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turning on its own axis； the inequalities and selenography ＇24＇ of the
moon； the several phases of Venus and Mercury； the improvement of
telescopes and grinding of glasses for that purpose； the weight of
air； the possibility or impossibility of vacuities and nature's
abhorrence thereof； the Torricellian experiment ＇25＇ in quicksilver；
the descent of heavy bodies and the degree of acceleration therein；
with divers other things of like nature； some of which were then
but new discoveries； and others not so generally known and embraced
as now they are； with other things appertaining to what hath been
called the New Philosophy； which from the times of Galileo at
Florence； and Sir Francis Bacon ＇26＇ （Lord Verulam） in England； hath
been much cultivated in Italy； France； Germany； and other parts
abroad； as well as with us in England。〃
The learned Dr。 Wallis；＇27＇ writing in 1696； narrates in these words；
what happened half a century before； or about 1645。 The associates
met at Oxford； in the rooms of Dr。 Wilkins； who was destined to
become a bishop； and subsequently coming together in London； they
attracted the notice of the king。 And it is a strange evidence of
the taste for knowledge which the most obviously worthless of the
Stuarts shared with his father and grandfather； that Charles the
Second was not content with saying witty things about his
philosophers； but did wise things with regard to them。 For he not
only bestowed upon them such attention as he could spare from his
poodles and his mistresses； but； being in his usual state of
impecuniosity； begged for them of the Duke of Ormond； and； that
step being without effect； gave them Chelsea College； a charter；
and a mace： crowning his favours in the best way they could be
crowned； by burdening them no further with royal patronage or state
interference。
Thus it was that the half…dozen young men； studious of the 〃New
Philosophy；〃 ＇28＇ who met in one another's lodgings in Oxford or in
London； in the middle of the seventeenth century； grew in numerical
and in real strength； until； in its latter part； the 〃Royal Society
for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge〃 had already become
famous； and had acquired a claim upon the veneration of Englishmen；
which it has ever since retained； as the principal focus of
scientific activity in our islands； and the chief champion of the
cause it was formed to support。
It was by the aid of the Royal Society ＇29＇ that Newton ＇30＇
published his Principia。 If all the books in the world； except
the Philosophical Transactions； ＇31＇ were destroyed； it is safe to
say that the foundations of physical science would remain unshaken；
and that the vast intellectual progress of the last two centuries
would be largely； though incompletely； recorded。 Nor have any signs
of halting or of decrepitude manifested themselves in our own times。
As in Dr。 Wallis's days； so in these； 〃our business is； precluding
theology and state affairs； to discourse and consider of
philosophical enquiries。〃 But our 〃Mathematick〃 is one which
Newton would have to go to school to learn； our 〃Staticks；
Mechanicks； Magneticks； Chymicks； and Natural Experiments〃
constitute a mass of physical and chemical knowledge； a glimpse at
which would compensate Galileo ＇32＇ for the doings of a score of
inquisitorial cardinals； our 〃Physick〃 and 〃Anatomy〃 have embraced
such infinite varieties of beings； have laid open such new worlds
in time and space； have grappled； not unsuccessfully； with such
complex problems； that the eyes of Vesalius ＇33＇ and of Harvey ＇34＇
might be dazzled by the sight of the tree that has grown out of
their grain of mustard seed。
The fact is perhaps rather too much； than too little； forced upon
one's notice； nowadays； that all this marvellous intellectual
growth has a no less wonderful expression in practical life； and
that； in this respect； if in no other； the movement symbolised by
the progress of the Royal Society stands without a parallel
in the history of mankind。
A series of volumes as bulky as the 〃Transactions of the Royal
Society〃 might possibly be filled with the subtle speculations ＇35＇
of the Schoolmen；＇36＇ not improbably； the obtaining a mastery over
the products of mediaeval thought might necessitate an even greater
expenditure of time and of energy than the acquirement of the 〃New
Philosophy〃； but though such work engrossed the best intellects of
Europe for a longer time than has elapsed since the great fire； its
effects were 〃writ in water；〃＇37＇ so far as our social state is
concerned。
On the other hand； if the noble first President of the Royal
Society could revisit the upper air and once more gladden his eyes
with a sight of the familiar mace； he would find himself in the
midst of a material civilisation more different from that of his
day； than that of the seventeenth was from that of the first
century。 And if Lord Brouncker's ＇38＇ native sagacity had not
deserted his ghost； he would need no long reflection to discover
that all these great ships； these railways； these telegraphs； these
factories； these printing…presses； without which the whole fabric
of modern English society would collapse into a mass of stagnant
and starving pauperism；that all these pillars of our State are
but the ripples and the bubbles upon the surface of that great
spiritual stream； the springs of which only； he and his fellows
were privileged to see； and seeing； to recognise as that which it
behoved them above all things to keep pure and undefiled。
It may not be too great a flight of imagination to conceive our
noble revenant ＇39＇ not forgetful of the great troubles of his own day；
and anxious to know how often London had been burned down since his
time and how often the plague had carried off its thousands。 He
would have to learn that； although London contains tenfold the
inflammable matter that it did in 1666； though； not content with
filling our rooms with woodwork and light draperies； we must needs
lead inflammable and explosive gases into every corner of our
streets and houses； we never allow even a street to burn down。 And
if he asked how this had come about； we should have to explain that
the improvement of natural knowledge has furnished us with dozens
of machines for throwing water upon fires； any one of which would
have furnished the ingenious Mr。 Hooke； the first 〃curator and
experimenter〃 of the Royal Society； with ample materials for
discourse before half a dozen meetings of that body； and that； to
say truth； except for the progress of natural knowledge； we should
not have been able to make even the tools by which these machines
are constructed。 And； further； it would be necessary to add； that
although severe fires sometimes occur and inflict great damage； the
loss is very generally compensated by societies； the operations of
which have been rendered possible only by the progress of natural
knowledge in the direction of math