A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



society was published in two volumes, in 1672 and 

 1685 respectively, which were practically text-books 

 of the physics of the period. It was not until 1700 

 that Frederick I. founded the Royal Academy of 

 Sciences at Berlin, after the elaborate plan of Leibnitz, 

 who was himself the first president. 



Perhaps the nearest realization of Bacon's ideal, 

 however, is in the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, 

 which was founded in 1666 under the administration 

 of Colbert, during the reign of Louis XIV. This in- 

 stitution not only recognized independent members, 

 but had besides twenty pensionnaires who received 

 salaries from the government. In this way a select 

 body of scientists were enabled to pursue their investi- 

 gations without being obliged to "give thought to the 

 morrow" for their sustenance. In return they were 

 to furnish the meetings with scientific memoirs, and 

 once a year give an account of the work they were en- 

 gaged upon. Thus a certain number of the brightest 

 minds were encouraged to devote their entire time to 

 scientific research, " delivered alike from the tempta- 

 tions of wealth or the embarrassments of poverty." 

 That such a plan works well is amply attested by the 

 results emanating from the French academy. Pen- 

 sionnaires in various branches of science, however, 

 either paid by the state or by learned societies, are 

 no longer confined to France. 



Among the other early scientific societies was the 

 Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg, pro- 

 jected by Peter the Great, and established by his 

 widow, Catharine I., in 1725 ; and also the Royal Swed- 

 ish Academy, incorporated in 1781, and counting 



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