152 ADDENDUM. 



as the present, with the cause or excuse, as &quot;apolo 

 gized,&quot; &quot;unwell,&quot; &quot;out of town,&quot; &quot;absent in Eng 

 land&quot; (as William Franklin was at the second 

 Meeting). 



D r Franklin, then could not have been a member, as 

 absence in England did not suspend membership, 

 nor Hugh Roberts, nor any of the other survivors of 

 the Old Junto and these were several at that time. 

 In a letter above quoted, dated February, 1761, D r 

 Franklin speaks of Hugh Roberts occasional attend 

 ance at the meetings of the Old Club now had it 

 been the same as this Society its Minutes, which for 

 three previous years are regularly kept, would have 

 mentioned his presence which tlicy do not nor does 

 the name of any of Franklin s associates of the Junto 

 occur l)u t that of Philip Syng, who was perhaps son 

 of the member of the old Club of the same name. 



But this is not all, D r Franklin, tlio still in Eng 

 land, was elected into this Society the 19 th of Feb 

 ruary 1768, and chosen it s President the 4 th of No 

 vember following just previous to its union with the 

 American Philosophical Society. Into his own Club, 

 the old Junto, he surely would not need a re-election. 



So far, I had already satisfied myself, when I heard 

 of a letter from Charles Thomson to D r Franklin 

 in the possession of William B. Eeed Esq u in which 

 one of the Societies was spoken of. In it I have found 

 unexpected and entire confirmation of my opinion. 



The following is a copy. 



