3* IJiJlorlcal Sketch of the Injl'itutlon 



were enrolled at the head of a number of diftuigulfhed names 

 in the firft lift of the members — Omne ignotiim pro mirabili. 

 For a time, the moft extravagant cnthufiafm was excited in 

 favour of the new fociety, and from its exertions an improve- 

 ment the moft extraordinary of all the arts of life was ex- 

 pected at once to enfue. 



The meetings of the fociety continued after its incorpora- 

 tion by charter, as before, to be held at Greftam college. 

 They took place every Wednefday in term time, imme<liatcly 

 after the lefture of the profeilbr of aftronomy in that college, 

 and were eagerly attended by the members. Dr. Croonc, 

 with the title of regifter, had, at firft, the care of recording 

 the lranfa6lions at tnefe meetings in journals. It was after- 

 wards committed to Dr. Wilkins and Mr. Oldenburgh, the 

 two firft fecretarics. Cowley had demanded a revenue of 

 four thoufand pounds a year for his projected college at Chel- 

 fea; but the Royal Society was fupported without any public 

 fund, fimply by the voluntary contributions of the gentlemen 

 of whom it was compofed. 



The fociety entered upon its refearches with views at once 

 magnificent and philofophically modcft. It propofed but 

 *' to make faithful records of all the works of nature and 

 art." Bv thefe it hoped to explode errors, to reftorc neg- 

 lefted truths, to apply philofophy to the iifes of life, and 

 to open up the avenues to future difcovery. ■ It profefl^ed to 

 admit into its aflbciation men of all religions, all countries, 

 all conditions and employments in life. They propofed to 

 derive ufeful truth not only from the learned and profefled 

 philofophcrs, but from the iTiops of mechanics, the voyages 

 of merchants, the ploughs of hufbandmen, thefports, filh- 

 ponds, parks, and gardens, of gentlemen Some hefitated 

 whether Mr. Grant, a fniall "ihopkeeper in London, the 

 author of fome excellent obfervalions on the bills of mor- 

 tality, fliould be received into fuch a company of philofo- 

 phcrs. But king Charles, on perufing his obfervations, not 

 only rcconmiended his immediate admiflion, but dcfired that 

 they would add to their number as many fliopkeepers as pof- 

 fible of equal endowments. 



In their refearches they would not truft the reports of 

 others in any cafe where they could bring the matter under 

 the examination of their own fenfes. In fome inftances 

 they allowed particular members to choofe whatever fubje£ts 

 they fhould think proper; to inftitute, at pleafure, any train 

 of experiments on them ; to defray the expenfe from the purfe 

 of the fociety ; and then to report at the meetings the ieries 

 and the rcjulls of the experiments they liad thus made. 



Other 



