Countries-Sir John Hoskyns resigns-Sir Cyril Wyche elected Presi-

dent-Memoir of him-Papin elected a Curator-His Bone-digester—

Curious Account of a Supper prepared by him for the Fellows-His

Steam-Engine Inventions-Croonian Lecture-Lady Sadleir's Legacy—

Lister's Geological Maps-Lord Clarendon's Present of Minerals—

Resignation of Sir Cyril Wyche-Pepys elected President-Sir Thomas

Molyneux's Account of the Society
Page 262

CHAPTER XI.

Memoir of Samuel Pepys-Establishment of the Dublin Philosophical Society

-Their Rules-Auxiliary to Royal Society-Mr. Aston resigns the Secre-

taryship-New Office created-Appointment 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 recipe for curing Hydrophobia-Manuscript of

Principia presented to the Society-Halley's Letter respecting it-Council

order it to be printed-Halley undertakes its publication-Correspond-

ence with Newton-Fac-simile 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 Rooms-Scientific Business—

Lord Carbery resigns-Lord Pembroke elected President

CHAPTER XII.

Page 295

Memoir of Lord Pembroke-Anxiety to continue the Transactions-Evelyn

again solicited to become President-Declines-Election of Sir R. South-

well-Memoir of him-Advertisement to Transactions—Uninterrupted

publication since 1691-Death of Boyle-Eulogium on him-Leaves his

Minerals to the Society-His great respect for the Society-He deposits

sealed packets-Huyghens's Aerial Telescope-glasses-Sir R. Southwell

retires from the Chair-Charles Montague elected—Memoir of him—Dr.

Woodward's Geological Works-His Scientific Labours in the Society-

Accused of insulting Sir Hans Sloane-Expelled the Council-Institutes

legal proceedings-Is defeated-Resignation of Mr. Montague-Election

of Lord Somers as President
Page 321

CHAPTER XIII.

Memoir of Lord Somers-Committee appointed to wait upon him-Society

receive valuable present from the East India Company-Halley sails on

a Scientific Expedition-Mr. Jones sent by the Society on an Expedition

of Discovery-Resolution not to give opinions in Scientific Controversies-

The Transactioneer-Dr. Woodward disowns the Work-Favour shown

to the Academy of Sciences-Letter of M. Geoffroy-Zeal of Sir Hans

Sloane Savery exhibits his Steam-engine-Presents Drawing of it to the

Society-Receives a Certificate-Performance of the Engine-Death of

Hooke-His interest in the Society-His design of endowing the Society

-His Wealth-Proposal to rebuild Gresham College-Wren furnishes

plan of rooms for the Society-Scheme abandoned-The Society resolve

on building or buying a House-Lord Somers resigns-Sir Isaac New-

ton elected President

Page 338

CHAPTER XIV.

Memoir of Sir Isaac Newton-His constant attendance at the Meetings-

Presents his Optics to the Society-Prince George of Denmark elected—

Requested by the Society to print Flamsteed's Observations-He con-

sents to defray the Expense-Committee appointed to superintend the

Publication-Flamsteed's Dissatisfaction-Painful Dispute-He burns

the Historia Cœlestis-Prints a more perfect edition at his own expense

-Newton's Propositions for Financial Improvements-Papin's Proposal

to construct Steam-vessel-Edinburgh Philosophical Society-Death of

Sir G. Copley-His Bequest-Devoted at first to Experiments-Gold

Medal afterwards adopted-Awarded to Dr. Franklin-Mercers' Com-

pany give notice of their intention to withhold Apartments-Petition to

the Queen for Land in Westminster—Application to Trustees of Cotton

Library-Purchase of Dr. Brown's House in Crane Court-Objections

by some of the Fellows-Proceedings of Council with respect to the

Removal-First Meeting in Crane Court-Regret of the Gresham Pro-

fessors on the Departure of the Society
Page 367

CHAPTER XV.

House occupied by the Society in Crane Court-Fellows subscribe to defray

the expense of Repairs-Ode by a Frenchman to the Society-Society

appointed Visitors of Royal Observatory, by Royal Warrant-Flam-

steed's Vexation-His Conduct on the occasion-Visitors examine the

Observatory-Recommend Repairs and new Instruments-Ordnance

decline to undertake the work-The Queen wishes the Society to take care

of the Observatory-Appointment of celebrated Committee on the disputed

Invention of Fluxions-Historical Account of the Dispute Report of

Committee Society adopt the Report-Leibnitz dissatisfied-Appeals to

the Society through Chamberlayne-Society confirm the Report of their

Committee in favour of Newton-Remarkable Error of Writers on this

Subject-Probable Origin of the Error-Foreign Ambassadors attend

the Meetings-Experiments exhibited before them-Queen orders her

Foreign Ministers to assist in promoting the Objects of the Society-

Fossil Remains sent from America-Philosophical Society established

at Spalding-Curious List of the Fellows published-Bequests to the

Royal Society-Foreign Secretary appointed-Opinion of Attorney-

General-Petition to George I. for Licence to purchase or hold lands in

Mortmain-King grants the prayer of the Society
Page 398

CHAPTER XVI.

Impetus given to the Study of Meteorology-Illness of Newton-His

last Attendance at the Society-His Death-His intention of endowing

the Society-Speculates in South Sea Scheme-His Order to purchase

Stock-His Sun-dial presented to the Society-Portraits of him-Origi-

nal Mask of his Face-Lock of his Hair-Sir Hans Sloane elected Pre-

sident-Memoir of him-Proposes an Address to George II.- His Ma-

jesty becomes the Patron of the Society-Important changes made in the

Statutes Proposition to limit the number of Fellows-Opinion of Lord

Chancellor Hardwicke-Certificates for Candidates first used-Their

great Value-Diplomas-Foreign Members exempted from Payments-

Society purchase Estate at Acton-Practice of Inoculation promoted—

Prince of Wales visits the Society-Experiments made before him-Dr.

Watson's Electrical Experiments-Science of Electricity originates from

Royal Society Large amount of Scientific Business-Experiments on

Ether-Society at Peterborough-Donation to Museum-Botanical Spe-

cimens sent from Apothecaries' Garden at Chelsea, by order of Sir Hans

Sloane-Pecuniary Embarrassment of the Society-Sir Hans Sloane

resigns-Thanks of Society given to him-His great attachment to the

Society-Martin Folkes elected President

CHAPTER XVII.

Page 434

Memoir of Martin Folkes-His Acquirements more Literary than Scientific

-Sir John Hill's Review of the Royal Society-Death of Halley-For-

mation of Royal Society Club-Originally entitled 'Club of Royal Phi-

losophers'-Their Rules-Receive presents of Venison, &c.-Cost of

Dining-Present Rules-List of Members-Philosophical Club-Their

Rules-Original Members-Fairchild Lecture instituted-Dr. Knight

receives Copley Medal-Discovery of Nutation by Bradley-Harrison's

Chronometers-The Copley Medal awarded-Authorities request the

assistance of the Society to ventilate Newgate-Sanitary Measures taken

by Sir John Pringle-Canton's Method of making Artificial Magnets—

He receives the Copley Medal-Dr. Gowan Knight's Method-Contro-

versy between Canton and Michell-Letter from Dr. Priestley-Change

of Style Tables prepared by Mr. Daval, Secretary to the Society-As-

sistance afforded by Father Walmsley-Alterations proposed by Lord

Macclesfield in the mode of publishing the Transactions-Committee of

Papers appointed-Advertisement in the Volume for 1753-Cost of

Printing the Transactions—Translation of the Transactions published in

Italy Resignation of Martin Folkes-Earl of Macclesfield chosen Presi-

dent Mr. Folkes leaves the Society in a prosperous condition-Large

number of Visitors to the Meetings-Stukeley's notice of the Meetings-

His description of a Geological Soirée-Conceives Corals to be Vege-

tables
Page 479

HISTORY

OF

THE ROYAL SOCIETY.

CHAPTER I.

-

State of Literature and Science in Europe during the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries-Prevalence of Ecclesiastical AuthorityIts baneful effect on Learning-Labours of Barlaam, Petrarch, and Boccaccio-Their zeal for Classical Literature-Restoration of Classical Learning in Italy-Discovery of Ancient Manuscripts-Patronage of learning by the Medici family — Philosophy not advanced-Roger Bacon-Other English Philosophers-Leonardo da Vinci-His great philosophical acquirements-Establishes an Academy of Arts at Milan-Theoretical Reformers of Science in the Sixteenth Century-CasalpinusCampanella-Ramus - Bruno - Galileo - Francis BaconEstablishment of Scientific Societies Institution of the Academia Secretorum Naturæ-Academy at Venice-Accademia dei Lyncei-Della Crusca-Del Cimento-Great number of Academies and Scientific Institutions founded in ItalyTheir quaint Titles-Establishment of a Society of Antiquaries in England in 1572-Its dissolution by James I.—Proposition for a Royal Academy in England-Curious Scheme for its Incorporation-Charles I. grants a Special License for establishing a Scientific Institution styled Minerva's Museum'Objects of the Institution-Duties of the Professors-Scientific and Literary Societies in Germany-Their brief existenceNumber of Books printed in the principal Cities of Europe from the Invention of Printing to the beginning of the Sixteenth Century-Establishment of the French Academy-Its subsequent Incorporation with the Academy of Sciences-First Institution for the Investigation of Science out of Italy, established in England-Laplace's Opinion of Scientific Societies.

ON

N the fair land of Italy rose the intellectual sun, whose vivifying rays penetrated, and eventually dispersed, the gloomy clouds of deep ignorance and

VOL. I.

B