4 U1XOHD OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



them has recorded. ' their first purpose was no more than only the 



{faction of breathing a freer air, and of conversing in quiet one 



with another, without beini>- ino-a ( ^d in the passions and madness 



ot that dismal Bge.' For such a candid and impassionate company 



and lor such a gloomy season, what could have been 



a titter subject than Natural Philosophy ? ' ] 



As i ! Around and foundation ' of the Royal Society was 



laid at these meetings, it is interesting to have an authoritative 

 Mint of them from one who took part in them the mathema- 

 tician Dr. John Wallis :- 



About the year K>4.5, while I lived in London (at a time when, 

 by our civil wars, academical studies were much interrupted in 

 both our Universities), beside the conversation of divers eminent 

 divines, as to matters theological, I had the opportunity of being 

 acquainted witli (livers worthy persons, inquisitive into natural 

 philosophy, and other parts of human learning; and particularly 

 of what hath been called the New Philosophy or Experimental 

 Philosophy. We did by agreements, divers of us, meet weekly in 

 London on a certain day [and hour, under a certain penalty, and 

 a weekly contribution for the charge of experiments, with certain 

 rule 1 upon amongst us], 3 to treat and discourse of such 



affairs ; of which number were Dr. John Wilkins (afterwards 

 /{ix/iop of Chester [then chaplain to the Prince Elector Palatine, in 

 London]), Dr. Jonathan Croddard, Dr. George Ent, Dr. Glissoti, 

 Dr. Mii-rct ( Drs. in Physick), j\Ir. Samuel Foster, then Professor 

 \ st ronoiny at ( Hcsham College, or some place near adjoyning, 

 Mr. Theodore Ilaak* (a German of the Palatinate, and then 

 lent in London, who, I think, gave the first occasion, and first 

 clings), and many others. 



!'. til. of Devon, in tin- Middle Temple. They had meetings at Taverns before, 

 it formally and in ij-ood eanie-t sett np.' ' Brief Lives/ ii, p. J322. 



William Kail, or Halle. \\;i- .-HI astronomer and a man of influence among the philosophers. 

 member ,,f Council in tbe fust Cli.-irt.rr, and was designated as the first 

 Treasurer of the Society in tbe -erond Charter. 



lie Royal Society,' pp. M, 



'MMgM of his mvn Life,' addressed to Dr. Thomas Smith and 



f r"> (>\t< n;;u5-7. It was published in the Appendix to the Preface 



l>>' t' f ' hi- edition of ' I'etei- Langtoft's Chronicle'. Oxford, 



"< br.-i<-k ., from \\ allis's ( A Defence of the Royal 



4 Misprinted Hank. 



