The Club's first six years 1 1 



dent, when a vacancy in the Chair took place in the interval 

 between two anniversaries. 



William Watson rose to high distinction as a physician 

 in London, and was for many years one of the most honoured 

 Fellows of the Royal Society and one of the staunchest 

 supporters of the Club. He was knighted in 1786. Com- 

 mander Christopher Middleton, naval commander and Arctic 

 voyager, had become F.R.S. in 1737. Josiah Colebrooke, 

 a worthy apothecary in Budge Row, but not yet F.R.S., 

 was chosen Treasurer at the meeting on 27th October 1743 

 a position which he held in the subsequent development of 

 the Club for the long period of nearly thirty-one years. Of 

 him much will be said in subsequent pages of this volume. 



Another record of later date forms a prominent feature 

 at the beginning of the same Minute-book. It is entitled 

 "Subscribers' Names," and contains a chronological list of 

 the members that had been successively added each year, 

 beginning with those of the little group of 27th October 

 1743. It is in the handwriting of the Treasurer, and must 

 have been transcribed by him from minutes which he kept, 

 but which have now unfortunately disappeared. It is thus 

 the only record now remaining of the earliest elections 

 previous to the year 1749. The handwriting and ink 

 indicate that the earlier part of the list was written out pro- 

 bably about the year 1750, the subsequent elections being 

 entered consecutively year by year from the Minute-book. 



From this document the list of the members that con- 

 stituted the Society or Club of the " Royal Philosophers" 

 during the first six years of its existence, together with 

 the several dates of their election, may be inserted here. 



1743- 



Oct. 27. James Postlethwaite. Nov. 24. Dr. Lawson. 



Rev. Thos. Birch. Rev. John Cooksey. 



Wm. Dixon. George Bell. 



Wm. Watson. Feby. 9. Daniel Wray. 

 Captain Middleton. Peter Newcome. 



Richard Graham. George Lewis Scott. 



James Burrow. Mr. Pawlet. 



Josiah Colebrook, Treas. 23. James Lever. 



