his having had the Copley medal of the same year awarded to him； prevented him from taking any part in the discussion。＇
The impression which the whole of that discussion made on my mind will never be effaced。 Regarding the original rules formed for the distribution of the Royal medals； when approved by his Majesty； as equally binding in honour and in justice； I viewed the decision of the Council； which assigned those medals to Mr。 Dalton and Mr。 Ivory； as void； IPSO FACTO； on the ground that it was directly at variance with that part which CONFINES the medals to discoveries made known to the Society within ONE YEAR PREVIOUS TO THE DAY OF THEIR AWARD。 I therefore moved the following resolutions：
〃1st； That the award of the Royal medals； made on the 16th of November； 1826； being contrary to the conditions under which they were offered； is invalid。
〃2dly； That the sum of fifty guineas each be presented to J。 Dalton； Esq。 and James Ivory； Esq。 from the funds of the Society； and that letters be written to each of those gentlemen； expressing the hope of the Council that this； the only method which is open to them of honourably fulfilling their pledges； will be received by those gentlemen as a mark of the high sense entertained by the Council of the importance and value of their discoveries； which require not the aid of medals to convey their reputation to posterity； as amongst the greatest which distinguished the age in which they lived。〃
It may be curious to give the public a specimen of the reasoning employed in so select a body of philosophers as the Council of the Royal Society。 It was contended； on the one hand； that although the award was SOMEWHAT IRREGULAR； yet nothing was more easy than to set it right。 As the original rules for giving the medals were merely an order of the Council； it would only be necessary to alter them； and then the award would agree perfectly with the laws。 On the other hand； it was contended； that the original rules were unknown to the public and to the Society； and that； in fact； they were only known to the members of the Council and a few of their friends； and therefore the award was no breach of faith。
All comment on such reasoning is needless。 That such propositions could not merely be offered； but could pass unreproved； is sufficient to show that the feelings of that body do not harmonize with those of the age； and furnishes some explanation why several of the most active members of the Royal Society have declined connecting their names with the Council as long as the present system of management is pursued。
The little interest taken by the body of the Society； either in its peculiar pursuits； or in the proceedings of the Council； and the little communication which exists between them； is an evil。 Thus it happens that the deeds of the Council are rarely known to the body of the Society； and； indeed； scarcely extend beyond that small portion who frequent the weekly meetings。 These pages will perhaps afford the first notice to the great majority of the Society of a breach of faith by their Council； which it is impossible to suppose a body； consisting of more than six hundred gentlemen； could have sanctioned。
SECTION 8。
OF THE COPLEY MEDALS。
An important distinction exists between scientific communications； which seems to have escaped the notice of the Councils of the Royal Society。 They may contain discoveries of new principles； of laws of nature hitherto unobserved； or they may consist of a register of observations of known phenomena； made under new circumstances； or in new and peculiar situations on the face of our planet。 Both these species of additions to our knowledge are important； but their value and their rarity are very different in degree。 To make and to repeat observations； even with those trifling alterations； which it is the fashion in our country （in the present day） to dignify with the name of discoveries； requires merely inflexible candour in recording precisely the facts which nature has presented； and a power of fixing the attention on the instruments employed； or phenomena examined；a talent； which can be much improved by proper Instruction； and which is possessed by most persons of tolerable abilities and education。* To discover new principles； and to detect the undiscovered laws by which nature operates； is another and a higher task； and requires intellectual qualifications of a very different order： the labour of the one is like that of the computer of an almanac； the inquiries of the other resemble more the researches of the accomplished analyst； who has invented the formula： by which those computations are performed。
＇*That the use even of the large astronomical instruments in a national observatory； does not require any very profound acquirements； is not an opinion which I should have put forth without authority。 The Astronomer…Royal ought to be the best judge。
On the minutes of the Council of the Royal Society； for April 6； 1826； with reference to the Assistants necessary for the two mural circles； we find a letter from Mr。 Pond on the subject； from which the following passage is extracted：
〃But to carry on such investigations； I want indefatigable； hard…working； and above all； obedient drudges （for so I must call them； although they are drudges of a superior order）； men who will be contented to pass half their day in using their hands and eyes in the mechanical act of observing； and the remainder of it in the dull process of calculation。〃＇
Such being the distinction between the merits of these inquiries； some difference ought to exist in the nature of any rewards that may be proposed for their encouragement。 The Royal Society have never marked this difference； and consequently those： honorary medals which are given to observations； gain a value which is due to those that are given for discoveries； whilst these latter are diminished in their estimation by such an association。
I have stated this distinction； because I think it a just one； but the public would have little cause of complaint if this were the only ground of objection to the mode of appropriating the Society's medals。 The first objection to be noticed； is the indistinct manner in which the object for which the medals are awarded is sometimes specified。 A medal is given to A。 B。 〃for his various papers。〃
There are cases； few perhaps in number； where such a reason may be admissible； but it is impossible not to perceive the weakness of those who judge these matters legibly written in the phrase； 〃and for his various other communications；〃 which comes in as the frequent tail…piece to these awards。 With a diffidence in their own powers； which might be more admired if it were more frequently expressed； the Council think to escape through this loop…hole； should the propriety of their judgment on the main point be called in question。 Thus； even the discovery which made chemistry a science； has attached to it in their award this feeble appendage。
It has been objected to the Royal Society； that their medals have been too much confined to a certain set。 When the Royal medals were added to their patronage； the past distribution of the Copley medals； furnished grounds to some of the journals to predict the future possessors of the new ones。 I shall； doubtless； be told that the Council of the Royal Society are persons of such high feeling； that it is impossible to suppose their decision could be influenced by any personal motives。 As I may not have had sufficient opportunities； during the short time I was a member of that Council； to enable me to form a fair estimate； I shall avail myself of the judgment of one； from whom no one will be inclined to appeal； who knew it long and intimately； and who expressed his opinion deliberately and solemnly。
The late Dr。 Wollaston attached； as a condition to be observed in the distribution of the interest of his munificent gift of 2；000L。 to the Royal Society； the following clause：〃And I hereby empower the
