4 THE NEW SCIENCE AND ENGLISH LITERATURE 



But this study is centralized in the work and influence of the Royal 

 Society of London. It did not absolutely lead the way, but it had 

 a wholly independent development. There was in Florence an 

 earlier society, Accademia del Cimento, with "provando e ripro- 

 vando la natura" for its motto. "This body was more purely 

 scientific in its plan than the Royal Society", but it was clearly 

 an outgrowth of the same movement.^'^ In 1666 the French Acad- 

 emy of Science was founded, showing that scientific interest was 

 awakened in Paris. Bishop Sprat thought, with some show of 

 reason, that the French imitated the English." The question of 

 source is eliminated from the discussion of the history of the Royal 

 Society, because it had a definite English origin in Bacon's New 

 Atlantis}^ 



As early as 1645 this common interest in England had drawn to- 

 gether a group of men, who had grown weary of the political and 

 religious turmoil of the times.^® These men began a series of 

 weekly meetings in the lecture room of the Professor of Astronomy 

 at Gresham College. There was at first no definite organization or 

 plan of procedure, although by 1651 there were rules printed in- 

 tended for regulating the election of members, (fines for "defaults" 

 2s. 6d. ) , and even setting the time of meetings, — ' ' every Thursday, 

 before two of the clock"." This company was called by Sir 

 Robert Boyle, an early member, the "invisible College ".^^ Their 

 discussions were limited by agreement to the "New Philosophy", 

 i. e. to a study of things around them in nature, what they could 

 see, touch, feel, or hear, "(not meddling Avith Divinity, Meta- 

 physicks, Moralls, Politicks, Grammar, Rhetoric, or Logic) ".^' 



The company slowly increased. In 1658 there were twelve mem- 

 bers, among whom were Wilkins, Seth Ward, Wallis, Sir Robert 

 Moray, and Boyle. During this year several of the members were 



" Sprat, Thomas, History of the Royal Society, p. 56. 



^* It became an era for societies. Cf. Minerva's Museum; eee alio, account of 

 "Academy at the great Tew", The Rota, The Hartlib Group, The Athenian Society, So- 

 ciety for Physicians and Surgeons. Later branch societies sprang up in outlying towni; 

 cf. Spalding, Lincolnshire. 



^ Bacon, Francis, The New Atlantis, Solomon's House. 



'" Ranke, Leopold von. History o/ England, vol. VI, p. 361. 



" Weld, C. R., History of the Royal Society, pp. 38-4. 



"Ibid. p. 38. 



»» Wallis, John, Letter to the Royal Society, 1696. 



