chair of the Royal Society: few to a greater degree than Sir Christopher Wren. A remarkably fine portrait of him by Sir P. Lely, with St. Paul's in the back-ground, is in the meeting-room in Somerset House.

In 1681, Dr. Grew published his curious book, under the patronage of the Society, and Daniel Colwall, Esq., who defrayed the expense of the engravings, entitled, Museum Regalis Societatis; or, A Catalogue and Description of the Natural and Artificial Rarities belonging to the Royal Society, and preserved at Gresham College; whereunto is subjoyned the Comparative Anatomy of the Stomack and Guts. The work is a folio, comprising 435 pages, and 31 sheets of plates. It is dedicated to Daniel Colwall, Esq., founder of the Museum. In the dedication, Dr. Grew hopes that the Royal Society "may always wear this Catalogue, as the miniature of Mr. Colwall's abundant respects, near their hearts;" and in another place, he says, "Besides the particular regard you had to the Royal Society itself, which seeming (in the opinion of some) to look a little pale, you intended, hereby, to put some fresh blood into their cheeks; pouring out your box of oyntment, not in order to their burial, but their resurrection."

The Catalogue is extremely curious, on account of the very quaint titles given to objects of natural history (now recognised by very different names), and the descriptions attached to them.

The Museum contained at this period several thousand specimens of zoological subjects and foreign curiosities among the contributors, amounting collectively to 83, are the names of Prince Rupert, Duke of Norfolk, Boyle, Evelyn, Hooke, Pepys, Lord

Brouncker, and the East India, and Royal African Companies.

In the early part of 1682, Sir Christopher Wren, acting on the authority given him by the Council, sold Chelsea College and the surrounding lands to the King, for the sum of 13007. Small as this sum now appears, and was even at that period, for such an estate, yet the Council were so well pleased, that they voted their thanks to their President, "for the service rendered to the Society in thus disposing of a property which was a source of continual annoyance and trouble to them" A long discussion arose concerning the best means of profitably investing the amount, which ended by a resolution to place it in the hands of the East India Company.

Thus strengthened in funds, the Council turned their attention to the expediency of putting a stop to the too indiscriminate and easy admission of Fellows, and with this view, drew up the following statute, which, after being fully debated, was put to the vote, and passed on the 5th Aug. 1682:

Every person that would propose a Candidate, shall first give in his name to some of the Council,

14 We read in the Council-Minutes, that the College and lands "might have been well disposed of, but for the annoyance of Prince Rupert's glass-house which adjoined it." Sir Jonas Moore wrote to the Prince, at the request of the Council, urging him to "consider the Society, on account of the mischief that his glasshouse was doing to the College," and this letter was supported by similar remonstrances from Sir R. Southwell and Mr. Pepys.

15 The Royal Hospital was built upon the site of the College. The first stone was laid by the King, on the 16th February, 1681-2, and Sir C. Wren was appointed commissioner and architect in 1683.

that so in the next Council it may be discoursed, vivâ voce, whether the person is known to be so qualified, as in probability to be useful to the Society. And if the Council return no other answer, but that they desire farther time to be acquainted with the gentleman proposed, the proposer is to take that for an answer: and if they are well assured that the Candidate may be useful to the Society, then the Candidate shall be proposed at the next Meeting of the Society, and ballotted for, according to the Statute in that behalf; and shall immediately sign the usual bond, and pay his admissionmoney upon his admission."

At the same time it was resolved, "That no person shall be capable of being chosen into the Council, who hath not, at or before the 10th day of November preceding the election, accounted with the Treasurer, and paid his dues to the Michaelmas before: and in order thereunto, the names of those who have not paid till the Michaelmas preceding, shall not be inserted in the printed lists for the use of the Society, at the election day."

On the 13th December, 1682, it was "Ordered, that Dr. Grew take upon him the care of the Repository, under the name of Præfectus Musei Regalis Societatis, &c., and that he make a short Catalogue of the Raritys, with a method for the ready finding them out as also a Catalogue of the Benefactors, and the particulars given by them. That he enter into a book all such things as shall be given hereafter, with the name of the donor, and from time to time observe what may be necessary for the preservation and augmentation of the said Repository, and make a report thereof to the Councill. And that he bring in to the usual Meetings of the Society such descriptions of

naturall things there contained, as have not yet been published in his book." The Doctor readily accepted the office.

At the anniversary in this year, Wren retired from the Presidency, and Evelyn was solicited to allow himself to be put in nomination as his successor, but declined; he says in his Diary, under the date of November 30, 1682, "I was exceedingly indanger'd and importun'd to stand the election (for President of the Royal Society), having so many voices; but by favour of my friends, and regard of my remote dwelling, and now frequent infirmities, I desir'd their suffrages might be transferr'd to Sir John Hoskyns, one of the Masters of Chancery, a most learned virtuoso, as well as lawyer, who accordingly was elected 16"

Sir John Hoskyns, of Harewood, in the county of Hereford, Bart., was grandson of Judge Hoskyns, a noted poet and critic in the reign of James I., and son of Sir Bennet Hoskyns, by his first wife Anna Bingley, daughter of Sir John Bingley". He was born in 1633, and received his early education from his mother, who taught him Latin; "meaning," as the manuscript memoir of him states, "as 'tis supposed, that she familiarised that language to him in such a manner, as made the acquiring it the more easy. He was sent afterwards to Dinedor School, and from thence to Westminster, where he was scholar under Dr. Busby, from whom, 'tis most remarkable, he never received a blow."

He entered as student of the Temple, and although

16 Vol. I. p. 512.

17 Man. Brit. Mus. Sloane Collec. 4222.

called to the bar, did not practise. He was, however, eminent for his legal attainments, and esteemed for his invincible integrity in the discharge of official duties. He was appointed a Master in Chancery, which office he held until a year before his decease.

But Sir John Hoskyns was much better known to the world as a philosopher than a lawyer, and especially in the latter part of his life, when he devoted a considerable portion of his time to scientific pursuits and experiments. His general knowledge is said to have been very considerable, and to have been imparted freely and cheerfully to all who applied to him for information. Granger observes, "There was nothing at all promising in his appearance; he was hard favoured, affected plainness in his garb, walked the streets with a cudgel in his hand, and an old hat over his eyes. He was often observed to be in a reverie, but when his spirits were elevated over a bottle, he was remarkable for his presence of mind. and quickness of apprehension, and became the agreeable and instructive companion. He was an excellent Master in Chancery, and a man of an irreproachable character. He was more inclined to the study of the new philosophy, than to follow the law, and is best known to the world as a virtuoso 18" Le Neve says that "Hoskyns was much noted for his general knowledge, and vigorous searching after natural philosophy 19"

Sir John Hoskyns was one of those elected by the Council on the 20th May, 1663, by virtue of the power given them by the Charter. He acted as Vice

18 Biog. Hist. of England, Vols. II. and II. pp. 267 and 539. 19 Mon. Angli. p. 202.