1749 ^ r - John Pringle^ General Oglethorpe 35 



a generous concern for scientific progress, as was shown by 

 the liberality with which he bore the expense of the post- 

 humous publication of Robert Simson's papers, and by his 

 will wherein he bequeathed a sum of 500 to the Royal 

 Society. Don Jorge Juan was also at this dinner, likewise 

 the Hon. Philip Yorke who continues to appear from time 

 to time in the Registers as the donor of venison. The 

 Swedish naturalist Gustav Brander was likewise of the com- 

 pany. He had settled in London for commercial pursuits, 

 but at the same time cultivated natural history, devoting 

 himself more especially to the collection of Tertiary and 

 Secondary fossils, which were described by Solander and 

 presented to the Royal Society's collection now in the 

 British Museum. He was made F.R.S. in 1754. 



Later in the year the Club entertained some visitors 

 destined to be among its most valuable and honoured 

 members. , Conspicuous among them was Dr. John Pringle, 

 who in the course of three years was elected a member, 

 and ultimately became President of the Royal Society. 

 Another man of note who for many years enjoyed the 

 weekly meetings, first as a guest and subsequently as a 

 member, was Mark Akenside, the poet and physician, who 

 dined for the first time with the Philosophers on 2Oth July. 



One of the most attractive personalities that appeared 

 at the Club the same year, but never became a member, was 

 General Oglethorpe, the well-known friend of Samuel John- 

 son and his circle. This charming veteran had passed a 

 singularly varied life, and he possessed the happy gift of 

 being able to describe his experiences with graphic vivacity. 

 At the age of fourteen he obtained a commission in the army 

 and saw some service on the continent in his youthful years. 

 He had matriculated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford ; 

 when six and twenty he entered parliament as member for 

 Haslemere and retained the seat for thirty-two years. He 

 carried on many philanthropic efforts in this country, and 

 threw himself with ardour into the foundation and develop- 

 ment of the Colony of Georgia, where he had many thril- 

 ling encounters with the Spaniards. His career made so 



