THE FIRST DINNER 



the year 1785, before they entertained the idea 

 of dining together. However, at the annual 

 meeting, held at the Lower Assembly Rooms, 

 Bath where the Royal Literary Institution now 

 stands on December 13 of that year, it was 

 unanimously resolved : 



" That it be recommended to the members 

 who may in future attend the annual meetings, 

 that they dine together on those days, it being 

 apprehended that their thus meeting once a year 

 in free and social manner will tend to strengthen 

 the general bond of union, and give opportunity 

 for such a free discussion of agricultural subjects 

 as may prove of general service to the institution. 

 But this meeting is fully of the opinion that the 

 proposal for the Society to be at the expense of such 

 annual dinners, cannot with propriety be admitted." 



It will be observed that, with a proper regard 

 for the Society's funds, it was distinctly resolved 

 that those who attended must be prepared to 

 defray the cost of the entertainment out of their 

 own pockets. The Society, having determined 

 to recognize this truly British institution, went a 

 step further in the following November, when it 

 was announced that the first dinner would be 

 held in December, and, in the resolution conveying 

 this, it was intimated that, " as attendance at 

 that meeting, in particular, is a duty incumbent 

 on every member, it is respectfully intreated that 

 none will absent themselves who can with any 

 convenience favour it with their company." The 

 dinner was held at the White Hart Inn the 

 famous coaching hostel at which Mr. Pickwick 

 put up in later days on December 12, 1786, 



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