LETTERS FROM THE REV. WM. DERHAM, D.D. l 6 7 
Royal Society was the centre of the activities of the latter. 
John Evelyn, R. Hook, A. Pittfield, John Ray, Sir I. Newton, 
Sir Hans Sloane, Sir C. Wren, John Lock, the Rev. J. Harris, 
and many other distinguished men were members and discussed 
at their meetings matters relating to botany, zoology, physical 
science, etc., etc., and also published papers called Philosophical 
Transactions, which contained the results of their researches. 
No doubt at times their discussions and papers were of a 
puerile nature, and remind one of the paper written by the im¬ 
mortal Mr. Pickwick on “ The Tittlebats of the Hampstead 
Ponds.” This was alleged against the Society in 1751, by that 
remarkable and clever charlatan, Dr. J. Hill, who afterwards 
called himself “ Sir John ” ; but however much of truth there 
was in his satire, it is unquestionable that many even of the 
early researches and discoveries of the Society were of the greatest 
service to infant natural science. Darwin and other writers 
have taught us that no fresh details accurately observed about 
the workings of nature can be too trivial to be of service in build¬ 
ing up scientific knowledge. For this purpose the systematic 
observation and accurate recording of matters, which at first 
sight appear unimportant, may not unfrequently be a source 
of considerable utility to subsequent students of phenomena 
in nature. 
In spite of the peaceful nature of the Society’s objects, their 
meetings were not always characterised by that harmony which 
is proverbially said to be present in “ nests of doves,” and we 
get glimpses in the following letters of more than one of those 
breezes which from time to time ruffled the tranquility of their 
meetings, and which no doubt caused great jealousies and heart 
burnings among the learned members, some two hundred years 
ago. 
Some of these letters are not dated ; the one bearing the 
earliest date was written on 8th May 1704, and that with the 
latest in 1710-1. In addition to the dates an astronomical 
symbol is sometimes added. There are in these letters constant 
references to different books, etc., and rather than insert as many 
footnotes as would be necessary to give the names of their 
respective authors, and mention some details about them, I 
have thought it better to give my explanatory notes in a 
compact form at the end of each letter. 
