Wilkins, Bishop
of Chester, voted in favour of the bill.
The social history of this remarkable reign would be incomplete
without mention of the grace and patronage which Charles II.
extended towards the Society of Antiquaries. This learned body,
according to Stow, had been in existence since the days of
Elizabeth; but for lack of royal acknowledgment of its worth and
lore, was permitted to languish in neglect and finally become
extinct. However, under the commonwealth the society had
revived, from the fact that numbers of the nobility being
unemployed in affairs of state, and having no court to attend,
applied themselves whilst in retirement to the study of
chemistry, mathematics, mechanism, and natural philosophy. The
Duke of Devonshire, Marquis of Worcester, Viscount Brouncker,
Honourable Robert Boyle, and Sir Robert Murray, built
laboratories, made machines, opened mines, and perfected
inventions. When the temper of the times permitted, these men,
with various others of like tastes, drew together, held weekly
meetings at Gresham College in Bishopsgate Street, discoursed on
abstruse subjects, and heard erudite lectures, from Dr. Petty on
chemistry, from Dr. Wren on astronomy, from Mr. Laurence Rooke on
geometry; so that the Society of Antiquaries may be said to have
been founded in the last years of the republic.
Now Charles II., having some knowledge of chemistry and science,
looked upon the society with favourable eyes; and in the first
year of his restoration desired to become one of its members;
expressed satisfaction it had been placed upon a proper basis in
his reign; represented the difficulty of its labours; suggested
certain investigations, and declared his interest in all its
movements.
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