Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its Causes

"Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its Causes" by Charles Babbage is a look at why science seemed to be getting worse in England during the 1800s. The book talks about why England wasn't doing as well in science as other countries, especially in harder subjects. Babbage points out that schools, the government, and even how scientists were encouraged weren't helping. He thought that groups like the Royal Society needed to change to make science better in England again. He wanted people to talk about these problems so that England could become a leader in science once more. The book starts with Babbage dedicating it to a rich and powerful person he doesn't name, which shows he was serious about his criticisms of the way science was handled.