Pelisson relates that soon after the formation of the Academy, its ability and impartiality were tried by Richelieu, who called on the body to pronounce an opinion upon the Cid of Corneille, to which work he had a strong dislike. At first, the members were most unwilling to give any opinion, but, as the Cardinal was not a man to take excuses, a committee was eventually appointed, who prepared a report, which was, on the whole, favourable to Corneille. Mr. Hallam states that the "sentimens de l'Académie were drawn up with great good sense and dignity." This Institution was subsequently incorporated with the 'Academy of Sciences,' and that of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres","

Although France thus early founded a Society for the cultivation of literature, yet to England belongs the high honour of being the first country, after Italy, to establish a Society for the investigation and advancement of physical science. "The period was arrived when experimental philosophy, to which Bacon had held the torch, and which had already made considerable progress, especially in Italy, was finally established on the ruins of arbitrary figments and partial inductions."

The development and advancement of science are signally indebted to three Associations: the Academy del Cimento at Florence, which, as we have seen, endured but for a short time; the Royal Society of London; and the Academy of Sciences at Paris. Laplace has well said: Le principal avantage des Académies, est l'esprit philosophique qui doit s'y introduire, et de là se répandre dans toute une nation et sur tous les objets. Le savant isolé, peut se livrer sans

Fontenelle, Vol. v. p. 23.

crainte à l'esprit de système: il n'entend que de loin la contradiction qu'il éprouve. Mais dans une société sarante, le choc des opinions systématiques finit bientot par les détruire; et le désir de se convaincre mutuellement, établit nécessairement entre les membres, la convention de n'admettre que les résultats de l'observation et du calcul. Aussi l'experience a-t-elle montré que depuis l'origine des Académies, la vraie philosophie s'est généralement répandue. En donnant l'exemple de tout soumettre à l'examen d'une raison sévère, elles ont fait disparaître les préjugés qui trop long-temps araient régné dans les sciences, et que les meilleurs esprits des siècles précédens avaient partagés. Leur utile influence sur l'opinion, a dissipé des erreurs accueillies de nos jours, avec un enthousiasme qui, dans d'autres temps, les aurait perpétuées. Egalement éloignées de la crédulité qui fait tout admettre, et de la prévention qui porte à rejeter tout ce qui s'écarte des idées reçues; elles ont toujours sur les questions difficiles et sur les phénomènes extraordinaires, sagement attendu les réponses de l'observation et de l'expérience, en les provoquant par des prix et par leurs propres travaux. Mesurant leur estime autant à la grandeur et à la difficulté d'une découverte, qu'à son utilité immédiate, et persuadées par beaucoup d'exemples, que la plus stérile en apparence, peut avoir, un jour, des suites importantes; elles ont encouragé la recherche de la vérité sur tous les objets, n'excluant que ceux qui, par les bornes de l'entendement humain, lui seront à jamais inaccessibles. Enfin c'est de leur sein que se sont élevées ces grandes théories que leur généralité met au-dessus de la portée du vulgaire, et qui se répandant par de nombreuses applications, sur la nature et sur les arts, sont devenues d'inépuisables sources de lumières et de jouis

sances. Les gouvernemens sages convaincus de l'utilité des sociétés savantes, et les envisageant comme l'un des principaux fondemens de la gloire, et de la prospérité des empires, les ont instituées et placées près d'eux, pour s'éclairer de leurs lumières dont souvent ils ont retiré de grands avantages"."

45

It must appear singular, that early as our English Universities were founded, some philosophical association should not have grown out of them prior to those of which we have any record. Oxford, it is true, did cultivate mathematics to an extent as remarkable for the period, as the present fostering of that science by the sister University; and this in an age when the fifth proposition of Euclid was often the halting-place of the philosopher. But when we remember that all learning was overlaid and encumbered by scholastic theology, with its heavy net-work of mystical dogmatism, we shall cease to feel surprised that so little was done. Had ecclesiastical authority exercised less sway, we should probably have to go farther for the history of our scientific Institution.

To the Royal Society attaches the renown of having, from its foundation, applied itself with untiring zeal and energy to the great objects of its institution; and we now behold it, venerable in years, yet shewing no symptom of decay, and regarded with admiration and esteem by the civilized world.

Having now rapidly sketched the rise and progress of literary and scientific societies; we shall, in the next chapter, proceed to the immediate object before us; the origin and foundation of the Royal Society.

45 Précis de l'Histoire de l'Astronomie, p. 99.

CHAPTER II.

Origin of Royal Society involved in some obscurity-Wallis's Account-Oxford Philosophical Society-Their Regulations-Influential in promoting Establishment of Royal Society-Hooke's Answer to Cassini's Statement respecting the Society-Boyle's Account of the Invisible College-Sprat's description of Meetings at Gresham College-Interruption occasioned by Civil Wars -Evelyn's design for a Philosophical College-Cowley's Proposition for the establishment of a College-Sir William Petty's Scheme for a Gymnasium Mechanicum, or College of Tradesmen-Plan of building a Philosophical Institution at Vauxhall -Domestic troubles postpone the establishment of any Scientific or Literary Society.

TH

1645-55.

'HE origin of the Royal Society, in common with that of many other illustrious institutions, is involved in some obscurity; for though the year 1660 may be regarded as the date of its establishment, yet there is no doubt that a society of learned men were in the habit of assembling together, to discuss scientific subjects, for many years previously to the above time.

In the Publisher's Appendix to his Preface of Thomas Hearne's edition of Peter Langtoft's Chronicle, we find, under the head of "Dr. Wallis's account of some passages of his own life," written in January 1696, 7, the following interesting extract :—

"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, to treat and discourse of such affairs; of which number were Dr. John Wilkins (afterward Bishop of Chester), 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 Hank', (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 keeping an operator in his house for grinding glasses for telescopes and microscopes; sometimes at a convenient place in Cheapside, and sometimes at Gresham College, or some place near adjoyning.

"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 lactea, the lymphatick vessels, the Copernican hypothesis, the nature of comets and new stars, the satellites of Jupiter, the oval

1 Doubtless Haak.

2 The convenient place to which Dr. Wallis refers was the BullHead Tavern, in Cheapside.