io The Founders of the Club 



As many more as come, to pay 1/6 per Head, Each. 

 If fewer than 6 come, the Deficiency to be paid out of this Fund 

 of 2 8/: and y e Remainder to be divided, at the end of y e month, 

 amongst the 8 subscribers. 



A pint of Wine for every one that dines ; Whether the number 

 comes short of six, or exceeds six. 

 To be added 



Mr. Cooksey - 6s. 



Dr. Lawson - 6 



Mr. Bell - 6 



Novr. 24 - --; 18 



Original Fund - 2 8 



This memorandum, evidently an original document, 

 drawn up on the date which it bears, and thus the oldest 

 piece of manuscript among the archives of the Club, has 

 no title nor any indication of the object which brought 

 the company together, beyond the mention of " dinner/' 

 "eating" and "wine." Not only is there no allusion to 

 any connection of the diners with the Royal Society, but 

 of the eight original number two did not then belong to 

 the Society, and neither of them became F.R.S. until in 

 one case eleven, and in the other twelve, years afterwards. 

 Again, the three names added a month later were not those 

 of Fellows of the Royal Society. One of them was elected 

 into that body six years thereafter, and another eleven 

 years, but the third was never so elected. It is remarkable 

 that neither the President nor any one of the Officers of the 

 Royal Society was included in the list, and that none of the 

 individuals who made their arrangements for a month of 

 weekly dinners were at that time men of outstanding emi- 

 nence in science or in the ranks of the Society. The Rev. 

 Thomas Birch, afterwards Secretary of the Royal Society, 

 held a succession of clerical livings, and was an antiquary 

 and a writer on historical subjects. In the early days he 

 was often chairman at the dinners. James Burrow, after- 

 wards knighted, was a barrister by profession and a man 

 who became of such consideration in the Royal Society 

 as to be twice chosen by the Council to be temporarily Presi- 



