3 
of Edinburgh^ Session 1862 - 63 . 
exists or existed lately, are familiar examples. But the number of 
such associations was vastly greater than we can find a parallel 
for in other countries or in more recent times. 
After all, the typical form of the modern Eoyal Society or Aca- 
demy is traceable to the astonishing impulse given to the experi- 
mental physical sciences in Italy in the sixteenth century. The first 
such society recorded by Tirahoschi and Lihri, the chief annalists 
of the revival of letters in Italy, was called “ Accademia Secreto- 
rum Natura3,” founded at Naples in 1560, of which the celebrated 
Baptista Porta was president. It was suppressed, however, by the 
influence of the priests. The Society of Lincei^ or Lynx-eyed 
scrutators into natural phenomena, of which G-alileo was a member, 
held its sittings at Kome. It was founded in 1601 by Cesi, a 
noble Koman, and still survives, though after a long intervening 
period of inactivity.* 
It is easy to see how the newly born interest of mankind in the 
investigation of nature by experiment, must, far more than mere 
literary discussion or dialectical argument, have fostered such asso- 
ciations. In those glorious days when a virgin mine of natural 
phenomena was first opened to the intelligent exploration of man- 
kind, the succession of inventions, discoveries, and capital theories 
in physical science, kept every thoughtful mind on the stretch. 
The comparatively recent art of printing served to disseminate 
rapidly both facts and doctrines; the promulgation of the true 
system of the world by Copernicus, the improved astronomical ob- 
servations of Tycho, the mechanics of Da Vinci and Stevinus, the 
telescope of Galileo, kept all Europe in a tremble of expectation for 
the discoveries of each succeeding year. What could men do in 
such circumstances but assemble with others like-minded, and see 
with their own eyes the facts which seemed to contradict the expe- 
rience or prepossessions of ages, and either maintain or overthrow 
the new philosophy ? It was under such circumstances that the 
Florentine Academy, ‘‘ del Cimento” was founded in 1657, f under 
the patronage of the Grand Duke Ferdinand II. of Tuscany, and 
with the personal support of his brother Leopold. The withdrawal 
^ See Driukwater Betliune’s Life of Galileo, p. 37. 
t First meeting, 18th June 1657, Saggi, &c,, Edit. 1841; Introd, p. 96, 
As its name imports it was an association for making experiments. 
