certainly given by Charles the Second to Lord Brouncker, as President of the Royal Society, in the old books of the Jewel House, they are most probably to be found in the Lord Chamberlain's Office, to whom the control of the Jewel House was transferred in (I believe) 1782. Not a single record is, or ever was, in my hands. Otherwise, to have accorded you fullest and freest access, would have been to me an especial pleasure.

"I am, my dear Sir,

66

Very faithfully yours,

"EDMUND LENTHAL SWIFte.

"C. R. Weld, Esq."

The receipt of this letter caused me to write to the Lord Chamberlain for permission to examine the archives under his charge. This was immediately granted, and with the kind assistance of the chief clerks in Lord Delawarr's office, I fortunately, after a long search in a gloomy and damp apartment, which was formerly a stable, found the original warrant, ordering a Mace to be made for the Royal Society.

Subjoined is a copy of this important and valuable document. The book in which it exists is entitled, The Book of Warrants of the Lord Chamberlain, Edward, Earl of Manchester, of His Majesty's Household, for the Years 1663, 4, 5, 6, & 7, and the warrant is entered under the head of "Jewell House:"

"A WARRANT TO PREPARE AND DELIVER TO THE RT. HON. WILLIAM LORD VISCOUNT BROUNCKER, PRESIDENT OF THE ROYALL SOCIETY OF LONDON, FOR THE IMPROVING OF NATURAL KNOWLEDGE BY EXPERIMENTS; ONE GUILT MACE, OF ONE HUNDRED AND

FIFTY OZ.", BEING A GUIFT FROM HIS MATIE TO THE SAID SOCIETY."

This warrant is among those issued in 1663; and as several previous warrants exist, bearing the dates of January, February, March, and April; and others, entered subsequently, are dated May, June, and July, we may reasonably conclude, that the warrant for making the Society's Mace was issued early in 1663; and this is strengthened by the fact, that the Society received the Mace in the month of August in the same year 28

This discovery not only destroys the long-entertained belief, that the Mace belonging to the Royal Society and the "bauble" are identical, but also affords conclusive evidence that the former was made expressly for the Royal Society.

On a minute examination of this Mace, in order to detect, if possible, the maker's name or a date, neither of which exist, I observed that the chasing on the stem consists entirely of thistle-leaves and flowers: at the time this fact passed unnoticed, but it is now evident that the thistle was employed as the principal ornament, on account of its being symbolical of St. Andrew, the patron saint of the Society,

27 Troy weight, which exceeds 150 oz. avoirdupois.

28 Since this account was read before the Society, Mr. Browell, the chief clerk in the Lord Chamberlain's Office, has been so obliging as to inform me, that the foregoing warrant is entered in another book of warrants, apparently a duplicate of that which I saw. The words of the warrant are similar to the above, but there is the important addition of the date, May 23, 1663; thus confirming my idea that the warrant was issued in the early part of the latter year.

in whose honour the Fellows of the Society were accustomed, at the early anniversary Meetings, to wear a St. Andrew's cross in their hats.

This use of the thistle is another proof that the Mace was made for the Society.

In conclusion, I cannot forbear observing, that although the Mace may not be as curious as before to the antiquary, divested as it now is, of its fictitious historical interest, yet it is much more to be respected; for surely a Mace designated a "bauble," and spurned from the House of Commons by a republican, would scarcely be an appropriate gift from a Sovereign to the Royal Society.

The Mace in its possession was expressly made for the Society, and given to it by its Royal Founder; and the associations appertaining to it, embracing the remembrance, that around it have been gathered men whose names not only shed imperishable lustre on the Royal Society, but on the civilized world, must hallow it to all lovers of science and truth.

CHAPTER VIII.

Sorbière's Account of his visit to the Society-Sprat's Observations upon it.-Moncony's Description of the Society-Anniversary celebrated by Fellows dining together-Charles II. sends Venison-Exertions to increase the Income of the SocietyPetition to the King for grant of Chelsea College-Society issue their Warrant for the bodies of executed Criminals-Notice of Dissection sent to the Fellows-Sir J. Cutler founds a Professorship of Mechanics-Hooke appointed Professor and Curator-Has apartments in Gresham College-His Micrographia printed by licence of Council-Dedicated to the SocietyAppointment of Committees Charter-book opened - Expected visit of Charles II.-Publication of Transactions by Oldenburg-Dedication of First Number-Contents-Their Sale-The Plague causes a suspension of the Meetings-Oldenburg remains in London-His alarm-Council-Meetings resumed-Purchase of Mr. Colwall's Collection of CuriositiesFormation of Museum-Museum Tradescantium-Transferred to Oxford-Coffee-House Museums-Oldenburg's extensive Correspondence Presents of Rarities-Weekly Meetings resumed -Masters of Pest-house send their Observations on the Plague to the Society-Experiment of Transfusion of Blood-Great Fire of London interrupts the Meetings-The Society meet in Arundel House-Hooke's Model for rebuilding the City-The Duke of Norfolk presents his Library to the Society—Account of it-Duchess of Newcastle visits the Society-Arrest of Oldenburg-Warrant for his confinement in the Tower-His innocence and release-His Letter to Boyle-The Society obtain possession of Chelsea College-Its dilapidated state-Scheme of building a College-Contributions of the Fellows towards the building-Wren furnishes Design-Never carried out-Patent granting Chelsea College, and additional privileges.

IN

1660-70.

N the year 1663, M. Sorbière, historiographer to Louis XIV., visited England, and on his return to France, published an account of his travels, entitled,

Rélation d'un Voyage en Angleterre, où sont touchées plusieurs choses qui regardent l'estat des Sciences, et de la Religion, et autres matières curieuses. In this work the author gives the following interesting account of the Royal Society, to which he paid several visits :

L'Académie Royale des Physiciens de Londres est établie par des lettres du Roy, qui en est le fondateur, et qui luy a donné le College de Greshem, dans la ruë Biscop getstriidt1, où elle s'assemble tous les Mercredis. Je ne sçay s'il n'y a point desia quelque revenu affecté pour l'entretien des personnes qui gouernent les machines, et d'vn huissier, qui marche deuant le President auec vne grosse masse d'argent, laquelle il pose sur le Bureau de l'Assembleé, quand il y vient prendre place. Mais i'ay bien oüy dire, que l'on estoit apres à trouer en fonds pour quatre mille liures de rente à deux personnes sçauantes, qui demeurerōt dans le College, et qui seront gagées pour rapporter à la compagnie ce dont elle voudra estre informée par la lecture des liures. Et à cet vsage il y a dé-ja vn commencement de Bibliotheque tout ioignant vne galerie, dans laquelle on passe au sortir de la sale de l'Assemblée: comme d'vn autre costé il a au deuant de la mesme sale, one anti-chambre fort honneste, et deux autres chambres en l'one desquelles on tient le Conseil; sans conter le logement que l'on destine aux deux professeurs, qui recueilleront des Autheurs les anciennes experiences Physiques et méchaniques, que l'on examinera pour s'en asseurer à l'avenir, tandis que l'on en fera aussi de nouvelles. La chambre de l'Academie est grande et lambrissée. Il y a une longue table au deuant de la cheminée, sept au huict chaises à l'entour, couuertes de drap gris, et deux rangs de bancs de bois tout nud a dossier, le dernier estant plus esleué que l'autre en forme d'amphitheatre. Le President et les Conseillers sont electifs.

1 M. Sorbière thus curiously spells Bishopsgate Street.

y