36 RECORD OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



way for staying under water for a considerable time, to lay the 

 foundation of the mole at Tangier ' (Council Minutes, January 13, 

 1663). Moreover, permanent committees were instituted, each 

 to take charge of some special branch of natural knowledge, or 

 some group of industries. Thus, in the first year after the second 

 Charter, on March 30, 1664, the following eight committees 

 were appointed : 



' 1. Mechanical. To consider of and improve all Mechanical Inventions. 

 [69 names. 1 



2. Astronomical and Optical. [15 names.] 



3. Anatomical. All the Physitians of the Society, Mr. Boyle, Dr. Wilkins, 



Mr. Hook. 



4. Chymical. Duke of Buckingham, Mr. Boyle, Sr. Kenelme Digby, 



Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Le Febure, Sr. Robert 

 Paston, All the Physitians of the Society. 



5. Georgical. [32 names.] 



6. For Histories of Trades. [35 names.] 



7. For Collecting all the Phaenomena of Nature hitherto observed, and 



all Experiments made and recorded. [21 names.] 



8. For Correspondence. [20.] ' 1 



The titles of these committees sufficiently show to how large 

 an extent the early energies of the Society were directed towards 

 the improvement of arts and industries. This side of the Society's 

 work was recognized as far back as the first year of its corporate 

 existence. In the Journal-book, under date October 15, 1662, 

 it is recorded that the King had given an additional proof 

 of his favour to the Society, by declaring his pleasure that no 

 patent should pass for any philosophical or mechanical invention, 

 but what was first put to the examination of the Society. Fifty 

 years later a similar direction was issued by Queen Anne : ' Her 

 Majesty has been pleased to give order that whatever new 

 mechanical invention be brought before the Privy Council in 

 order to obtain a Patent, the same shall be referred to the Exami- 

 nation of the Royal Society before the Patent be passed.' A still 

 more signal proof of the Queen's desire to promote the interests 

 of science and to make practical use of the Royal Society for that 

 purpose was shown at the same time. ' Her Majesty had given 

 order that her Ministers, Admirals, and Officers going abroad 



1 MS. Journal-book, vol. ii, fol. 61. 



