The Royal Society, 1660-1940

Abstract

AFTER Sir Henry Lyons had finished his work on the fourth edition of the "Record of the Royal Society", he wrote in June 1940 to the present reviewer: "I have learned that what is badly needed is a new 'History', for, as you know, Weld's ends at 1830.... Greatly daring I started on this about 2½ years ago and have got my first rough draft of half of it in shape already. Now that I have got most of my facts collected and checked I see my way more clearly..."; and again, in November 1941, "The further I get with it the less satisfied I feel.... The subject tempts one to fling a wide net, but I have tried to keep to the story of how the Councils and the Fellows carried out their trust as laid down in the Charters, and with what degree of success....". Notwithstanding the dislocations and discomforts of war-time aggravated by growing illness, he steadfastly completed that task, and lived to see his text in print but not to see it published. In the book, he says that he regards it as the introduction to a second volume which must be left for another hand to write a century or two hence: a remark which well illustrates the sense of continuity that permeates his work; and indeed, every fellow of the Royal Society should, with like diffidence, be a 'student of perpetuity'.

The Royal Society, 1660-1940

A History of its Administration under its Charters. By Sir Henry Lyons. Pp. x + 354. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1944.) 25s. net.