scandalously cast on the Profession of the Law, that it is an Enemy to Learning and the civil Arts. To sew the Falshood of this Reproach, I might instance in many Judges and Councilors of all Ages, who have been the Ornaments of the Sciences, as well as of the Bar, and Courts of Justice. But it is enough to declare, that my Lord Bacon was a Lawyer, and that these eminent Officers of the Law, have completed this Foundation of the Royal Society, which was a Work well becoming the Largeness of his Wit to devise, and the Greatness of their Prudence to establish.
Sect. XXIV.
Their Councils and Statutes.According to the Intention of these Letters Patents, their Council has ever since been annually renewed; their President, their Treasurer, their Secretaries chosen: The chief Employments of the Council have been to manage their political Affairs, to regulate Disorders, to make Addresses, and Applications in their Behalf: to regard their Privileges, to disperse Correspondents, but principally to form the Body of their Statutes, which I will here insert.
An Abstract of the Statutes of the Royal Society.
WHatever Statute shall be made, or repealed, the making or repealing of it shall be voted twice, and at two several Meetings of the Council.
This Obligation shall be subscribed by every Fellow; or his Election shall be void.
WE who have hereto subscrib'd, do promise each for himself, that we will endeavour to promote the good of the Royal Society of London, for the Improvement of natural Knowledge, and to pursue the Ends, for which the same was founded; that we