The Scientific Tourist – or, Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

In 1818, Thomas Walford published the first volume of his guidebook, ‘The Scientific Tourist through England, Wales & Scotland.’   It’s one of the earliest usages of the term that I’ve come across, and, of course, meant something quite different to what we would understand by the word ‘Scientific’ today.  But it is clear that Walford wrote his guide for an already established audience of Scientific Tourists, i.e. people travelling with the intention of exploring the world with science in mind. Three years before this guide was published, Michael Faraday had accompanied Sir Humphry Davy on a tour of the great laboratories of Europe, being given letters of safe passage by Napoleon, despite being at war with the British at the time. While not everyone could be as distinguished as Davy, the publication of Walford’s guide shows a popular aspiration to emulate him, and go on a ‘progress’ or tour combined with science.  Science Tourism was already a popular activity.

To be honest with you, most of the book is composed of rather dull (but very useful) lists of the various flora, fauna, geology and archaeology at various locations.  But some things in this book really evoked that thrill of recognition at the similarity between someone else’s experiences and my own, irrespective of the gap of time (or space) between us.

The title page goes on to describe what the reader may expect;
‘By which the traveller is directed to the principle objects of antiquity, art, science, and the picturesque, including the minerals, fossils, rare plants, and other objects of natural history:’  And that seems to be a really useful guide to have today. Revealingly, Walford also lists the local gentry, noting the seats of the worthy and noble, presumably so as you know whom to approach for information, permission, or a decent dinner…

To Walford, scientific clearly meant ‘pertaining to knowledge’ or perhaps he meant that the tours themselves were arranged and organised along scientific lines. Either way, he begins with plenty of general advice.

In his preface, ‘To the Tourist,’ he begins by telling us,  ‘it will add greatly to the pleasure of the tourist if he has a previous knowledge of antiquities and natural history.’  In other words, it helps if you know something about what you’re going to see, and where it fits into the great scheme of things, before you go to see it.

He then has a sly dig at people who travel abroad without ever having any knowledge of even their own home country.  In the time of the first Queen Elizabeth, he says, it was considered, ‘…. disgraceful to the nation that persons unacquainted with their native country should expose themselves in foreign nations.’

I can’t think of the number of times I have wished the same nicety applied today, and the more oafish of all nations were similarly refused passports.

Walford next calls attention to people who, ‘… much to their honour, travel for improvement;’  But, he adds, ‘…. and there are likewise a set of travellers who move about to kill time, fly through the different counties with the greatest celerity, pay no attention to what is most worthy of notice; but return home again as ignorant as they set out.’

And I’m sure we’ve all met plenty of those.  The beaches of the world are packed with them.

Overall, Walford argues, even assumes, that we should return from our travels somewhat improved, and hopefully, ready to pass on what we’ve learned, to the benefit of others.

And here, I think, is the part of the meaning of ‘scientific’ to Walford.  He believes in the acquisition and dissemination of all kinds of knowledge as a benefit to the individual and to the world as a whole.  From the arts and antiquities to the mining and manufactures, taking in the flora and fauna, the Natural History of the place, Walford thinks we should take pleasure in improving our personal knowledge and understanding, and that each of us has an obligation to improve the general understanding.  For him, at least part of the meaning of ‘scientific’ is to do with measuring and recording (see his list of useful items for the tourist, below) and on that point, we 21st Century science enthusiasts might agree. That is, there is no substitute for objective measurements and values, it is only when we put numbers to phenomena that we can begin to develop a theory and understanding that we can test against reality.  And Walford clearly believes that gathering facts and knowledge benefits the individual and society.

All of the above reminds me just how little some things have changed over the last 200 years.

Walford is not entirely about philosophy and noble aspirations however, he also gives practical advice.  Next, he addresses the question of what to take on a tour.  Clearly though, Walford didn’t have to face the problem of carrying his own bags or adhering to budget airline weight restrictions.  In addition to ‘his clothes, books and drawing-box’ he suggests the following;

A pocket compass
A pocket barometer
A small hard chisel and hammer
A tin box for collecting plants and a quire of blotting paper
A set of small boxes for curious minerals
A pocket telescope
A measuring tape and an exact yard

And in case you thought this was all getting a bit impractical, he advises,  ‘In hilly counties there is generally much rain, therefore an umbrella will be wanted.’

His next suggestion though,  ‘A sportsman or ornithologist will not forget his gun.’ is a little impractical today.

Walford goes on to list a little library of several reference works he considered essential.  These alone would have exceeded my baggage allowance.  Thankfully, a well stocked e-reader or laptop means we can carry as many books as we like.  He also suggests his reader gets their copy of the book rebound, with blank pages inserted for notes made on the road, and explains that the book was deliberately structured with this in mind.   Apparently this was common practice, and the young Michael Faraday used his bookbinding skills to do the same.

It is his final suggestions though that really speak to me across the years, proving that travel and travellers still face the same problems;

‘If the tourist is fond of good living, a bottle of fish-sauce put into his portmanteau will be very useful; there are many places in the North of England and Wales, where he will meet with most excellent fish, and nothing but bad butter to eat with them.’

And,  ‘.. there are times and situations when the having taken some tea will be found agreeable.’

This last remains a classic travel tip, along with ‘Don’t Panic’ and ‘Always know where your towel is.’

So, here’s to you Thomas Walford, and all Scientific Tourists. May I wish you all, Happy Trails!