The museum belonging to the society, was founded by Daniel Colwall, Esq; in the year 1677, who gave his excellent collection of natural and artificial curiosities, which compose the greatest part of the catalogue published in the year 1681, by Dr. Grew, under the title of Museum Regalis Societatis. But these curiosities, by the generous benefactions of other curious persons, are now increased to above six times the number of those mentioned in the catalogue.
Upon the society’s removal from Gresham college to their house in Crane court, Richard Waller, Esq; one of the Secretaries, erected in the year 1711, at his own expence, the repository in the garden for the reception of the above curiosities, which consist of the following species, viz. human, quadrupedes, birds, eggs, nests, fishes, insects, reptiles, woods, stalks and roots; fruits of all sorts; mosses, mushrooms, plants, spunges, &c. animal and vegetable bodies petrified; corals, and other marine productions; fossils, gems, stones, metals, antimony, mercury, and other metallic bodies, salts, sulphurs, oils, and earths; philosophical and mathematical instruments; Indian, American, and other weapons, with a variety of apparel, &c.
In short, by the above Royal and other benefactions, the admission money, and annual contributions of the members, this society was at length in so flourishing a condition, that they applied to his late Majesty King George I. for an additional privilege to purchase in mortmain 1000l. instead of 200l. per annum, which he was pleased to grant by his letters patent, in 1725. Among the Fellows of this society are his Majesty King George II. and many of the greatest Princes in Europe.
This learned body is governed by a President and Council, consisting of twenty-one Fellows, distinguished by their rank and learning.
The officers chosen from among the members, are, the President, who calls and dissolves the meetings, proposes the subjects of consultation, puts questions, calls for experiments, and admits the members that are from time to time received into the society.
The Treasurer, who receives and disburses all the money.
The two Secretaries, who read all letters and informations; reply to all addresses or letters from foreign parts, or at home; register all experiments and conclusions, and publish what is ordered by the society.
The Curators, who have the charge of making experiments, receive the directions of the society, and at another meeting bring all to the test.
Every person to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, must be propounded and recommended at a meeting of the society, by three or more members; who must then deliver to one of the Secretaries a paper signed by themselves with their own names, specifying the name, addition, profession, occupation, and chief qualifications; the inventions, discoveries, works, writings, or other productions of the candidate for election; as also notifying the usual place of his abode, and recommending him on their own personal knowledge. A fair copy of which paper, with the date of the day when delivered, shall be fixed up in the common meeting room of the society, at ten several ordinary meetings, before the said candidate shall be put to the ballot: but it shall be free for every one of his Majesty’s subjects, who is a Peer, or the son of a Peer, of Great Britain or Ireland, and for every one of his Majesty’s Privy Council of either of the said kingdoms, and for every foreign Prince or Ambassador, to be propounded by any single person, and to be put to the ballot for election on the same day, there being present a competent number for making elections. And at every such ballot, unless two thirds at least of the members present give their bills in favour of the candidate, he cannot be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society; nor can any candidate be balloted for, unless twenty-one members at the least be present.
After a candidate has been elected, he may at that, or the next meeting of the society, be introduced, and solemnly admitted by the President, after having previously subscribed the obligation, whereby he promises, “That he will endeavour to promote the good of the Royal Society of London, for the improvement of natural knowledge.”