RECORD OF THE ROYAL SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FOUNDATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. The "first ground and foundation of the Royal Society" is given by Wallis as follows: "About the year 1645, while I lived in London (at a time when, by our civil wars, academical studies were much interrupted in both our Universities), beside the conversation of divers eminent divines, as to matters theological, I had the opportunity of being acquainted with divers worthy persons, inquisitive into natural philosophy, and other parts of human learning; and particularly of what hath been called the New Philosophy or Experimental Philosophy. We did by agreements, divers of us, meet weekly in London on a certain day [and hour, under a certain penalty, and a weekly contribution for the charge of experiments, with certain rules agreed upon amongst us],† to treat and discourse of such affairs; of which number were Dr. John Wilkins (afterwards Bishop of Chester [then chaplain to the Prince Elector Palatine, in London]), Dr. Jonathan Goddard, Dr. George Ent, Dr. Glisson, Dr. Merret (Drs. in Physick), Mr. Samuel Foster, then Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, Mr. Theodore Haak‡ (a German of the Palatinate, and then resident in London, who, I think, gave the first occasion, and first suggested those meetings), and many others. "These meetings we held sometimes at Dr. Goddard's lodgings in Wood Street (or some convenient place near), on occasion of his keep * Dr. John Wallis, mathematician, b. 1616, d. 1703. The passage quoted is from his letter to Dr. Thomas Smith, dated January 29, 1696-7, published in Thomas Hearne's Appendix to his preface to 'Peter Langtoft's Chronicle,' vol. 1, p. 161, edit. London, 1725. The passages in square brackets are taken from Wallis's 'A Defence of the Royal Society,' 1678. Misprinted Hank. B ing an operator in his house for grinding glasses for telescopes and microscopes; sometimes at a convenient place [The Bull Head] in Cheapside, and [in term-time] at Gresham College [at Mr. Foster's lecture (then Astronomer Professor there), and, after the lecture ended, repaired, sometimes to Mr. Foster's lodgings, sometimes to some other place not far distant]. "Our business was (precluding matters of theology and state affairs) to discourse and consider of Philosophical Enquiries, and such as related thereunto: as Physick, Anatomy, Geometry, Astronomy, Navigation, Staticks, Magneticks, Chymicks, Mechanicks, and natural Experiments; with the state of these studies, as then cultivated at home and abroad. We then discoursed of the circulation of the blood, the valves in the veins, the vena lacter, the lymphatick vessels, the Copernican hypothesis, the nature of comets and new stars, the satellites of Jupiter, the oval shape (as it then appeared) of Saturn, the spots in the sun, and its turning on its own axis, the inequalities and selenography of the Moon, the several phases of Venus and Mercury, the improvement of telescopes, and grinding of glasses for that purpose, the weight of air, the possibility or impossibility of vacuities and Nature's abhorrence thereof, the Torricellian experiment in quicksilver, the descent of heavy bodies, and the degrees of acceleration therein; and divers other things of like nature. Some of which were then but new discoveries, and others not so generally known and embraced as now they are, with other things appertaining to what hath been called The New Philosophy, which from the times of Galileo at Florence, and Sir Francis Bacon (Lord Verulam) in England, hath been much cultivated in Italy, France, Germany, and other parts abroad, as well as with us in England. "About the year 1648, 1649, some of our company being removed to Oxford (first Dr. Wilkins, then I, and soon after Dr. Goddard) our company divided. Those in London continued to meet there as before (and we with them, when we had occasion to be there), and those of us at Oxford, with Dr. Ward (since Bishop of Salisbury), Dr. Ralph Bathurst (now President of Trinity College in Oxford), Dr. Petty (since Sir William Petty), Dr. Willis (then an eminent physician in Oxford), and divers others, continued such meetings in Oxford, and brought these studies into fashion there; meeting first at Dr. Petty's lodgings. (in an apothecarie's house), because of the convenience of inspecting drugs, and the like, as there was occasion; and after his remove to Ireland (though not so constantly) at the lodgings of Dr. Wilkins, then Warden of Wadham College, and after his removal to Trinity College in Cambridge, at the lodgings of the Honourable Mr. Robert Boyle, then resident for divers years in Oxford." It is to this private Society, meeting partly in London, partly at Oxford, that Boyle most probably refers when, in his letters to Mons. Marcombes (October 22, 1646), to Francis Tallents (February 20, 1646-47), and to Samuel Hartlib (May 8, 1647), he speaks of "The Invisible College."* The Oxford Society became in 1651 the Philosophical Society of Oxford, of which meetings continued to be held at irregular intervals until 1690 when they ceased. The London Society continued to meet until about the year 1658, "usually at Gresham College, at the Wednesday's and Thursday's lectures of Dr. Wren and Mr. Rook, where there joined with them several eminent persons of their common acquaintance: The Lord Viscount Brouncker, the now Lord Brereton, Sir Paul Neil, Mr. John Evelyn, Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Slingsby, Dr. Timothy Clarke, Dr. Ent, Mr. Ball, Mr. Hill, Dr. Crone, and diverse other gentlemen, whose inclinations lay the same way. This custom was observed once, if not twice, a week in term-time; till they were scattered by the miserable distractions of that fatal year; till the continuance of their meetings there might have made them run the hazard of the fate of Archimedes: for then the place of their meeting was made a quarter for soldiers."+ In 1660 the meetings at Gresham College were revived, and on the 28th November in that year the first Journal-book of the Society was opened with the following entry : "Memorandum that Novemb. 28, 1660, These persons following, according to the usuall custom of most of them, mett together at Gresham Colledge to heare Mr. Wren's lecture, viz. The Lord Brouncker, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Bruce, Sir Robert Moray, Sir Paul Neile, Dr. Wilkins, Dr. Goddard, Dr. Petty, Mr. Ball, Mr. Rooke, Mr. Wren, Mr. Hill. And after the lecture was ended, they did, according to the usual manner, withdrawe for mutuall converse. Where amongst other matters that were discoursed of, something was offered about a designe of founding a Colledge for the promoting of Physico-Mathematicall Experimentall Learning. And because they had these frequent occasions of meeting with one another, it was proposed that some course might be thought of, to improve this meeting to a more regular way of debating things, and according to the manner in other countryes, where there were voluntary associations of men in academies, for the advancement of various parts of learning, so they might doe something answerable here for the promoting of experimentall philosophy. "In order to which, it was agreed that this Company would continue their weekly meeting on Wednesday, at 3 of the clock in the tearme time, at Mr. Rooke's chamber at Gresham Colledge; in the vacation, at Mr. Ball's chamber in the Temple. And towards the defraying of occasionall expenses, every one should, at his first ad * Sprat's 'Life of the Honourable Robert Boyle,' prefixed to Boyle's 'Works,' folio, London, 1744, pp. 17, 20, 24. mission, pay downe ten shillings, and besides engage to pay one shilling weekly, whether present or absent, whilest he shall please to keep his relation to this Company. At this Meeting Dr. Wilkins was appointed to the chaire, Mr. Ball to be Treasurer, and Mr. Croone, though absent, was named for Register. “And to the end that they might the better be enabled to make a conjecture of how many the elected number of this Society should consist, therefore it was desired that a list might be taken of the names of such persons as were known to those present, whom they judged willing and fit to joyne with them in their designe, who, if they should desire it, might be admitted before any other.”* Upon which this following Catalogue was offered: On the following Wednesday, being the 5th December, a Meeting was held, of which the following is recorded in the Journal-book : "Sir Robert Moray brought in word from the court, that the King had been acquainted with the designe of this Meeting. And he did well approve of it, and would be ready to give encouragement to it." "It was ordered that Mr. Wren be desired to prepare against the next meeting for the Pendulum Experiment. "That Mr. Croone be desired to looke out for some discreet person skilled in short-hand writing, to be an amanuensis. "It was then agreed that the number be not increased, but by consent of the Society who have already subscribed their names: ̧ till such time as the orders for the constitution be settled. "That any three or more of this company (whose occasions will permit them,) are desired to meete as a Committee, at 3 of the * 'Journal-book,' vol. 1, p. 1. He had been created M.D. at Oxford, Dec. 2, 1657. Wood, 'Fas. Oxon.' clock on Fryday, to consult about such orders in reference to the constitution, as they shall think fitt to offer to the whole company, and so to adjourne de die in diem." Under the above date of the 5th Dec. 1660, the first page of the Journal-book contains the following obligation:- "Wee whose names are underwritten, doe consent and agree that wee will meet together weekely (if not hindered by necessary occasions), to consult and debate concerning the promoting of experimentall learning. And that each of us will allowe one shilling weekely, towards the defraying of occasionall charges. Provided that if any one or more of us shall thinke fitt at any time to withdrawe, he or they shall, after notice thereof given to the Company at a meeting, be freed from this obligation for the future.” To this are attached the signatures of all those persons comprised in the Catalogue of names prepared at the meeting on the 28th of November, as also of seventy-three others, who were subsequently elected into the Society, as may be seen in the Journal-book. On the 12th December another Meeting was held. is the entry in the Journal-book :— 66 The following It was referred to my Lord Brouncker, Sir Robert Moray, Sir Paul Neil, Mr. Matthew Wren, Dr. Goddard, and Mr. Christopher Wren, to consult about a convenient place for the weekly meeting of the Society. "It was then voted that no person shall be admitted into the Society without scrutiny, excepting only such as are of the degree of Barons or above. "Sir Kenelme Digby, Mr. Austen, and Dr. Bates, were then by vote chosen into the Society. “That the stated number of this Society be five and fifty. That twenty-one of the stated number of this Society be the quorum for Elections. "That any person of the degree of Baron or above may be admitted as supernumerarys, if they shall desire it, and will conforme themselves to such orders as are or shall be established. "Whereas it was suggested at the Committee that the Colledge of Physitians would afford convenient accommodation for the meeting of this Society; uppon supposition that it be graunted and accepted of, it was thought reasonable, that any of the Followes of the said Colledge, if they shall desire it, be likewise admitted as Supernumerarys, they submitting to the Lawes of the Society, both as to the pay at their admission, and the weekly allowance; as likewise the particular works or tasks that may be allotted to them. "That the Publick Professors of Mathematicks, Physick, and Naturall Philosophy, of both Universitys, have the same priviledge with the Colledge of Physitians, they paying as others at their |