of Edinburgh, Session 1877 - 78 . 
473 
new session with some remarks upon our connection with him whom 
I cannot but regard as our lineal progenitor and virtual founder, 
Francis Bacon of Verulam. In the Harveian Society, I believe that 
there is an annual eulogy of the great discoverer of the circulation of 
the blood ; and how often in medical societies has the opening address 
been given up to a panegyric of Hippocrates, the ancient father of 
medicine h In societies like this, whose main function is the promo- 
tion of experimental research, it can never be out of place to do 
honour to Lord Bacon, the august herald and prophet of modern 
science. I trust that you will concede me this proposition, and that 
you will excuse the introduction of a trite subject on the present 
occasion, and that you will bear with me if I repeat many things 
which are quite familiar to you. 
Principal Forbes, in an excellent address which he delivered in 
this place fifteen years ago, traces the origin of the Royal Society of 
London to the example of similar societies which sprang up in Italy 
during the 16th and 17th centuries, especially the Society of Lincei , 
or Lynx-eyed Ones, founded in 1604, of which Galileo was a mem- 
ber, and the Florentine Academy of Experiment (‘ del cimento ’), 
founded in 1657. This view was, broadly speaking, correct ; but I 
think that it ignores too much the forces working within England 
itself. During the 15th and 16th centuries there was carried out 
the most important revolution (except the introduction of Christi- 
anity) that ever occurred among the human race — namely, the over- 
throw of scholasticism, and the introduction into all departments of 
knowledge of the modern spirit of inquiry. This revolution was far 
greater and more important in its consequences than the downfall of 
any dynasty, or the destruction of any empire : greater and more 
important than the Renaissance and the Reformation which jointly 
led to it ; far greater in its scope and results than the much- vaunted 
French Revolution, of which, to the present day, it seems so hard 
for France to reap the fruits. In contributing to this greatest of all 
changes, in ushering in the new era, Italy may claim to have played 
a glorious part. But the new spirit pervaded all Europe. Men of 
the new era seemed to spring up everywhere. Columbus in Spain, 
Copernicus and Kepler in Germany, Lionardo da Vinci and Galileo 
in Italy, Tycho Brahe in Denmark, Gassendi and Descartes in 
France, Harvey and Gilbert in England, — these and many more, as 
