Philosophical Society proceed by expe riment. far surpassed what any other country in Europe could produce. The mathematical sciences in particular and astronomy could boast of a great number of very eminent cultivators. Indeed this was the age of British mathematics. The Philosophical Transactions were the result of the labours of the Royal Society. At first they were published by the Secretary in small numbers consisting of a sheet or two, either monthly or seldomer, according as materials were supplied. Many of the papers read before the Society were inserted in these Transactions; but the editor took the liberty of putting into them likewise all the scientific information which he could pick up from any other channel. An analysis of books of science was frequently inserted, and indeed contributed materially to the diffusion of knowledge, and tended very much to bring works of merit into speedy celebrity. From the nature and constitution of the Royal Society the objects of their attention were necessarily unlimited. The physical sciences however, or those which are promoted by experiment, were their declared objects; and experiment was the method which they professed to follow in accomplishing their purpose. Accordingly at first, and indeed for a considerable time after the establishment of the Society, experiments were exhibited before them at every meeting; and a person was appointed with a salary to contrive such experiments as were proper to be shown, and to have every thing ready for the exhibition of them against the meeting of the Society. This practice, in the infancy of experimental investigations, was probably attended with advantages, by putting the spectators upon the right way of investigation, and inducing them to draw legitimate consequences from their observations. But it was not the best way of advancing the sciences. Experiments cannot be advantageously made by a multitude or even before a multitude. Accordingly we find but few discoveries. of importance made during these exhibitions, even when the experimenters were eminently successful in their private labours at home. It is only necessary to mention the names of Mr. Boyle, Dr. Hooke, and Dr. Grew, who frequently exhibited experiments before the Society, to be convinced of the truth of this. These experiments however were for the most part but repetitions of experiments already made in private, and exhibited again with perfect propriety for the satisfaction of the Society. In this way the knowledge of the subject was spread rapidly, and fundamental points better established than they otherwise might have been. The Society, as might have been expected from the nature of such institutions, underwent various periods of vigour and decay; though upon the whole it has been progressive, and has continued to increase both in reputation and in numbers. As the value of the Transactions was in some measure affected by the abilities of the Secretary who had the superintendance of the publication, it may be worth while to lay before our readers the names of the succes sive Secretaries with the different portions of the Transactions which they respectively edited. Transactions. The Secretary, who began the publication of the Transactions, was Mr. Editors of the Henry Oldenburg. The first Number was published in 1665; and he con- 1 Oldenburg. tinued the publication till the period of his death in 1677, and published in all 136 numbers, making very nearly the whole of the first twelve volumes of the Transactions. He was succeeded in office by Dr. Nehemiah Grew, who was 2 Grew. chosen Secretary on the 30th of November 1677; he published Number 137, and continued editor for two years. The last number which he published was 142. Dr. Grew was succeeded by Dr. Hooke. But the publication of the 3 Hooke. Transactions was intermitted for three years. In 1681, Dr. Hooke began to publish what he called Philosophical Collections; which have been always considered as constituting a portion of the Transactions, though under a different name. Dr. Hooke continued his publication of the Collections during the years 1681 and 1682, and published in all 7 numbers. The discontinuance of the Transactions seems to have been owing to their very limited sale, and to the small profit which accrued to the Secretary who acted as editor. But in the year 1683, Dr. Robert Plot, who had, the preceding year, been chosen Secre- 4 Plot. tary in place of Dr. Hooke, undertook to revive the publication, on condition that the Society would bind themselves to purchase 60 copies of each number. Dr. Plot was editor during the years 1683 and 1684, and published the 13th and 14th volumes, comprehending all the numbers between 143 and 166 inclusive. The 15th volume, comprehending the numbers between 167 and 178 inclusive, was edited by Mr. William Musgrave, who was Secretary 5 Musgrave. during the year 1685. This volume probably did not give much satisfaction to the Members of the Royal Society. There seems also to have been a deficiency of materials; for it appears, from the registers of the Society, that Dr. Edmund Halley, who had been appointed Clerk to the Society in 1686, offered, on condition that the publication should be renewed, to furnish one fourth of the whole out of his own private stock. It would appear that Dr. Halley was editor of the 16th 6 Halley volume, comprehending the numbers between 179 and 191 inclusive, and published during the years 1686 and 1687. After the publication of this volume there was an interval of three years without the appearance of any thing more, owing obviously to the deficiency of materials. The publication was again revived in 1691, and though Dr. Halley was not the ostensible editor, he appears to have been actively concerned in superintending the publication till the period of his voyage to the southern hemisphere in 1698. For there is an order of council, passed about that time, on record, enjoining Dr. Tyson, Mr. Hart, Dr. Sloane, Mr. Waller, and Dr. Hooke, to assist Dr. Halley in drawing up the Transactions. It is impossible to say how much each of these individuals contributed 7 Waller. s Sloane. 9 Halley. to the labour of editing; though there is reason to believe that the greatest share of the drudgery fell upon Halley. Volumes 17 and 18, consisting of the numbers between 192 and 214 inclusive, and published during the years 1691, 1692, 1693, and 1694, were ostensibly edited by Mr. Waller, who had been. elected Secretary on the 30th of November 1687. The ostensible editor of all the volumes from the 19th to the 28th inclusive, comprehending from number 215 to number 337, and published in succession between the years 1695 and 1713, was Sir Hans Sloane, who had been chosen Secretary on the 30th of November 1693. Dr. Halley, chosen Secretary in 1713, was the editor of the 29th and 30th volumes, comprehending all the numbers between 338 and 363 inclusive, and published between the years 1714 and 1719, at the rate of two numbers a year. The 31st, 32d, 33d, and 34th volumes, comprehending all the numbers between 364 and 398, and published between the years 1720 and 1727, at the rate of two numbers annually, were edited by Dr. James Jurin, chosen Secretary at the end of the year 1721. Dr. Rutty, chosen Secretary in 1727, was the editor of the 35th volume, consisting of eight numbers, namely those between 399 and 406 inclusive, and published in the year 1728. Dr. 12 Mortimer. Cromwell Mortimer, elected Secretary in 1730, was the editor of the 36th volume, and continued editor for a period of 20 years, during which he published 11 volumes, comprehending all the numbers between 407 and 496 inclusive. The 46th volume was published in 1750, and it was the last volume that was published in numbers. 10 Jurin. 11 Rutty. 13 A Committee of the Society. In the year 1750, a Committee was appointed to superintend the publication; and the Transactions ever since that period have been published in half volumes. For the first 12 years only one half volume was published annually; but from the year 1762, two half volumes or a complete volume have always made their appearance every year. * This volume, and all those published since, have been each prefaced by the following ADVERTISEMENT. "The Committee appointed by the Royal Society to direct the publication of the Philosophical Transactions, take this opportunity to acquaint the public, that it fully appears, as well from the council books and journals of the Society, as from the repeated declarations which have been made in several former Transactions, that the printing of them was always, from time to time, the single act of the respective secretaries, till this present 47th volume. And this information was thought the more necessary, not only as it has been the conimon opinion that they were published by the autho rity, and under the direction of the Society itself, but also because several authors, both at home and abroad, have in their writings called them the Transactions of the Royal Society. Whereas in truth the Society, as a body, never did interest themselves any further in their publication, than by occa sionally recommending the revival of them to some of their secretaries, when, from the particular circumstances of their affairs, the Transactions had happened for any length of time to be intermitted. And this seems principally to have been done with a view to satisfy the public, that their usual meetings were then continued for the improvement of knowledge, and benefit of mankind, the great ends of their first institution by the royal charters, and which they have ever since steadily pursued. The preceding details, though of considerable importance, have from unavoidable necessity been so circumstantially minute as to border upon tediousness. On that account we shall exhibit the whole under the form of a table, which will enable the reader by a single glance of the eye to catch all the details. "But the Society being of late years greatly enlarged, and their communications more numerous, it was thought advisable, that a Committee of their Members should be appointed to reconsider the papers read before them, and select out of them such as they should judge most proper for publication in the future Transactions; which was accordingly done on the 26th of March 1752. And the grounds of their choice are, and will continue to be, the importance or singularity of the subjects, or the advantageous manner of treating them; without pretending to answer for the certainty of the facts, or propriety of the reasonings contained in the several papers so published, which must still rest on the credit or judgment of their respective authors. "It is likewise necessary on this occasion to remark, that it is an established rule of the Society, to which they will always adhere, never to give their opinion, as a body, on any subject, either of nature or art, that comes before them. And therefore the thanks which are frequently proposed from the chair, to be given to the authors of such papers as are read at their accustomed meetings, or to the persons through whose hands they receive them, are to be considered in no other light than as a matter of civility, in return for the respect shown to the Society by those communications. The like also is to be said with regard to the several projects, inventions, and curiosities of various kinds, which are often exhibited to the Society; the authors whereof, or those who exhibit them, frequently take the liberty to report, and even to certify in the public news-papers, that they have met with the highest applause and approbation. And therefore it is hoped that no regard will hereafter be paid to such reports, and public notices; which in some instances have been too lightly credited, to the dishonour of the Society." C |