The Great Plague of London occurred in 1664, and put an end to all social and other assemblages during its continuance. To his honour be it told that when the metropolis was well-nigh abandoned owing to this scourge, Pepys remained at his post, observing in a letter to Sir William Coventry, "The sickness in general thickens around us. You, sir, took your turn at the sword ; 1 must not, therefore, grudge to take mine at the pestilence."*
On January 22nd, 1665-6, was held—
"The first meeting of Gresham College since the Plague. What among other fine discourse pleased me most, was Sir G. Entf about Respiration; that it is not to this day known, or concluded on among physicians, nor to be done either, how the action is managed by Nature, or for what use it is." — Vol. ii., p. 357.
Nothing appears, at this date, on the subject of the discourse here alluded to, or in regard to the following, in the ' Philosophical Transactions': they may consequently have been papers read before the College, and not before the Royal Society : —
Feb. 21, 1665–6. "With my. Lord Brouncker to Gresham College, the first time after the sickness that I was there, and the second time any met. And here a good lecture of Mr. Hooke's about the trade of felt- making, very pretty." — Vol. ii., p. 367.
Pepys associates now with men of scientific character, and with them holds much "sweet converse." On August 8th, 1666, he —
"Discoursed with Mr. Hoqke about the nature of sounds, and he did make me understand the nature of musicall sounds made by strings, mighty prettily: and told me that having come to a certain number of vibrations proper to make any tone, he is able to tell how many strokes a fly makes with her wings (those flies that hum in their flying) by the note that it answers to iu musique, during their flying. That, I suppose, is a little too much refined ; but his discourse in general of sound was mighty fine." — Vol. iii., p. 3.
We wonder what Prof. Tyndall or Lord Rayleigh would have to say to these conclusions. The next "experiment," if made at the present lime, would assuredly have subjected all concerned to much objurgation at the hands of the Anti-Vivisection clique. If the operation termed "transfusion of blood" is but little resorted to now-a-days, and has not altogether fulfilled the expectations
Weld, 'History of the Royal Society.' vol. i., p. 296.
Sir George Ent, F.R.S.. was President of the College of Physicians.
