98 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



the poles and the equator. Yet in spite of the jealousy of mathema- 

 ticians and astronomers, every subject of scientific importance sooner 

 or later was discussed in the academy. 



Efforts were made by the king to bring into his academy the most 

 eminent scientists of all countries. Thus Huyghens came from Hol- 

 land at the founding of the academy. Jean Dominique Cassini, an 

 Italian astronomer, came from Florence in 1669. Olais Roemer,of Den- 

 mark, came in 1674. He was the first to measure the velocity of light 

 by observing the eclipse of the satellites of Jupiter. Nicolas Hortzoeker, 

 of Dlisseldorf, an optician, though residing in Paris for a time, preferred 

 his independence under the elector Palatine to service in France under 

 the king. Neither Tschirnhauser, nor the two Bernouillis, nor Sir 

 Isaac Newton would expatriate themselves to become active members 

 of the academy. They were content to be foreign associates and the 

 academy honored itself by making them such. 



A visit from the king in 1681 was a memorable occasion, especially 

 for the astronomers, in whose work and instruments he was deeply in- 

 terested. The visit brought larger and better equipment for the 

 academy. Yet the king did not hesitate, at the suggestion of minister 

 Louvais, who cared less for science and research than Colbert, to employ 

 members of the academy for objects which had little reference to sci- 

 ence, de la Hire was given tasks at surveying. Others were com- 

 manded to look after the fountains and waterfalls at Versailles. Per- 

 rault, Roemer and Blondel were ordered to discover the height to which 

 a bomb could be sent and to trace accurately its path. The tendency 

 of the time was toward the practical. It is not surprising, therefore, 

 although the study of science was not wholly given up, that during the 

 last quarter of the century the academy should lose much of its fame 

 as a center of purely scientific research. The time had come for a 

 change in its management, or for its reorganization. To that we must 

 now give attention. 



