p6 Sod ft y of Civil Engineers, 



This afibciation declared itfelf a fociety, and a regifter was kept of the names and nam* 

 bers of its members. Converfation, argument, and a focial communication of ideas and 

 knowledge in the particular walks of each member, were at the fame time the amufement 

 and the bufmcfs of the meetings. 



In this manner, fometimes well attended, and at other times not fo, as the members were 

 dlfpcrfed all over England, the fociety proceeded until May 1792, when it ceafed to exifl: 

 by mutual confent of the principal members. 



home untoward circumftances in the behaviour of one gentleman towards Mr. Smeaton, 

 gave rife to the difunion. No one was ever more obliged than that gentleman (who is now 

 cleceafed) to Air. Smeaton for promoting him in bufniefs, and many effential offices in life. 

 The offence given was done away by an apology at the defire of the company, and by the 

 good-nature of Mr. Smeaton j but the remembrance of it had an efFe£t on all prefent. 



Afterwards it was conceived and intended to renew this fociety in a better and more 

 refpeciable form. Steps were taken for that purpofe, and Mr. Smeaton agreed to be a 

 member. But before the firft meeting could be held, he was no more. He died the 

 2iith of October 1792, and their firlt meeting was in April 1793. 



It was conceived it would be a better plan that the members fliould dine together at a 

 late hour after attendance in parliament, and pafs the evening in that fpecics of conver- 

 fation which provokes the communication of knowledge more readily and rapidly than it 

 can be obtained from private lludy or books alone. 



The firll meeting of this new inllitution. The Society of Civil Engineers, was held on the 

 15th of April 1793, by Mr. Jeflbp, Mr. Mylne, Mr. Rennie, and Mr. Whitworth. 



The conftitutioH was agreed on, and afterwards acceded to by all. That there fliould 

 be three claffes in the fociety. The firft clafs as ordinary members, to confift of real en- 

 gineers, adually employed as fuch in public or in private fervicc. The fecond clafs as 

 honorary members, to confift of men of fcience, and gentlemen of rank and fortune, who 

 had applied their minds to fubje£ts of civil engineering, and who might, for talents and 

 knowledge, have been real engineers, if it had been their good fortune to have it in their 

 power to employ others in this profeffion : and alfo of thofe who are employed in other 

 public fervice, where fuch and fimilar kinds of knowledge are neceflary. And the third clafs 

 as honorary members alfo, to confift of various artifts, whofe profeflions and employments 

 are neceffary and ufeful to, as well as connedted with, civil engineering. 



The meetings are held at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, every other Friday 

 during the feflion of parliament. And the lift of members are: Of the 



Firft clafs. Ordinary members. Vv'illiam Jeflbp, Robert Whitworth, John Rennie, 

 F.R.S. Ed. Robert Mylne, F.R.S. James Watt, F.R.S.— L. and Ed. James Golborne, Sir 

 Thomas H. Page, Knt. F.R.S. John Duncombe, Captain Jofeph Huddart, F.R.S. Henry 

 Eaftburne, William Chapman, MR. I. A. James Cockftiutt. 



Second clafs. The Right Hon. Sir Jofeph Bank*, Bart. P.RS. Knight of the Order of 

 the Bath, &c. Sir George A. Shuckburgh Evelyn, Bart. F.R.S. General Bentham, Jofeph 

 Prieftley, Efq. Doftor Charles Hutton, F.R.S. Henry Oxendon, Efq. The Right Hon. the 

 Earl of Morton, F.R.S. John Lloydd, Efq. F.R.S. Rt. Hon. Ch. Grevilie, Efq. F.R.S. 



Third clafs. William Faden, geographer; Jefle Ramfden, F.R.S. inftrument-maker, &c. 

 John Troughton, inftrument-maker, &c. John Foulds, mill-wright, &c. Samuel Phillips, 

 engine-maker i Samuel Brooke, printer -, John Watte, land-furveyor, Sec. 



