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161 
scripts and correspondence of both William and Thomas Moly- 
neaux placed in my hands by Sir Henry Marsh—from a care- 
ful examination of the documents belonging to it in the 
Manuscript Library of our University—and from the Minute 
Book still preserved in the British Museum, which has been 
accurately noted for the purpose—I have made, through these 
and other sources, some more memoranda of the history of the 
Philosophical Society than the usual accounts afford, and 
these I beg leave to offer to the Academy. 
‘¢ In the manuscript correspondence of the Molyneaux’s just 
alluded to, we find in a letter from William to his brother 
Thomas, then in Leyden, and dated 30th October, 1683, N.S., 
the following :—‘ I have also here promoted the rudiments of 
a society, for which I have drawn up rules, and called it Con- 
ventio Philosophica, About half a score or a dozen of us have 
met about twelve or fifteen times, and we have very regular 
discourses concerning philosophical, medical, and mathemati- 
cal matters. Our convention is regulated by one chief, who 
is chosen by the votes of the rest, and is called Arbiter Con- 
ventionis, at present Dr. Willoughby (the name ‘ President’ 
being yet a little too great for us). What this may come to I 
know not; but we have hopes of bringing it to a more settled 
society. The event you shall know. Sir W. Petty and.all 
the virtuosi of this place favour it much, and have at some 
times given us their company.’ 
_ From this it would appear that Dr. Willoughby was vir- 
tually, though not in name, the first President, and W. Moly- 
- neaux the original Secretary, although the former honour has 
been generally conferred on Sir William Petty, who, how- 
ever, was not elected till the Ist of November, 1684.* 
* At this election Sir W. Petty and Dr. Willoughby had equal marks 
for President, but upon a second election Sir William carried it by four 
yotes, sohe stood. Afterwards we had a handsome dinner at a tavern, so 
finished the day.” —Molyneaux Correspondence, Dublin University Magazine, 
vol. xviii., p. 489. 
