EARLY HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



the perpetual use of the President, have been long things 

 of the past. 



It is obvious from this short sketch of the early history 

 of the Royal Society, that it was not intended as an academy 

 for all branches of learning, but as an Association for the 

 promotion of what was then known as the New Philosophy, 

 the Improving of Natural Knowledge through a direct 

 questioning of nature herself by means of experiment. 

 This is clearly shown by the fuller title of the Society, 

 given in the words of the Royal Warrant, ordering a 

 Mace to be made for the Royal Society, of the date of 

 23rd May 1663. 



" A Warrant to prepare and deliver to the Rt. Hon. 

 William Lord Viscount Brouncker, President of the Royal 

 Society of London, for improving of natural knowledge 

 by experiment, one gilt Mace of one hundred and fifty 

 oz. (troy weight), being a gift from His Majesty to the 

 said Society." 



An important feature of the early meetings of the 

 Society was the performing of experiments before the 

 members, each experiment being made for and by 

 itself, and not as now, in illustration of a paper com- 

 municated to the Society. The importance in which 

 these experiments were held is shown by the Society 

 availing itself of the power granted by the Charter of 

 " appointing two or more curators of experiments." The 

 first curator was Robert Hooke, to whom, as joint curator, 



was elected Dr. Denis Papin in 1684. Papin is chiefly 



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