6 Early Social Life of Royal Society 



be trying with an empty Bottle whether Nature would 

 admit of a Vacuum. Others, like busy Chandlers, would be 

 handling their Scales to nicely discover the Difference in 

 the Weight between Wine and Water [etc., etc.]. 



Thus Vertuoso's make a Pother 

 About their Whims to please each other ; 

 And wondrous Maggots will advance ye 

 That have no Being but in Fancy." 



The oldest surviving document in the archives of the 

 Royal Society Club bears the date of 27th October 1743. 

 But there can be no doubt that a recognised organisation 

 of members, subscriptions and regular meetings existed 

 before that date. In the " Sketch of the Rise and Pro- 

 gress of the Royal Society Club " by Admiral W. H. Smyth, 

 there is appended " An Additional Word/' containing a 

 memorandum from the manuscript collection of the Rev. 

 Sir Richard Kaye, preserved in the British Museum, which 

 affirms that the Club began about the year 1731 under the 

 auspices of the illustrious Dr. Halley. This memorandum 

 is here reproduced, but, as will be shown, its historical 

 value is hardly so great as the Admiral believed it to be. 



" Institution of the Philosophical Club, from Sir Joseph Ayloffe, an 

 original Member, communicated July 26, 1776. 



" Dr. Halley used to come on a Tuesday from Greenwich the 

 Royal Observatory to Child's Coffee-House, where literary people 

 met for conversation, and he dined with his sister, but sometimes 

 staid so long that He was too late for Dinner, and they likewise at 

 their own home. 



" They then agreed to go to a house in Dean's Court between an 

 Ale-house and a Tavern, now a Stationer's shop, where there was 

 a great Draft of porter, but not drank in the House. It was kept 

 by one Reynell. It was agreed that one of the Company should 

 go to Knights and buy fish in Newgate Street, having first informed 

 himself how many meant to stay and dine. 



" The Ordinary and Liquor usually came to half-a-crown, and 

 the Dinner only consisted of Fish and Pudding. Dr. Halley never 

 eat any Thing but Fish, for he had no Teeth. 



" The number seldom exceeded five or six. Sir Joseph Ayloffe 

 and Dr. Watson were original members. It began to take place 

 about 1731. 



" Soon afterwards Reynell took the King's Arms in St. Paul's 



