decline of science in england-第26章
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entlemen who； from their position； accidentally derive reputation which does not belong to them； are unwilling； when the circumstance is pointed out； to allow the world to assign it to those who have fairly won it； or else that they are incapable of producing any thing worthy of being printed in the Transactions of the Royal Society。 Lightly as the conduct of the Society； as a body； has compelled me to think of it； I do not think so ill of the personal character of its members as to believe that if the question were fairly stated to them； many would object to it。
Amongst the alterations which I considered most necessary to the renovation of the Society； was the recommendation； by the expiring Council； of those whom they thought most eligible for that of the ensuing year。
The system which had got into practice was radically bad： it is impossible to have an INDEPENDENT Council if it is named by ONE PERSON。 Our statutes were framed with especial regard to securing the fitness of the members elected to serve in the Council； and the President is directed； by those statutes； at the two ordinary meetings previous to the anniversary； to give notice of the elections； and 〃to declare how much it importeth the good of the Society that such persons may be chosen into the Council as are most likely to attend the meetings and business of the Council； and out of whom may be made the best choice of a President and other officers。〃 This is regularly done； and； in mockery of the wisdom of our ancestors； the President has perhaps in his pocket
the list of the future Council he has already fixed upon。
In some other Societies； great advantage is found to arise from the discussion of the proper persons to be recommended to the Society for the Council of the next year。 A list is prepared； by the Secretary； of the old Council； and against each name is placed the number of times he has attended the meetings of the Council。 Those whose attendance has been least frequent are presumed to be otherwise engaged； unless absence from London； or engagement in some pursuit connected with the Society； are known to have interfered。 Those members who have been on the Council the number of years which is usually allowed； added to those who go out by their own wish； and by non…attendance； are； generally； more in number than can be spared； and the question is never； who shall retire？but； who； out of the rest of the Society； is most likely to work； if placed on the Council？
If any difference of opinion should exist in a society； it is always of great importance to its prosperity to have both opinions represented in the Council。 In this age of discussion it is impossible to stifle opinions； and if they are not represented in the Council； there is some chance of their being brought before the general body； or； at last； even before the public。 It is certainly an advantage that questions should be put； and even that debates should take place on the days appropriated to the anniversaries of societies。 This is the best check to the commencement of irregularities； and a suspicion may reasonably be entertained of those who endeavour to suppress inquiry。
On the other hand； debates respecting the affairs of the Society should never be entered on at the ordinary meetings； as they interrupt its business； and only a partial attendance can be expected。 That the conduct of those who have latterly managed the Royal Society has not led to such discussions； is to be attributed more to the forbearance of those who disapprove of the line of conduct they have pursued； than to the discretion of the party in not giving them cause。
The public is the last tribunal； one to which nothing but strong necessity should induce an appeal。 There are； however； advantages in it which may； in some cases； render it better than a public discussion at the anniversary。 When the cause of complaint is a system rather than any one great grievance； it may be necessary to enter more into detail than a speech will permit； also the printed statement and arguments will probably come under the consideration of a larger number of the members。 Another and a considerable benefit is； that there is much less danger of any expression of temper interrupting or injuring the arguments employed。
There were other points suggested； but I shall subjoin the Report of the Committee：
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER THE BEST MEANS OF LIMITING THE MEMBERS ADMITTED INTO THE ROYAL SOCIETY； AS WELL AS TO MAKE SUCH SUGGESTIONS ON THAT SUBJECT AS MAY SEEM TO THEM CONDUCIVE TO THE WELFARE OF THE SOCIETY。
Your Committee having maturely considered the resolution of the Council under which they have been appointed； and having satisfied themselves that the progressive increase of the Society has been in a much higher ratio than the progressive increase of population； or the general growth of knowledge； or the extension of those sciences which it has been the great object of the Society to promote； they have agreed to the following Report：
Your Committee assume as indisputable propositions； that the utility of the Society is in direct proportion to its respectability。 That its respectability can only be secured by its comprising men of high philosophical eminence； and that the obvious means of associating persons of this eminence will be the public conviction； that to belong to the Society is an honour。 Your Committee； therefore； think themselves fully borne out in the conclusion； that it would be expedient to limit the Society to such a number as should be a fair representation of the talent of the country； the consequence of which will be； that every vacancy would become an object of competition among persons of acknowledged merit。
From the returns which have been laid on your table； of the Fellows who have contributed papers； and from the best estimate they can make of the persons without doors who are engaged in the active pursuit of science； your Committee feel justified in recommending that those limits should be fixed at four hundred； exclusive of foreign members； and of such royal personages as it may be thought proper to admit。
As many years must elapse before the present number of seven hundred and fourteen can be reduced to those limits by the course of nature； and as it would be prejudicial to the interests of the Society and of science； that no fresh accessions should take place during that long period； your Committee would further recommend； that till that event takes place； four new members should be annually admitted。
With respect to the manner of admission； your Committee are of opinion； that there are several inconveniences in the present mode of proceeding to a single ballot upon each certificate； according to its seniority。 If the above limitation should be adopted； it may be presumed； that for every vacancy there will be many candidates； from amongst them； it must be the general wish to select the most distinguished individuals； but to accomplish this； if the present system were to be continued； it would be necessary to reject all those candidates whose certificates were of earlier date than theirs； a process not only extremely irritating； but probably ineffectual from the want of unanimity。 Your Committee； therefore； most earnestly recommend； that one general election should take place every year towards the end of the session； and that this should be conducted on the same principles as the present annual election of the Council and officers； VIZ。 by having lists printed of all the candidates （whose certificates had been suspended for the usual time；） in which lists each Fellow would mark the requisite number of persons。
As the charter； however； requires the concurrence of two…thirds of the Fellows present； your Committee suggest； that after the choice has been determined by the plurality of votes by ballot in the above manner； the successful candidates should be again submitted to a general vote； in accordance with the enactments of the said charter。
In concluding this part of the subject； your Committee beg leave to remark； that by the method now proposed； the invidious act of blackballing would cease； and with it all feelings of resentment and mortificatio
