Contributions to the history of medicine in Ireland. Part I, The history of periodic medical literature in Ireland, including notices of the medical and philosophical societies of Dublin / [W.R. Wilde].

  • William Wilde
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions to the history of medicine in Ireland. Part I, The history of periodic medical literature in Ireland, including notices of the medical and philosophical societies of Dublin / [W.R. Wilde]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/50 (page 7)
    matical matters. Our convention is regulated by one chief, who is chosen by the votes of the rest, and is called Arbiter Convert- tionis, at present Dr. Willoughby (the name 4 President’being yet a little too great for us). What this may come to I know not; but we have hopes of bringing it to a more settled society. The event you shall know. Sir W. Petty and all the virtuosi of this place favour it much ; and have at some times given us their company.” From this it would appear that Dr. Willoughby was virtually, though not in name, the first President, and Moly- neaux the original Secretary, although the former honour has been generally conferred on Sir William Petty, who, however, was not elected till the 1st of November, I684(p-). The first meeting took place on the 15th of October, 1683, when papers were read by Mr. William Molyneaux, Dr. Nar¬ cissus Marsh, afterwards Archbishop of Dublin, Mr. Foley, and Mr. St. George Ashe. It is remarkable that although Ware, Birch, and Whitelaw(A) have agreed in dating the origin of this society in 1683, Mr. Plalliwell has, in a 44 Col¬ lection of Notes on the early History of Science in Ireland,” published in the proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, stated that its first meeting took place on the 28th of January, 1684. In the winter of 1683, writes Archbishop Marsh in his Diary, 44 was set up the Philosophical Meeting in Dublin, that (g) “ At this election Sir W. Petty and Dr. Willoughby had equal marks for President, but upon a second election Sir William carried it by four votes, so he stood. Afterwards we had a handsome dinner at a tavern, so finished the day.”—Molyneaux Correspondence, Dublin University Magazine, vol. xviii., p. 489. (A)The History of the Writers of Ireland, in two books, &c., by Sir James Ware, Knt.; edited by W. Harris, Esq., Dublin; 1764, fol. The History of the Royal Society of London for improving of natural Knowledge, &c., as a Supplement to the Philosophical 4 ransactions; by Thomas Birch, M.D., Secretary. 4 vols., London, 4to., 1754-57. History of the City of Dublin, &c., by J. Warburton and Rev. J. Whitelaw, and edited by the Rev. Robert Walsh, 2 vols. London, 1818, 4to.