Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/171

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the Royal Society.
149
Sect. XXVII. The King's Example in promoting Experiments.Nor has the King only incourag'd them, by Kindness and Words, and by Acts of State; but he has also provok'd them to unwearied Activity in their Experiments, by the most effectual Means of his Royal Example. There is scarce any one sort of Work, whose Advancement they regard; but from his Majesty's own Labours they have receiv'd a Pattern for their Indeavours about it. They design the multiplying and beautifying of Mechanick Arts: And the Noise of Mechanick Instruments is heard in Whitehall itself, They intend the Perfection of Graving, Statuary, Limning, Coining, and all the Works of Smiths, in Iron, or Steel, or Silver: And the most excellent Artists of these kinds have Provision made for their Practice, even in the Chambers and Galleries of his Court. They purpose the Trial of all manner of Operations by Fire; And the King has under his own Roof found, place for Chymical Operators. They resolve to restore, to enlarge, to examine Physick; and the King has indow'd the College of London with new Privileges, and has planted a Physick Garden under his own Eye. They have bestow'd much Consideration on the propagating of Fruits and Trees: And the King has made Plantations enough, even almost to repair the Ruins of a Civil War. They have begun an exact Survey of the Heavens; and St. James's Park may witness, that Ptolomy and Alphonso were not the only Monarchs, who observ'd the Motions and Appearances of the Stars. They have studied the promoting of Architetture in our Island; and the Beauty of our late Buildings, and the Reformation of his own Houses, do sufficiently manifest his Skill and Inclination to that Art: of which Magnificence, we had seen more Ef-

fects