Chapter XLIX: Appendix: III

THE PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL
SOCIETY OF LONDON

UNABRIDGED

Commenced in 1665, as a periodical, by H. Oldenberg, first Secretary of the Society, and continued by him up to June 1677. Afterwards, successively edited by N. Grew, R. Plot, W. Musgrave, R. Walker, Sir H. Sloane, E. Halley, C. Mortimer, and other Secretaries, up to March 1752, when the publication began to be superintended by a Committee of the Royal Society. From 1665 to 1678, the publication was regularly made, with exception of six months between 1677 and 1678.

The title-page, “Philosophical Transactions giving some account of the present undertakings, studies and labours of the Ingenious in many considerable parts of the world,” was maintained up to the sixty-sixth volume, for year 1776, when it gave place to “The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.”

From 1679 to 1682, no volumes appeared, the lacunæ being (partly) made up through the seven numbers of “Philosophical Collections” issued by Robert Hooke (Nos. 1–7, one volume 4to).

From 1683 to the present time, the publication has gone on uniformly, with exception of years 1688–1690, during which nothing was published, and of years 1691–1692, the proceedings of which appear in a volume (sometimes marked Vol. 16 and sometimes Vol. 17), containing the numbers 192–195.

Reference to “The Bibliographer’s Manual,” by Wm. Thomas Lowndes (London, 1863, Part VIII. pp. 2143–2146) and to Samuel H. Scudder’s “Catalogue of Scientific Serials” (Cambridge, Mass., 1879, p. 27) will show how the different unabridged volumes have been made up, viz. Vols. 1–65 cover the years 1665–1775; Vols. 66–81 cover the years 1776–1791; Vols. 82–142 cover the years 1792–1852; Vols. 143–166 cover the years 1853–1876.

Regular dates followed up to Vol. 177, issued 1886–1887, since when the publication has appeared in two series, viz. A (Physical) and B (Biological). The volumes now running are A 220, B 210.

In addition to the above, there have appeared, amongst many publications:

“A General Index ... to all the Philosophical Transactions from the beginning to July 1677,” London, 1678.

“A General Index ... from January 1667–1668 to December 1693,” London, 1694. And one by James Briggs, 1665–1817.

“A General Index to the Philosophical Transactions from the first to the end of the seventieth volume,” by Paul Henry Maty (viz. 1665–1780, which was continued for 1781–1820 as Part II and for 1821–1830 as Part III).

“Index to Volumes 1–17” (London, 1787); “Index to Volumes 71–110” (London, 1821); “Index for years 1821–1830” (London, 1833); “Index to Volumes 1–120” (London, 1842).

“Supplement to the Philosophical Transactions of July 1670” (by W. Holder), London, 1678.

“Supplement to the Philosophical Transactions for October 1702” (by M. Lister), London, 1702.

“Miscellanea Curiosa ... being the most valuable discourses read and delivered to the Royal Society,” 3 Vols., London, 1723–1727.

“Abstracts of the Papers printed in the Philosophical Transactions”: 1800–1830, Vols. I-II; 1831–1843, Vols. III-IV; 1843–1850, Vol. V; 1850–1854, Vol. VI. From Vol. VI, continued as the “Proceedings of the Royal Society,” the years 1854–1905 being represented by Vols. VII-LXXVI (issued, from this date onward, in two series (A, Physical, and B, Biological); about two volumes each year).

“Catalogue of Scientific Papers. Compiled and published by the Royal Society of London”: 1800–1863, A to Z, Vols. 1–6; 1864–1873, A to Z, Vols. 7–8; 1874–1883, A to Z, Vols. 9–11; 1800–1883, A to Z, Vol. 12; 1884–1900, A to B, Vol. 13, reaching Vol. 17 in 1920.

Four volumes of Subject Index to the above have appeared, treating of Pure Mathematics, Mechanics, Heat, Light and Sound, Electricity and Magnetism.

ABRIDGED

The several Abridgments may be properly collated as follows (through Lowndes, Scudder, Bolton, also through the private lists of the different copies found in Hartwell House, November 1843, and given to the compiler by Mr. Latimer Clark), viz.: From 1665 to end of 1700, by John Lowthorp, 3 vols., Vols. I, II, III[74]; from 1700 to year 1720–1721 by Ben. Motte, 2 vols.[75]; from 1700 to year 1720 by Henry Jones, 2 vols., Vols. IV, V[76]; from 1720 to year 1732 by Mr. Reid and John Gray, 1 vol.[77]; from 1719 to year 1733, by John Eames and John Martyn, 2 vols., Vols. VI, VII[78]; from 1732 to year 1744, by John Martyn, 2 vols., Vols. VIII, IX[79]; from 1743 to year 1750, by John Martyn, 2 vols., Vol. X (two parts).

“Memoirs of the Royal Society; or a New Abridgment of the Philosophical Transactions from 1665 to 1740,” by Benjamin Baddam, 10 Vols. (first edition, 1665–1735; second edition, 1665–1740).

“The Philosophical Transactions from their commencement in 1665 to 1800 abridged with notes and illustrations, by Charles Hutton, George Shaw and Richard Pearson,” 18 vols., the last volume containing a General Index to the whole which covers 116 pages.[80]

Translations, in French, of some of the abridged and unabridged volumes are to be found recorded at p. 109 of Scudder’s “Catalogue,” already mentioned, one of the most important being “La Table des mémoires imprimés dans les Transactions Philosophiques ... 1665–1735,” by M. De Brémond, Paris, 1739.

Translations have also been made in Latin, for the first five years, and some were published in Italian during 1729 and 1731–1734.

THE PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE

The Philosophical Magazine, 1798–1813, 42 vols. United in 1814
with the Journal of Natural Philosophy, etc., and continued
under the title of The Philosophical Magazine and Journal,
etc., 1814–1826, 26 vols., the sixty-eight volumes being called
the first series. During 1827 it was united with the Annals of
Philosophy or Magazine of Chemistry and it became then

The Philosophical Magazine or Annals of Chemistry, etc.,
1827–1832, eleven vols., making up the second series. From 1832
to 1840, after amalgamating with Edinburgh Journal of Science,
sixteen volumes were published under the name of

The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of
Science, and, during 1840–1850, twenty-one volumes appeared
under the name of

The London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and
Journal of Science, in all thirty-seven volumes constituting the
third series. The fourth series, of fifty volumes, was issued
1851–1875; the fifth series 1876–1900; and the sixth series,
which began in 1901, is still running as we go to press.

LE JOURNAL DES SÇAVANS (SAVANTS)

_Le Journal des Sçavans_ (Scudder, “Catal. of Sc. Serials,”
1879, p. 97). Published 1665–1792, with Supplements to 1707–1709
and a _Continuation_ in 1797.

_Journal des Sçavans_ (“Catal. of Ronalds’ library,” 1880,
p. 261). Published 1665–1748, 1749–1792, 1816–1845.

_Le Journal des Sçavans_ (“British Museum Catalogue of
Periodical Publications--Paris,” pp. 1369–1370). Published from
1665 to 1828. Edited successively by the Sieur de Hedonville,
by J. Gallois, and others. With a Supplement for 1672–1674, and
a Supplement for each of the years 1707, 1708 and 1709--142
volumes, Paris, 1681–1828, also 1723.

The “Journal des Sçavans” was commenced January 5, 1665, and
suppressed March 30, 1665, after the publication of only
thirteen numbers. Its publication was resumed January 4, 1666,
during which year forty-two numbers were issued. In 1667, there
appeared only sixteen numbers; only thirteen in 1668; four
in 1669; one in 1670; three in 1671; eight in 1672; none in
1673; and only two in 1674. From 1674 to 1723, a number was
published either once a fortnight or once a week, and, from
1724 to 1792, a number appeared every month. In December 1792,
the publication was discontinued, but it was resumed January
4, 1797. On the 18th of June of the same year, however, it was
again discontinued until September 1816, after which a number
was for a time published regularly once a month.

“Table Générale des matières contenues dans le Journal
des Sçavans ... depuis l’année, 1665 ... jusqu’ en 1750
inclusivement ...” 10 vols., Paris, 1753–1764.

Another edition of vols. 1–105, Amsterdam, 1679–1753, also 1685.

Another edition of the years 1725–1760, Paris, 1725–1760.

“Annales des Sciences ... faisant suite au Journal des Sçavans,”
Amsterdam, 1804–1806.

“Journal des Sçavans, combiné avec les Mémoires de Trévoux.
Suite des 170 Volumes ...,” Amsterdam, 1756–1757.

“Journal des Sçavans, combiné avec les meilleurs Journaux
Anglais,” January 1779 to December 1781, Amsterdam, 1779–1781.

_Journal des Savants_ (“British Museum Catalogue of Periodical Publications--Paris,” pp. 1370–1371). Edited successively by P. C. F. Danon, le Brun, and others from 1816.

“Table méthodique et analytique des articles ... 1816–1858,”
Paris, 1860.

“Table analytique des articles ... 1859–1908,” Paris, 1909.