CONTENTS. IX 



PAGE 



His errors 274 



His mode of thought 275 



His Terrella and his magnetic theories 277 



His magnetic discoveries 288 



The inception of his study of electricity 294 



The discovery of the Electrics 299 



Gilbert's electrical experiments 303 



His electrical theory ^ 307 



His electrical discoveries recapitulated 313 



CHAPTER XL 



Gilbert's treatises 315 



Francis Bacon and his suppression of Gilbert's later work 318 



Bacon's criticisms on Gilbert * 321 



Bacon's studies in magnetism and electricity 324 



CHAPTER XII. 



Physical science in England in time of James I . . . . 332 



The great Universities ... 333 



William Barlowe and Mark Ridley, and the controversy between 



them .336 



Physical Science in Italy. . , 341 



Galileo and his indebtedness to Gilbert 344 



Galileo's magnetic researches 347 



The electric discoveries of Nicolaus Cabaeus 349 



The magnetic and electric theories of Rene* Descartes 356 



The amber and the magnet in English literature 367 



The Rosicrucians and Van Helmont 372 



Sir Kenelm Digby, and the rise of physical science in England . . . 377 



Sir Thomas Browne, destroyer of errors . . . , 380 



Some early notions of telegraphy 382 



Otto von Guericke 389 



His theory of virtues 392 



His extraordinary electrical discoveries made with the sulphur 



globe 396 



CHAPTER XIII. 



The founding of the English Royal Society 404 



Science at the Court of Charles II 406 



Robert Boyle 414 



His philosophy 416 



His electrical discoveries 420 



Physical observations in America, and Madam Sewall's sparkling 



skirt 425 



Robert Hooke 426 



Isaac Newton and the reduction of electricity under the reign of law. 435 



Halley's magnetic theories 447 



