Reflections on the decline of science in England, and on some of its causes / by Charles Babbage.

  • Charles Babbage
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reflections on the decline of science in England, and on some of its causes / by Charles Babbage. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    I shall not attempt to heap together all the causes of complaint; but, by selecting a few in different de- partments, endeavour to convince them that some alter- ation is essentially necessary for the promotion of that very object which we both by such different roads pursue. I have found it necessary, in the course of this volume, to speak of the departed; for the misgovern- ment of the Royal Society has not been wholly the result of even the present race. It is said, and I think with justice, in the life of Young, inserted amongst Dr. Johnson’s, that the famous maxim, De mortuis nil nisi bonum” “appears to savour more of female weakness than of manly reason.” The foibles and the follies of those who are gone, may, without injury to society, repose in oblivion. But, whoever would claim the admiration of mankind for their good actions, must prove his impartiality by fearlessly con- demning their evil deeds. Adopt the maxim, and piaise to the dead becomes worthless, from its universality; and history, a greater fable than it has been liitheito deemed. Perhaps I ought to apologize for the large space I have devoted to the Royal Society. Certainly its pre- sent state gives it no claim to that attention; and I do it partly from respect for its former services, and partly from the hope that, if such an Institution can be of use to science in the present day, the attention of its mem- bers may be excited to take steps for its restoration. Perhaps I may be blamed for having published extracts
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