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HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE

in the veins, the lymphatic vessels ; the nature of cometsand new stars, the satellites of Jupiter , the oval shape(as it then appeared) of Saturn, the spots in the sun,and its turning on its own axis ; the inequalities andselenography, the several phases of Venus and Mercury;the improvement of telescopes, and grinding of glassesfor that purpose ; the weight of air, the possibility orimpossibility of vacuities, and nature’s abhorrencethereof; the Toricellian experiment on quicksilver,the descent of heavy bodies, and the degrees of accele-ration therein, and divers other things of the like kind;many of which were new discoveries at that time, andothers not so generally known and embraced as nowthey are; with other things appertaining to what hasbeen called the New Philosophy, which, from the timeof Galileo at Florence, and sir Francis Bacon , lord Ve-rulanj, in England, hath been cultivated in Italy, France ,Germany , and other parts abroad as well as with us inEngland.”

This interesting passage gives us a characteristicsketch of the actual points of philosophic enquiry,which at that time attracted the most peculiar attention ;and presents us with a delightful picture of the smallhand of associated philosophers, evincing the efficacy ofone of the best uses of true philosophy, that of elevatingthe mind above the turmoils of the world, and supply-ing, in its pure intellectual pleasures, a source of conso-lation amid external troubles. The original journalbooks of their transactions are preserved in the Ash-molean Museum at Oxford.

Dr. Robert Hooke, one of the most eminent of theassociated English philosophers of this period, was aman of singular ability and most indefatigable industry.He was distinguished by acute inventive powers, and anunusual versatility of talent. But a certain narrow-ness of mind threw an unfavourable shade over hischaracter. He was envious and jealous of the fame ofothers, and arrogant in pushing his own claims. Exactand ingenious, he directed his attention to almost every