152 Royal luslitution. 



mistry, in which, after briefly noticing the chemical records of 

 ancient nations, Mr. B. proceetJed to the age of Alchemy, the 

 chief origin of which he referred to the new Picitonists, whose 

 rise marked the declining age of learning t(nvards the end of the 

 third centnrv. — The mysteries of transmutation and the season 

 for the elixir of life were so well adapted to the genius of pro- 

 fessors of dBemonologv and magic, as to acquire among them ra- 

 pid celebrity ; and the history of their wanderings is not unim- 

 portant, as connected with the subsequent advances of cliemistry. 

 The be>t specimen of alchemical jargon is to he found in works 

 \vritten by or attributed to Gcber, who is supposed to have been 

 an Arabian prince of the seventh century. Dr. Johnson derives 

 the word gibberish fiom the language of Geber and his tribe. 



As characteristic writers of the thirteenth and three succeeding 

 centuries, Mr. B. selected Roger Bacon, of Somersetshire ; 

 Basil \'alentine, of Erfurt ; Paracelsus, of Switzerland ; and Van 

 Kelmont, of Brussels. 



Entering upon the seventeenth century, the Professor furnished 

 a sketch of the life and writings of Lord Bacon, and of the new 

 turn which he gave to experimental philosophy. It was not till 

 then that science shook off its deformed and sickly aspect, and 

 acquired new and healthful vigour. Glauber and the Honourable 

 Roijert Boyle were cited as leading authors of the seventeenth 

 century : the v/ritings of the former are full of keen observations: 

 the claims of the latter to originality were not great; but the 

 benefits which his patronage conferred upon science were nu- 

 merous and lasting. He brought Hooke into notice, and put 

 him in the road to eminence. 



After a rapid glance at the discovery of the air pump and ba- 

 rometer, Mr. Eraiide noticed the foundation of learned societies. 

 The Acadepiy del Ciniento was established in 1651 by the Duke 

 of Tuscany ;" the Royal Society in l()G2; and the Royal Aca- 

 demy of Sciences in IGGG. Charles the Second, though not 

 quite indifferent to the welfare of science, conferred but empty 

 honours on tlie Roval Society, but Louis the Fourteenth was 

 more generous to the Parisian estal)lishment. This liberality is 

 not onh highly h()noural)lc to his memory, but in the eyes of the 

 ingenious part of mankind has ever been regarded as no insigni- 

 ficant atonement for the m.uUitudinous errors of his reign. — Hap- 

 pily for the scientific character of Britain, said the Professor, the 

 genius, talents, and exertions of less exalted individuals have 

 ever counterbalanced such advantages ; and thus protected, the 

 growth of science has been as vigorous, and perhaps more healthy 

 than in the sunshine of royal favour. 



The lecture concluded with an eulogium on the chemical me- 

 rits of Newton 3 with experimental illustrations of his views ; 



and 



