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The Hartlib circle and the origins of the Dublin Philosophical Society

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

T.C. Barnard
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Extract

Recently Mr Charles Webster has urged a less restrictive view of seventeenth-century scientific development, allotting a more important role to Samuel Hartlib and his circle. An examination of scientific activity in Ireland during the interregnum offers support for Dr Webster’s argument. This article will attempt to add to what is known of Hartlib, his friends and their interests by considering their activities in Ireland. Relating those activities to the gradual diffusion of experimental science in seventeenthcentury Ireland produces a picture rather different from that offered by Dr K. T. Hoppen in his study of the Dublin Philosophical Society’s origin.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 19 , Issue 73 , March 1974 , pp. 56 - 71
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1974

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References

1 Webster, Charles, ‘The authorship and significance of Macaria’ in Past & Present, 56 (1972), pp 34–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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3 Hoppen, pp 7, 11.

4 He speaks cautiously ofcthe evidence at hand’ : (Hoppen, p. 14).

5 Loc. cit.

6 Hoppen, p. 63.

7 Hoppen, pp 13–14.

8 William Molyneux, for example, complained in 1681 of ‘living nere in a kingdome barren of all things, but especially of ingenious artificers’: W. Molyneux to J Flamsteed, Dublin, 17 Sept. 1681 (Southampton Corporation Record Office, Molyneux papers, DM 1/1, 2) ; this collection is hereafter referred to as Molyneux papers.

9 Hoppen, p. 72.

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13 Arnold, and Boate, Gerard, Philosophia naturalis reformata, (Dublin, 1641).Google Scholar Mr Hoppen’s evidence for suggesting that Ussher financed this work’s publication does not appear in the source which he cites ( Turnbull, G.H., Hartlib, Dury and Comenius [Liverpool, 1947], p. 204):Google Scholar Hoppen, pp il, 231 n.40.

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17 R. Child to S. Hartlib, Lisburn, 29 Aug. 1652 and 2 Feb. 1652 [3] (Sheffield University Library, Hartlib MS xv), hereafter cited as Hartlib MSS.

18 The works of the honourable Robert Boyle, ed. Birch, T. (London, 1744), 5 259 Google Scholar; cf. A collection of the state papers of John Thürloe (London, 1742), u, 61. Mr Hoppen does not mention Hartlib ’s role as the continuer of Boate’s work: Hoppen, p. 21.

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28 Worsley had first come to Ireland in an unspecified capacity in Strafford’s household (Bodl., Clarendon state papers, 75, f.300). For his appointment as surgeon-general, see also: H.M.G., Ormonde MSS, new series, ii, 256–7, 284–5. He was re-appointed in 1647 by the long parliament but did not return to the post (Commons’ jn, v, 247).

29 Gerard Boate was appointed physician to the army in Ireland by the long parliament in 1647 He arrived in Dublin in 1649, when he was given charge of the military hospital there (Commons’ jn, v, 247; Cal. S.P dorn., 1649–50, pp 66, 588).

30 Arnold Boate was physician general to the army in Leinster (B.M., Sloane MS 4771, f.50; A remonstrance of divers remarkable passages and proceedings of our army in the kingdome of Ireland (London, 1642), title page). He left Ireland in 1646.

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41 Wood’s slightly more ambiguous approach is found in his letters to Hartlib of 28 Aug. 1657 and 25 May 1659 (Hartlib MSS xxxiii), quoted în.Barnard, ‘Social policy’, p. 339.

42 In 1648 Worsley told Hartlib that he had ‘abdicated much reading of bookes, vulgare received traditions, and common or schoole opinions…’ and would henceforth believe 4 only that w[hi]ch is immediately deduced from, or built upon, reali & certayne experiments…’. (Worsley to Hartlib, Amsterdam, 27 July 1648, Hartlib MS xlii (1)).

43 Copious evidence of this is found in Wood’s, Child’s and Worsley’s tt2ts to Hartlib in the Hartlib MSS.

44 Purver, M., The Royal Society: concept and creation (London, 1967), p. 125 Google Scholar n.109.

45 Worsley was in London in 1656–57 and in 1659; Petty in London wring 1658; while Wood visited Oxford in 1658.

46 Hoppen, pp 96, 149–50, 181.

47 Hoppen, pp 21–2, 200–1.

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55 Hoppen, p. 120.

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61 R. Child to Hartlib, 28 Oct. 1653 (Hartlib MS xv); Hartlib MSS lv (21) and lxx (7).

62 Hoppen, pp 64, 93; cf. Brooks, E.StJ., ‘Henry Nicholson, first lecturer in botany and the earliest physic garden’ in Hermathena, lxxxiv (1954).Google Scholar

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75 Mr Hoppen stated that Wood ‘had come to Ireland about 1683’, and mentioned no connection with Ireland earlier than 1676- Hoppen, pp 20, 113–14.

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84 B.M., Add. MS 31,885, f.ig2;F T.G.D., MS N.I. 4a, p. 487; Prendergast MS ii, p. 270 (King’s Inns, Dublin); Lenihan, Maurice, ‘The fee-book of a physician of the 17th century’ in Jn. Kilkenny andS.E. of Ireland Arch. Soc, new series, 6 (1867), p. 14.Google Scholar

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86 B.M., Add. MS 31,885, ff 8–13, 190. Arthur possessed books by Ramon Lull.

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93 Hartlib to ?Lord Cork, 12 Oct. 1658 (Chatsworth, Lismore MS 30, item 30); Wood to Hartlib, 16 Nov. 1658 (Hartlib MS xxxiii), Worsley to Hartlib, 10 Feb. 1657^8] (Hartlib MS xlviifô)); Dalgarno, G., Ars signorum (London, 1661)Google Scholar, sig. [A8]v.

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97 R. Wood to Hartlib, 5 Dec. 1660, 19 Jan. 1660[i], 23 Mar. 1660[i] (Hartlib MSS xxxiii).

98 R. Child to Hartlib, 13 Nov- 1651 (ibid., xv) ; Correspondence of Hartlib, Haak, Oldenburg, and others of the founders of the Royal Society with Governor Winthrop of Connecticut, ed. Winthrop, R.C. (Boston, Mass., 1878), p. 11.Google Scholar

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