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SECTION 2。
OF NATIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT。
The little encouragement which at all previous periods has been afforded by the English Government to the authors of useful discoveries； or of new and valuable inventions； is justified on the following grounds：
1。 The public； who consume the new commodity or profit by the new invention； are much better judges of its merit than the government can be。
2。 The reward which arises from the sale of the commodity is usually much larger than that which government would be justified in bestowing； and it is exactly proportioned to the consumption； that is； to the want which the public feel for the new article。
It must be admitted that； as general principles； these are correct： there are； however； exceptions which flow necessarily from the very reasoning from which they were deduced。 Without entering minutely into these exceptions； it will be sufficient to show that all abstract truth is entirely excluded from reward under this system。 It is only the application of principles to common life which can be thus rewarded。 A few instances may perhaps render this position more evident。 The principle of the hydrostatic paradox was known as a speculative truth in the time of Stevinus； ＇About the year 1600＇ and its application to raising heavy weights has long been stated in elementary treatises on natural philosophy； as well as constantly exhibited in lectures。 Yet； it may fairly be regarded as a mere abstract principle； until the late Mr。 Bramah； by substituting a pump instead of the smaller column； converted it into a most valuable and powerful engine。The principle of the convertibility of the centres of oscillation and suspension in the pendulum； discovered by Huygens more than a century and a half ago； remained； until within these few years； a sterile； though most elegant proposition； when； after being hinted at by Prony； and distinctly pointed out by Bonenberger； it was employed by Captain Kater as the foundation of a most convenient practical method of determining the length of the pendulum。The interval which separated the discovery； by Dr。 Black； of latent heat； from the beautiful and successful application of it to the steam engine； was comparatively short； but it required the efforts of two minds； and both were of the highest order。The influence of electricity in producing decompositions； although of inestimable value as an instrument of discovery in chemical inquiries； can hardly be said to have been applied to the practical purposes of life； until the same powerful genius which detected the principle； applied it； by a singular felicity of reasoning； to arrest the corrosion of the copper…sheathing of vessels。 That admirably connected chain of reasoning； the truth of which is confirmed by its very failure as a remedy； will probably at some future day supply； by its successful application； a new proof of the position we are endeavouring to establish。
＇I am authorised in stating； that this was regarded by Laplace as the greatest of Sir Humphry Davy's discoveries。 It did not fail in producing the effect foreseen by Sir H。 Davy；the preventing the corrosion of the copper； but it failed as a cure of the evil； by producing one of an OPPOSITE character； either by preserving too perfectly from decay the surface of the copper； or by rendering it negative； it allowed marine animals and vegetables to accumulate on its surface； and thus impede the progress of the vessel。＇
Other instances might； if necessary； be adduced； to show that long intervals frequently elapse between the discovery of new principles in science and their practical application： nor ought this at all to surprise us。 Those intellectual qualifications； which give birth to new principles or to new methods； are of quite a different order from those which are necessary for their practical application。
At the time of the discovery of the beautiful theorem of Huygens； it required in its author not merely a complete knowledge of the mathematical science of his age； but a genius to enlarge its boundaries by new creations of his own。 Such talents are not always united with a quick perception of the details； and of the practical applications of the principles they have developed； nor is it for the interest of mankind that minds of this high order should lavish their powers on subjects unsuited to their grasp。
In mathematical science； more than in all others； it happens that truths which are at one period the most abstract； and apparently the most remote from all useful application； become in the next age the bases of profound physical inquiries； and in the succeeding one； perhaps； by proper simplification and reduction to tables； furnish their ready and daily aid to the artist and the sailor。
It may also happen that at the time of the discovery of such principles； the mechanical arts may be too imperfect to render their application likely to be attended with success。 Such was the case with the principle of the hydrostatic paradox； and it was not； I believe； until the expiration of Mr。 Bramah's patent； that the press which bears his name received that mechanical perfection in its execution； which has deservedly brought it into such general use。
On the other hand； for one person who is blessed with the power of invention； many will always be found who have the capacity of applying principles； and much of the merit ascribed to these applications will always depend on the care and labour bestowed in the practical detail。
If； therefore； it is important to the country that abstract principles should be applied to practical use； it is clear that it is also important that encouragement should be held out to the few who are capable of adding to the number of those truths on which such applications are founded。 Unless there exist peculiar institutions for the support of such inquirers； or unless the Government directly interfere； the contriver of a thaumatrope may derive profit from his ingenuity； whilst he who unravels the laws of light and vision； on which multitudes of phenomena depend； shall descend unrewarded to the tomb。
Perhaps it may be urged； that sufficient encouragement is already afforded to abstract science in our different universities； by the professorships established at them。 It is not however in the power of such institutions to create； they may foster and aid the development of genius； and； when rightly applied； such stations ought to be its fair and honourable rewards。 In many instances their emolument is small； and when otherwise； the lectures which are required from the professor are not perhaps in all cases the best mode of employing the energies of those who are capable of inventing。
I cannot resist the opportunity of supporting these opinions by the authority of one of the greatest philosophers of a past age； and of expressing my acknowledgments to the author of a most interesting piece of scientific biography。 In the correspondence which terminated in the return of Galileo to a professorship in his native country； he remarks； 〃But； because my private lectures and domestic pupils are a great hinderance and interruption of my studies； I wish to live entirely exempt from the former； and in great measure from the latter。〃LIFE OF GALILEO； p。18。 And； in another letter to Kepler； he speaks with gratitude of Cosmo； the Grand Duke of Tuscany； who 〃has now invited me to attach myself to him with the annual salary of 1000 florins； and with the title of Philosopher and principal Mathematician to his Highness； without the duties of any office to perform； but with most complete leisure； so that I can complete my treatise on Mechanics； &c。〃p。31。〃 ＇Life of Galileo； published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge。＇
Surely； if knowledge is valuable； it can never be good policy in a country far wealthier than Tuscany； to allow a genius like Mr。 Dalton's； to be employed in the drudgery of elementary instruction。 ＇I utter these sentiments from no feelings of private friendship to that estimable philosopher； to whom it is my regret to be almost unknown； and whose modest and retiring merit； I may； perhaps； have the misfortune to offend by these remarks。 But Mr。 Dalton was of no party；