A V7V? OD UCTOR Y. 21 



has given us the masterpieces of the English language, for the 

 genius of Shakespere was followed by the genius of Milton. 

 The close of the period was marked by masterpieces in prose, 

 by the exquisite English of Dryden, of Swift, of Addison. 

 The last two of these, if they did not publish their best works 

 in this period, matured their powers, while the middle of the 

 century was delighted with the majestic sentences of Sir 

 Thomas Browne. 



In one department of science England made great progress. 

 The mathematical studies of Wallis and the astronomical 

 researches of Horrocks were followed up by numerous 

 students, amongst whom, at the conclusion of the century, 

 the great genius of Newton appears. But it was in this 

 direction only that progress was made. The suggestions of 

 Bacon, the principles of the Advancement of Learning and 

 the Novum Organon, were not put into practice till a century 

 and a-half after the Chancellor published his works. The 

 naturalist still went to Pliny or Dioscorides, the physician to 

 Hippocrates and Galen, and the architect, with better reason, to 

 Vitruvius. More than once, when I have been puzzled with 

 some word in the popular Latin, or in the technical terms of 

 the building trades, I have found the key in Vitruvius or 

 Pliny. 



Shortly after the Restoration the Royal Society was founded. 



It was the result of a philosophical gathering which, during the 



Commonwealth, had its sittings, as we are told, in Wadham 



College, under the presidency of Wallis. It probably owed its 



royal patronage to the king's interest in novelties, and the 



liking which a jaded voluptuary feels for anything which lets 



him forget his practices for a time. So Charles jested with 



the philosophers, and Sprat, Bishop of Rochester, tells us 



that when the Society apologised to him for having elected a 



tradesman into their company, the king replied that he 



ild be well pleased if they elected many such. On 



ing through the list of the fellows during the reign of 



;lcs, I am convinced that the story can only apply to 



