163 



dissolution was signed by Thomas Bird, 1795, Samuel Carless, 1795, John Dun- 

 combe, 1802, C. Holloway, 1808, and William Cooke, 1811, the dates being those 

 of their respective admissions. There might be sufficient scope for the existence 

 of such a society in these days. 



The following notes are furnished by our member Mr. James W. Lloyd, of 

 Kington, who has the minute book of the society in his possession. 



"THE SOCIETY OF TEMPERS." 



This book (Vol. II.) commences with the following memorandum : — . 



" 1786. December 20th. — Reed of Revd. Dr. Allen four shillings and sixpence for this book. 



"Pdme \V. Parker." 



"Memor'dum. — The Society of Tempers was instituted in the year 1752. The first members 

 were Dr. Campbell, Dr. Allen, Capt. Rodd, Mr. Coldbatch, Mr. C:iark, Mr. Holland, Mr. Wild. 

 Dr. Campbell admitted president, 28th .N'ovember, 1770 ; treasurer, 14th Feb., 1760." ( Then fol- 

 low a list of members, residents, and non-residents.) 



The Society held their meetings up to 5th November, 179-), at the Bowling Green. An interval 

 of 12 months appears to have then taken place, and at a general meeting held on Tuesday, the 4th 

 day of Noveiiiber, 17Q4, it was resolved " that this Society be removed from the Bowling Green to 

 the ' Swan and Falcon,' and that the meetings be there regularly held once in every month, instead 

 of six weeks. ' Between the 5th August and 9th September 1795, the name of the " Swan and 

 Falcon " was changed to the " City Arms." After i^th December, 1797, till 12th .March, 1818, the 

 meetings are descrioed as bein.g held sometimes at'*Thc Hotel," and sometimes at the " C'ity 

 Arms " ; then at the " Aylstone Hill Coffee House." and " The Sun." 



The following were the various officers ol the Society, viz., president, vice-president, treasurer, 

 secretary, chaplain, undertaker, recorder, bell ringer, champion, e.xaminer, gamekeeper, English 

 interpreter, rememorancer or admonishei, and stoker. 



In addition to the original rules, a copy of which I append, various minor 

 rules were adopted at different meetings, but as these mainly relate to fines for 

 non-attendance, &c., they are of little interest. 



The following extracts from different minutes, possess points of interest or 

 curio.sity : — 



"5th November, 1789. — Resolved that this Society do annually dine together, upon the 5th 

 November, in commemoration of the glorious revolution." (The usual dinner consisted of a chine 

 of beef, and fish, to be on the tables precisely at 3 o'clock.) 



'■4th November, 1795. — fhe Society being informed by letter from the Clerk of the Peace 

 that it is the wish of the actmg magistrates of this county to grant a lease of the Castle Green for 

 21 years to any three or more members, in trust for the whole, at the same rent that they now hold 

 the same. It is resolved that the secretary be desired to write to the Cierk of ye Peace, re- 

 questing that such leave be granted to Francis Campbell, their president, W. Allen, D.D., their 

 vice-president, Richard Underwood, clerk, their examiner, and William Allen, jun., their secre- 

 tary, in trust for the society and the citizens of Hereford." 



"9th December. 1801. — It was resolved that, in consequence of the high price of provisions, 

 each member shall pay one shilling, who eats supper. At this meeting it was resolved that our 

 President, Francis Campl-ell, M.D., be requested to sit for his portrait to be taken by Mr. Oliver, 

 at the expense of this society : that underneath the portrait, upon a block in the frame, be written 

 the words — ' Francis Campbell, M D., President of the Tempers Society,' and upon the canvas 

 at the back of the portrait, be written — ' The Society of Tempers was instituted at Hereford, in the 

 year 1752. Dr. Campbell was one of its first members. He was elected Treasurer in the year 

 1760. and President on the 28th N'ovember, 1770. At the request of this Society, as a mark of 

 their particular esteem and regard, he sat for his portrait in the month of November, 1801, in the 

 77th year of his age.' " (It is to be hoped the loan of this portrait may be obtained for the pro- 

 jected exhibition of " Herefordshire Worthies.")* 



■* With reference to Dr. Campbell, Mr. W. J. Humfrys gives the information that he lived at 

 Holmer, and that his portrait, in oil, painted by A. J. Oliver, with the above inscription at the 

 back, is now in excellent preservation, and in the possession of his great grandsou, Mr. Bowie 

 Evans, of Bylett's, now residing at Cheltenham. 



