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THE

HISTORY

OF

KNOWLEDGE, LITERATURE,

AND TASTE,

IN GREAT BRITAIN,

DURING THE REIGN OF WILLIAM ÌII.

PART I.

FROM the important political consequences to which the

Revolution of 1688 gave rise, it might naturally be expected, that the progress of science, literature, and the fine arts, would be accelerated. This effect, however, was more likely to be a distant than an immediate result of the happy change produced by this event in the government of the country. For the accession of the Prince of Orange to the abdicated throne of James II. was followed by internal rebellion and foreign warfare. Periods of public agitation are more favourable to the exertion of high moral energies, than conducive to the advancement of general knowledge. To the pursuits of science and of learning, the peaceful reign of internal tranquillity is peculiarly congenial. Political events of extraordinary interest are calculated to divert even the philosophic mind from the calm and patient investigation, upon which successful inquiry so materially depends. But, on the other hand, when the principles of liberty are accurately defined and established on a solid foundation, they cannot fail eventually to facilitate the progressive improve.

1804.

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ment of scientific and literary investigations. In the reign of Queen Anne, a number of eminently distinguished characters appeared, and little doubt can be entertained, that their justly great reputation may, in a material degree, be traced to the influence of causes founded in the events of the preceding reign.

Notwithstanding the circumstances which we have mentioned as unpropitious to the advancement of general knowledge, it must be admitted that during the reign of William, mathematics, physics, poetry and painting, were cultivated with no inconsiderable success. The boundaries of science having, at once, been so extensively enlarged by the individual labours of the immortal Newton, the improvements and discoveries of his cotemporaries and successors, when separately contemplated, appeared to possess but little comparative impor tance. It is only by estimating them collectively, that their relative and intrinsic value can be duly appreciated.

With regard to the distinguished individuals, whose talents were successfully employed, during the reign of William III., in the cultivation of literature and science, we acknowledge that it is with diffidence we undertake the task of selection. A succession of short reigns renders it difficult to exhibit a clear and distinct view of the productions of men of eminence. For it is almost impossible to avoid occasional confusion, either by reference to performances published before the period under review, or by the anticipation of meritorious works which subsequently appeared. The best criterion for ascertaining the precise reign which has been adorned by the literary or scientific exertions of persons of distinguished talents, is to determine the period in which their reputation had justly attained its greatest splendour. But even this might become a disputed point. For the historian of the reign of Charles II., James II., William III., and Queen Anne, might hesitate under which the eminent persons, who in all of them enjoyed very just distinction, might be most appropri ately placed.

The

The scientific researches of the Royal Society at the period under consideration, were conducted with success. Independently of several eminent characters whom we have formerly noticed, Hooke, Wallis, Flamsteed, and Wren, were among the number of its most distinguished members.

At a very early age, Hooke discovered a genius for mathematics by making toys with great art and ingenuity. He was educated under Dr. Busby at Westminster school, where, in addition to an extensive knowledge of languages, he made considerable progress in acquiring the elements of geometry. He went afterwards to Oxford, and was introduced to the Philosophical Society. The celebrated Boyle, discovering the peculiar inclination of his genius, employed him as an assistant in chemical operations; and Dr. Seth Ward, the Savilian professor, instructed him in the science of astronomy. Mr. Hooke very soon distinguished himself by a number of important improvements and mechanical inventions. He also invented several astronomical instruments, and even assisted Mr.Boyle in completing the invention of the air-pump. In 1666, he presented to the Royal Society a model for rebuilding the city of London. It met with general approbation, but was not executed. He was, however, appointed one of the citysurveyors. In the In the year 1677, upon the death of Mr. Oldenburgh, the secretary to the Royal Society, he received this important appointment. It appears that for many years he had been connected with this institution; for, in 1664, sir John Cutler founded a school for mechanical instruction, and settled an annual stipend on Mr. Hooke for life; but the number and subjects of his lectures were to be under the direction of the Royal Society. Shortly after receiving this situation, he was appointed by the Royal Society curator of experiments, with an additional salary. He remained many years in his capacity of secretary. In 1696, an order was granted to him for repeating most of his experiments at the expense of the Royal Society, upon the stipulation that he should fully and accurately state their results, and the deductions to be made from them. He was also required to

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complete a description of all the instruments which he had invented. This task he never performed. His health was at that time in a declining state; and his constantly increasing illness rendered him unable to satisfy the wishes of the society. He died in 1702. One striking proof of the estimation in which his talents were held, is, that he was attended to the grave by all the members of the Royal Society then in London.

rous.

The character of Mr. Hooke has been described in rather unfavourable terms. His temper was neither open nor geneHe was possessed of extensive philosophical knowledge, but was ambitious of being thought superior to the rest of mankind in the powers of invention and discovery. It has even been asserted, that he sometimes claimed the inventions and discoveries of others, while he boasted of many of his own which he never communicated. In many parts of his religious character he was exemplary; for he seldom received any remarkable benefit in life, or made any useful discovery in the prosecution of his philosophical studies, without offering his grateful acknowledgments to the Deity. He wrote the Lectiones Cutlerinana, Micrographia, a description of helioscopes, and of a variety of mechanical improvements, and published some philosophical collections. His posthumous works were afterwards collected and published by the secre tary to the Royal Society.

We have, upon a former occasion, cursorily alluded to the talents of Dr. Wallis, the Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford. At present we shall only notice a few circum stances connected with his life and studies. He was originally educated at Cambridge, and became a fellow of Queen's college. He retained his fellowship until he married.. Having entered into the church, he was appointed chaplain to lady Vere. While he resided in her ladyship's family, he studied and improved the art of deciphering. In 1643, he published Animadversions on lord Brooke's treatise entitled, The Nature of Truth," and in the following year he was chosen one of the secretaries to the Assembly of Divines at

West

Westminster. Upon the ejection of Dr. Peter Turner, the Savilian professor, he received the vacant appointment. He is the author of a Grammar of the English tongue, which was published at Oxford in the Latin language. In his controversy with Mr. Hobbes, he acquired considerable celebrity, which was afterwards much increased by the publication of his mathematical works. Upon the death of Dr. Langbaine, he was chosen keeper of the archives of the university. After the Restoration, he met with very great respect. The king himself expressed a favourable opinion of him, for the services which he had rendered his majesty and his royal father. He was, therefore, confirmed in all his places, admitted one of the king's chaplains in ordinary; and appointed one of the divines empowered to revise the Book of Common Prayer. He complied with the terms of the act of uniformity, and continued, without any fluctuation of religious sentiments, a zealous and steady conformist. His correspondence with learned men was extensive, and his contributions to the Royal Society, of which he was one of the earliest members, were valuable and numerous. In 1697, the curators of the university of Oxford collected the mathematical works of Dr. Wallis, which had been printed separately at various times, partly in Latin and partly in English, and published the whole in the Latin language, in three volumes folio. Beside the works we have mentioned, he was the author of many other valuable performances. This excellent mathematician died in the year 1703.

Flamsteed was a very distinguished cotemporary of Hooke and Wallis. He was educated at the free-school of Derby; and it was intended that he should afterwards be sent to one' of the universities, but the feeble state of his health made it necessary to relinquish the plan. In the year 1662 he was taken from school. Sacrobosco de Sphæra being shortly after put into his hands, he undertook the task of studying it without assistance. This accident laid the foundation of all the mathematical and astronomical knowledge for which he afterwards became so justly celebrated. Having pro

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