THE ATTRIBUTES OF SCIENTISTS . •
Stn,—Mr. Hampson's answer to my first question (" Which attributes? ") is a stream of unqualified reviling no more worthy of our respect than the infamous pronouncement which sent Lavoisier to the guillotine— " La republique n'a pas besoin de savants." He significantly avoids answer- ing my second question (" Which scientists? ") and this fact does nothing to allay the suspicion that his opinions are not the outcome of any real knowledge of those whom he so bitterly criticises. Any honest study of the lives of scientists like Kelvin, Curie, Perkin and Pasteur would show how untenable and how grossly unfair are his present views. Meantime is it unreasonable to suggest that those who presume to criticise their fellow-men working in another field should support their criticism with some evidence of balanced judgement, freedom from prejudice and sound knowledge of the objects of their invective?—Yours faithfully,
Knowesyde, Orchard Terrace, Hawick. JAMES BARR.
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