We learn also from Dr. Wallis that, upon the restoration in 1660, the meetings were revived ; and on the 28th of November, in that year, the members came to a resolution that they would assemble during term-time in Mr. Itooke's chamber", at Gresham College, and during the vacation at Mr. Ball's chambers in the Temple. It was further resolved that the members 'should constitute themselves a society for prensetang physic.° mathematical learning, similar to the aucciations of men for other branches of knowledge in foreign countries'. At this time alai a series of reeolutIona relating to the objects proposed by the society was drawn up, of which the follow ing is a brief outline :—It was agreed that records should be made of all the works of nature and art of which any account could be obtained ; so that the present age and posterity might be able to mark the errors which have been strengthened by long prescription, I to restore truths which have long been neglected, and to extend the uses of those already ; thus making the way easier to those which are yet unknown. It was also resolved to admit men of diflerent religions, profeeslona, and nations, In order that the knowledge of nature might be freed from the prejudices of sects, and from a bias in favour of any particular branch of learning, and that all mankind might as much as possible be engaged in the pursuit of philosophy, Which it was propose] to reform, not by laws and ceremonies, but by practice and example. It was further resolved that the society should not be a school where some might teach sad others be taught, but rather a sort of laboratory where all persons might operate indepen dently of one another. Lastly, it was resolved that each member should subscribe his name to an agreement that he would constantly attend the society's meetings, if not prevented by illness or some indispensable business ; that he should pay 10s. on his admission, and that he should subscribe Is. weekly while ho continued to belong to the society ; but from this obligation he was to be freed if ho chose to withdraw. At the same time Dr. Wilkins was chosen chairman, Mr. Ball, treasurer, and Mr. Croon°, registrar. It was agreed to meet every Wednesday, from 3 to 6 o'clock in the afternoon.
Tho revenue time raised from the members was intended to enable the society to accomplish the various objects for which it was insti tuted, and particularly to defray the expenses of the philosophical experiments which it was proposed to mako. The intention was, that persons should be sent to travel abroad, for the purpose of collecting information, while others should remain in London, and present the results of their researches at the weekly meetings. It was determined that the members should be formed into committee's for the con sideration of the subjects which were to be illustrated by experiments, and that the performance of the latter should be assigned to persons who, by their particular talents, were best qualified for the duty. Some of the members also were to be appointed to examine all works MI the natural history of foreign countries, that' out of them they might prepare directions as a guide in making inquiries concerning the phenomena of the atmosphere and the currents of the sea, and in performing experiments on light, magnetism, &e. It was proposed to bring the results of the researches into one common stock, and to con sign them in public registers for the benefit of future generations, without regard to any order in the arrangement ; it being considered, that if subjects of a like nature were brought together, persons might be tempted too early to form general systems, which might be detrimental to the progress of philosophy. (Dr. Sprat, History of
the Royal Society?) Such were the plan and constitution of the infant society, which was destined, in its maturity, to hold so distinguished a place in the annals of science. Its first recorded steps, which took place Dec. 5, 1660, consisted in appointing Mr. Wren, at the next weekly meeting, to perform an experiment on the vibrations of pendulums, and Lord Ilrouneker to bring in a series of instructions for conducting some experiments (relating to tho temperature, moisture, &c., of the air), the performance of which on the Peak of Teneriffe it was intended to procure.
A week afterwards it was resolved that persons desiring to be admitted should be recommended by some member, and that the election should tako place by ballot. No one below the rank of a tarot) was to be admitted without a scrutiny; and the number of members was to be limited to fifty-five, of whom twenty-one were to he a quorum for elections and nine for other matters. It was agreed also that the fellowa of the Royal College of Physicians and the pro fessors of mathematics and natural philosophy in both universities should, if they desired, be admitted as supernumeraries on paying the fees and lending their amsistanco when convenient. Tho restriction respecting the number of members was however soon afterwards taken off; and, at this time, candidates who were proposed on one evening were often admitted at the next, or at the second following meeting, though the practice respecting the interval between tho application and the admission seems to have been very variable. The president or chainnen held his post sometimes during the evening only, sometimes he was appointed for a month, and he was occasionally re-elected. Two persons were appointed to superintend the arrangements for per forming the proposed experiments, and one of the members acted as a reporter at the meetings. An amanuensis for copying minutes, and an operator under the superintendents, were engaged as servants, and received Naiades.
In that age, the constitution and qualities of material bodies being very imperfectly known, suggestions founded on ill-observed pheno mena, and the marvellous relations of credulous travellers, were often thought deserving of consideration from the bare possibility that they might lead to the discovery of useful truths; and this circumstance may serve to amount for the apparently absurd inquiries and cxperi.
. _ Meat' which appear in the notices of the society's first labours. Thus, in 1661, Mr. Boyle was requested to ascertain the flame of the place in Brazil where there was said to have been a kind of wood which attracts fishes; lie was also desired to inquire into the truth of the circum stance mentioned by Schotter—that a fish suspended by a thread would turn towards the wind. And in the saute year, the opinion that a spider could not get out of a space enclosed within a circle formed of powdered unicorn's horn was actually made the subject of an experiment. The philosopher will however forget these early occupations of the society when Ito meditates on the works of a Newton and a Davy, which are also recorded in the pages of its history.