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 unbiassed 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 printing SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY copies of the
Astronomical Observations made at Paramatta, to form a third part