Page:Passages from the Life of a Philosopher.djvu/446

CHAPTER XXXIII.

the author's contributions to human knowledge.

Scientific Societies—Analytical Society—Astronomical Society—Grand Duke of Tuscany, Leopold II.—Scientific Meeting at Florence—Also at Berlin—At Edinburgh—At Cambridge—Origin of the Statistical Society—Statistical Congress at Brussels—Calculus of Functions—Division of Labour—Verification part of Cost—Principles of Taxation—Extension to Elections—The two Pumps—Monopoly—Miracles.

Of the part taken by the Author in the formation of various Scientific Societies.

The origin of the Analytical Society has been already explained in the fourth chapter. In the year 1820 the Author of this volume, joining with several eminent men attached to astronomical pursuits, instituted the Royal Astronomical Society. At the present time only three of the original founders survive. The meetings, and still more the publications of that society, have contributed largely to extend the taste for astronomy.

In 1827 I visited Italy, and during my residence at Florence had many opportunities of observing the strong feeling of the reigning Grand Duke Leopold II., not only for the fine arts, but for the progress of science, and for its application to the advancement of the arts of life.

After a long tour in Italy, I found myself in the following year again in Florence, and again I was received with a kindness and consideration which I can never forget. The Grand