resent as in past times, that the domain of
science has been extended by some of its brightest ornaments.

In England, the profession of the law is that which seems to hold out
the strongest attraction to talent, from the circumstance, that in it
ability, coupled with exertion, even though unaided by patronage, cannot
fail of obtaining reward. It is frequently chosen as an introduction
to public life. It also presents great advantages, from its being a
qualification for many situations more or less remotely connected
with it, as well as from the circumstance that several of the highest
officers of the state must necessarily have sprung from its ranks.

A powerful attraction exists, therefore, to the promotion of a study and
of duties of all others engrossing the time most completely, and which
is less benefited than most others by any acquaintance with science.
This is one amongst the causes why it so very rarely happens that men in
public situations are at all conversant even with the commonest branches
of scientific knowledge, and why scarcely an instance can be cited of
such persons acquiring a reputation by any discoveries of their own.

But, however consistent other sciences may be with professional
avocations, there is one which, from its extreme difficulty, and the
overwhelming attention which it demands, can only be pursued with
success by those whose leisure is undisturbed by other claims. To be
well acquainted with the present state of mathematics, is no easy task;
but to add to the powers which that science possesses, is likely to be
the lot of but few English philosophers.

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 en