686 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXVIII. No. 985 



the memorable events of this period, in 

 which the Academy supported Galileo in 

 his difficulties with the Inquisition, and 

 accepted the resignation of Valerio, who 

 had attacked his doctrines. It was a stir- 

 ring period, full of new and vigorous 

 thought, which sharply conflicted with the 

 traditions of a vanishing age. Led by such 

 men as Cesi, Porta, Galileo and Colonna, 

 the Lincei played a prominent part in the 

 development of the scientific advance of 

 Italy and in the cultivation of the growing 

 love of truth which spread throughout the 

 civilized world. But in 1830 the Academy 

 came to a sudden end, attributed by Carutti 

 to the withdrawal of the patronage of 

 Cardinal Barberini.^" 



Since that date it has seen several re- 

 vivals, which are described in the history 

 from which the present notice is derived. 

 Reconstituted under Victor Emmanuel II. 

 in 1875 as the Reale Accademia dei Lincei, 

 it now flourishes as the national academy 

 of Italy. The class of physical, mathe- 

 matical and natural sciences has 55 mem- 

 bers, 55 national correspondents, and 110 

 foreign members. The class of moral, his- 

 torical and philological sciences has 45 

 members, 45 national correspondents and 

 45 foreign members. The president belongs 

 to one class, the vice-president to the other, 

 and each has a secretary and an assistant 

 secretary.^" 



The home of the Lincei in the Palazzo 

 Corsini is admirably adapted for the pur- 

 poses of an academy. The collections in- 

 clude an extensive library, rich in rare 

 books arid manuscripts, and a large gallery 

 of paintings, most of which is open to the 

 public. The annual meeting, held in the 

 great hall of the palace, is a very impressive 

 function, attended by the King and Queen 

 and other members of the royal family, 



19 Op. cit., p. 97. 



20 See revised statutes, Carutti, op. cit., p. 245. 



whose keen and intelligent interest in the 

 work of the Academy is a powerful incen- 

 tive to increased effort and broader useful- 

 ness. 



A brilliant and inspiring picture of the 

 Paris Academy of Sciences at the zenith of 

 its development and fame may be found in 

 the opening chapter of Merz's "History of 

 European Thought." This Academy or- 

 ganized through the efforts of the far-seeing 

 statesman Colbert, at the period when New- 

 ton was engaged in the composition of his 

 "Principia, " has probably exerted a more 

 favorable influence on the progress of sci- 

 ence than any other similar institution in 

 Europe. Enjoying both the moral and 

 financial support of the French govern- 

 ment, and permeated by an enthusiasm for 

 scientific research which led its members 

 to develop the most extensive cooperative 

 projects, it offers a pattern which other 

 academies may well seek to imitate. Great 

 as it remains to-day, the period in its his- 

 tory which deserves our most careful con- 

 sideration is that brilliant epoch, at the end 

 of the eighteenth century, when Prance 

 was everywhere recognized as the leader of 

 the scientific world. 



The academicians named by Colbert held 

 their first informal meeting in the library 

 of the Hotel Colbert in June, 1666. In the 

 words of Pontenelle, heaven seemed to 

 favor the rising company, which was for- 

 tunately able to observe two eclipses 

 within the short interval of fifteen days. 

 The second of these was observed with the 

 aid of an instrument devised by Huygens 

 (who was one of the members), and per- 

 fected later by Auzout and Picart — the 

 well-known micrometer of the astronomer. 



The original group, composed wholly of 

 mathematicians and astronomers, was soon 

 enlarged to sixteen, through the addition 

 of Claude Perrault, Mariotte and other 

 well-known chemists, physicians and anato- 

 mists. Laboratories and collections were 



