10 THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



discussed many and diverse questions in physical and biological 

 science, devising and carrying into execution numerous experi- 

 ments by which they tried to ascertain the nature and connexion 

 of some of the fundamental processes in the economy of this world. 

 When the civil commotions drove them from their meeting-place 

 in London, some of the more active and enthusiastic among their 

 number sought the shelter of Oxford, where, under the hospitable 

 roof of Wadham College, they were able to continue their inquiries. 

 ' The restoration of the Monarchy in the early summer of the 

 year 1660, which led to the re-establishment of settled order in 

 the country, allowed the resumption of scientific meetings in the 

 autumn of that year. With the brighter prospects of peace 

 before them, the philosophers assembled once more in the 

 picturesque Gresham College in the city of London, and for the 

 better accomplishment of their aims they determined to form 

 themselves into a definite Society with a regular organization and 

 a common fund from which the cost of experiments could be 

 defrayed. Had they restricted the membership of their proposed 

 Society to men of science, properly so called, their number would 

 hardly have exceeded two score. But with commendable fore- 

 sight they took advantage of the prevalent spirit of curiosity 

 regarding the secrets of Nature, and gathered round them 

 a company of three times their own number comprising prominent 

 representatives of the Church, of Law, of Medicine, of Politics, 

 and of the Public Services. Their adherents included also men 

 of letters, and it is specially noteworthy that among these were 

 the foremost poets in the England of that day John Dryden, 

 Edmund AValler, John Denham, Abraham Cowley, William 

 Hammond, and Thomas Stanley. This brilliant assemblage of 

 the intellect and learning of the time soon attracted the notice and 

 the active sympathy of King Charles II, who himself had his full 

 share of the widespread contagion of curiosity and inquiry. He 

 attended some of the meetings of the infant Society, and on the 

 15th July 1662 granted to it a Charter of Incorporation with the 

 name of " The Royal Society " and the definite constitution under 

 which it is still governed. That date was thus regarded as the 

 birthday of the Society which, after the lapse of two centuries and 

 a half, we are met to-day to celebrate. 



