their authors to the world; Dr. Tyson, a most understanding anatomist; Dr. Croone, and Dr. Slare, both extraordinary, civil, and ingenious men; the first a very exact observer of the weather, in whose study I saw several thermometers, hugroscopes, and baruscopes." Sir T. Molyneux appears to have been a keen observer; his letters are full of interesting matter, collected during his travels in England and on the Continent. But we must revert to the Society and their new President, a memoir of whom will be found in the next Chapter. CHAPTER XI. Memoir of Samuel Pepys-Establishment of the Dublin Philosophical Society-Their Rules-Auxiliary to Royal SocietyMr. Aston resigns the Secretaryship-New Office createdAppointment of Halley as Clerk-His Duties-Attempt to establish a Philosophical Society at Cambridge-Newton's Letter on the subject-Death of Charles II.-His indifference to the Society-Sends receipt for curing Hydrophobia-Manuscript of Principia presented to Society-Halley's Letter respecting it-Council order it to be printed-Halley undertakes its publication-Correspondence with Newton-Facsimile of Title-page-Pepys resigns-Lord Carbery chosen President-Memoir of him-Hooke proposes to deliver a weekly Lecture-The Society in debt-Obliged to pay for Apartments in Gresham College-Professors let their RoomsScientific Business-Lord Carbery resigns-Lord Pembroke elected President. SA 1680-90. AMUEL PEPYS was born on the 23rd February, 1631-2, of a family which, he honestly acknowledges, "had never been very considerable." His father, John Pepys, was a citizen of London, where he followed the trade of a tailor. It appears, by his Diary, that Pepys passed his early days in or near the metropolis, and was educated at St. Paul's School; he remained there till 1650, early in which year his name occurs as a sizar on the books of Trinity College, Cambridge. Before he took Before he took up his residence at that University, he had removed to Magdalen College. There is no evidence to show how long he remained at Cambridge, nor what were his academical pursuits. In October, 1655, when only twenty-three years of age, he married Elizabeth St. Michel, a girl of fifteen, whose father is described as having been of a good family, and whose mother was a descendant of the Cliffords of Cumberland. The young couple were kindly noticed by Sir Edward Montagu, afterwards Earl of Sandwich, who received them into his house; to this gentleman Pepys was indebted for his subsequent advancement. In 1658 he accompanied Sir Edward in his expedition to the Sound, and, on his return, became a clerk in the Exchequer. About this period he commenced his celebrated and interesting Diary. In 1660 he was appointed Clerk of the Acts of the Navy, which commenced his connexion with a great national establishment, to which his diligence and acuteness were afterwards of the highest service. It is recorded, that when the metropolis was nearly deserted on account of the Plague, the whole management of the navy devolved on him, and he remained at his post, regardless of the danger which surrounded him. In a letter to Sir W. Coventry at this period, he observes, "The sickness in general thickens round us. You, Sir, took your turn at the sword; I must not, therefore, grudge to take mine at the pestilence." During the awful Fire in London he also rendered most essential service. The Duke of York being Lord High Admiral, Pepys was by degrees drawn into close personal connexion with him, and as he enjoyed his good opinion, had also the misfortune to experience some part of the calumnies with which the Admiral was loaded during the time of the Popish Plot. The absence of evidence did not prevent his being thrown into the Tower (May, 1679), on the charge of instigating and abetting, and he was for a time removed from the Navy Board. His liberation took place in February following, and soon after he was fortunate in attracting the favourable notice of the King, who made him Secretary to the Admiralty. He filled this office during the remainder of Charles II.'s reign, and the whole of that of his successor. Upon the accession of William and Mary, Pepys lost his official employments, and the electors of Harwich, unmindful of his having served them in Parliament, refused to return him to the convention. He retired consequently into private life, and was desirous of passing the remainder of his days in the enjoyment of scientific and literary society, for which his various acquirements peculiarly qualified him. But his enemies, actuated by malice, caused him to be committed to the Gatehouse in 1690, on pretence of his being affected to King James; he was soon permitted, however, on account of ill health, to return to his own house, where he resided until 1700. In that year his physicians persuaded him to retire, for the sake of change of air and repose, to the seat of his old friend and servant, William Hewer, at Clapham, where he expired, after a lingering illness, May 26, 1703. Pepys was a very remarkable man. Of his official life it could not be said, Initia magistratuum nostrorum meliora et firma finis inclinat; for the same zeal and energy which marked his entrance into office was conspicuous throughout the whole of his career. In fact, his skill and experience in naval affairs could not be dispensed with by Government; and for many years the whole management of the Admiralty was borne by him. Yet, amidst all his official business, surrounded by political intrigues and court dissipation, he contrived to find time for scientific and literary pursuits. He was one of the earliest Fellows of the Royal Society, having been elected in 1663, from which period, until within a very few years of his death, his name frequently occurs in the Council and Journal-books. At the anniversary in 1667, he says, in his Diary, "I was near being chosen of the Council, but am glad I was not, for I could not have attended, though above all things I could wish it; and do take it as a mighty respect, having been named." Shortly after, he was elected into the Council, on which he often served, and, as we have seen, was chosen President in 1684, on account of his high literary attainments, and probably his court-influence. "After he resigned the Presidency, he was in the habit of entertaining the most distinguished Fellows, on Saturday evenings, at his house in York Buildings, where they assembled for the discussion of literary subjects, and the encouragement of the liberal arts. To the dissolution of these meetings, occasioned by the increasing infirmities of their founder, Evelyn adverts in his letters, in terms of the strongest regret; nor could a person of his enlightened mind fail to derive the most heartfelt gratification from witnessing so many of his contemporaries eagerly devoting the small portion of their lives that remained to the cultivation of science, and the acquirement of useful knowledge1." Pepys was a munificent patron of literature. To Magdalen College, Cambridge, he left an invaluable collection of naval memoirs. "These," "These," says Lord Braybrooke, he had obtained at immense cost, for the general history of the Navalia of England, which he had promised to the public; but age and ill health 1 66 Life, prefixed to Pepy's Diary, p. 44. |