EARLY HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



respective Fellows. The Oxford Society held its meetings 

 until 1690, when it ceased to exist. 



" The members in London continued to meet, usually 

 at Gresham College, with the exception of the year 1658, 

 when the place of their meeting was made a quarter for 

 soldiers. In 1660 the meetings were revived, and at the 

 meeting on 28th November of that year, among other 

 subjects was discussed the founding of a college for the 

 promoting of " Physico-Mathematical Experimental Learn- 

 ing." Rules of procedure were drawn up, and a list of forty- 

 one persons was made, who were known to those present, 

 and were judged willing to join the new Society. 



At a subsequent meeting on the 5th of December, the 

 new Society was formed by a declaration signed by the 

 forty-one persons named at the former meeting, together 

 with seventy-three others, binding themselves to meet 

 weekly when not unavoidably hindered, and to contribute 

 one shilling weekly towards defraying necessary charges. 



On the igth December it was decided that the meetings 

 should be held weekly at Gresham College ; and on the 

 6th of March following, Sir Robert Moray, one of the Privy 

 Council and of great influence with the King, was chosen 

 President. 



It would appear that, some time previously to the 

 i6th October 1661, the Society had petitioned His Majesty 

 to incorporate them, for on that day " Sir Robert Moray 

 acquainted the Society that hee and Sir Paul Neile kiss'd the 



King's hands in the Company's Name," and is " intreated 



4 



