st be left, if they are to be encouraged at all,
to some direct interference of the government.

The dangers to be apprehended from such a specific interference, would
arise from one, or several, of the following circumstances:--That class
of society, from whom the government is selected, might not possess
sufficient knowledge either to judge themselves, or know upon whose
judgment to rely. Or the number of persons devoting themselves to
science, might not be sufficiently large to have due weight in the
expression of public opinion. Or, supposing this class to be large, it
might not enjoy, in the estimation of the world, a sufficiently high
character for independence. Should these causes concur in any country,
it might become highly injurious to commit the encouragement of science
to any department of the government. This reasoning does not appear to
have escaped the penetration of those who advised the abolition of the
late Board of Longitude.

The question whether it is good policy in the government of a country
to encourage science, is one of which those who cultivate it are not
perhaps the most unbiased judges. In England, those who have hitherto
pursued science, have in general no very reasonable grounds of
complaint; they knew, or should have known, that there was no demand for
it, that it led to little honour, and to less profit.

That blame has been attributed to the government for not fostering
the science of the country is certain; and, as far as regards past
administrations, is, to a great extent, just; with respect to the
present ministers, whose strength essentially depends on public opinion,
it is not necessary that they should precede, and they cannot remain
long insensible to any expression of the general feeling. But supposing
science were thought of some importance by any administration, it would
be difficult in the present state of things to do much in its favour;
because, on the one hand, the higher classes in general have not a
profound knowledge of science, and, on the other, those persons whom
they have usually consulted, seem not to have given such advice as to
deserve the confidence of government. It seems to be forgotten, that the
money allotted by government to purposes of science ought to be expended
with the same regard to prudence and economy as in the disposal of money
in the affairs of private life.

[Who, for instance, could have advised the government to incur the
expense of printin