4-72 Notices respecting New Books. 



Columbidce ; and the examination of the osteology of the Solitaire in 

 the second chapter tends to the same conclusion. The characteristic 

 features of both birds are clearly set forth in a most complete and 

 beautiful suite of lithographic plates executed by three artists (Ford, 

 Dinkel and West). 



A History of the Royal Society, with Memoirs of the Presidents. 

 Compiled from Authentic Documents by Charles Richard Weld, 

 Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 8fC. 2 vols. 8vo. London: J. W. Parker. 

 1848. 



Although the names of Sprat, Birch and Thomson, together with 

 that unkind cutter, Hutton, have long been classed as historians of 

 the Royal Society, we cannot but at once say that Mr. Weld's pro- 

 duction is the only one which is really deserving of the designation 

 of a history of that well-known Body. Bishop Sprat's work was 

 published in the early days of the Society, and can only be ranked 

 as an apology for its conduct ; Dr. Birch's is an abstract of its papers; 

 Dr. Thomson's is a rapid sketch of the progress made by the several 

 sciences since its establishment ; and Dr. Hutton's Jeremiad, in the 

 first edition of his Mathematical Dictionary, is statement rather than 

 history, and moreover is strongly influenced by personal irritation. 

 A clear unbiassed account of the rise, advance, and present state of 

 the institution was therefore open to Mr. Weld ; and his situation 

 as Assistant Secretary and Librarian, together with his intercourse 

 with the Fellows, eminently qualify him for the task. 



It is usual to commence the foundation of the Royal Society with 

 the troublous times of the Commonwealth ; when weekly meetings 

 took place at Dr. Goddard's lodgings, in order to discourse on sub- 

 jects connected with mathematics and natural philosophy. But were 

 its real origin strictly searched after, it might, we think, be justly 

 dated half a century before that time. The real founder was Lord 

 Bacon, who by his Instauration of the Sciences opened the gates of 

 the Castle of Knowledge ; and in his philosophical romance of the 

 New Atlantis, distinctly planned and set forth such an institution ; 

 hence old Aubrey's marked recognition, secundum mentem Domini 

 Baconi. Still to the aforesaid weekly meetings, and the strenuous 

 exertions of Wilkins, Wallis, Ent, Goddard, Haak, Boyle and others, 

 must be ascribed the stand which procured the charter of incorpora- 

 tion from Charles II. in 1662. Since that period the affairs and pro- 

 ceedings of the Society have been matter of public history ; and its 

 efforts are shown in that invaluable series of papers, the 138 volumes 

 of Philosophical Transactions which it has published. This work 

 is a truly important chronicle of the discoveries made by the Fellows, 

 or their correspondents, together with a vast quantity of varied and 

 profound information in every branch of science and art. By this 

 grand series, the establishment of the Royal Society is proved to have 

 been beneficial to the human race ; and though often assailed from 

 without, and torn by intestine broils, it is still the intellectual gem 

 of Great Britain, and wields a mighty power over the scientific des- 

 tiny of the country. For the whole view of the rise and advance of 



