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Endowment of Research

In the article "Endowment of Research," in NATURE, vol. xi. p. 2, the following passage occurs:-  "It does not appear from the Report of the Commission that the Cambridge Colleges have yet taken any steps to appropriate definitely any portion of their endowments to the encouragement of scientific research; but it is a matter of common notoriety that the October election to Fellowships at Trinity College, a candidate was successful whose chief qualification was that he had already accomplished good original work in embryological investigation."

Although it may not appear in the Report, it is nevertheless the fact, that in December 1872 the Master and Fellows of Trinity adopted a revised set of statutes, wherein are distinct provisions for the endowment research, very like those commended in the case of New College, Oxford. The Privy Council has, however, deferred since January 1873 the consideration of these statutes, until the late Commission should have reported. This delay seems now all the more vexatious and unjustifiable, inasmuch as it appears from the Appendix to the Report, that changes of statutes were proposed at Oriel and New Colleges five months after the date of our proposal, and that these changes were ratified by the Privy Council within a few months in the ordinary manner.

If in the future the Government should desire to make any changes in the direction in the constitutions of the Colleges, it should be remembered to the credit of this College that two years ago a complete scheme was offered which made liberal provision for the endowment of research. It is due to external authority alone, that in the meanwhile vested interests have accrued, far heavier than any which would have arisen under the proposed statutes, and that nearly one-third of the University accordance with the prevailing opinion inside, and certainly, as to scientific research, meeting with the approval of the outside world.

George Darwin

Trinity College, Cambridge, Nov. 8