58 Presidentship of the Earl of Macclesfield 1756 



important part in the history of the Club, dined as a visitor 

 on i6th January, Charles Lyttelton, Dean of Exeter, was 

 again an occasional guest, as were also Lord Cadogan and 

 Lord Aberdour, son of the Earl of Morton. Dr. Bradley, 

 the Astronomer Royal, came from time to time. Among 

 the members who most frequently attended were Lord 

 Willoughby of Parham, Lord Charles Cavendish and Mark 

 Akenside. 



1756. The price of the dinner at the Mitre had remained 

 without change for some years. But the cost of provisions 

 had risen and the landlord of the tavern in the spring of 1756 

 proposed that the price should be raised. The matter was 

 discussed at a meeting of the Club on 8th April in that year 

 when the subjoined Minute was made : 



" The Treasurer was desired to acquaint Mr. Cole that the Members 

 of the Society are willing to pay for the future three shillings per 

 head for Dinner and wine, provided they be better attended, but 

 that the Commons for absentees should still remain at 1/6 as 

 usual and report Mr. Cole's Answer." 



Next week 



" The Treasurer reported that Mr. Cole willingly accepted the 

 proposal of April 8th and would take care to have an extra Waiter 

 to attend the Company on that account. The question being put 

 it passed in the Affirmative." 



Again the cautious Treasurer transcribed this agreement 

 into his dinner-register, and had it signed by the members 

 present, with " Macclesfield, President " at the top and 

 " M. Akenside " at the foot. 



The dinners included the usual gifts of venison. Mr. 

 West supplied his turtle. Mr. Hanbury, in Colebrooke's 

 fervid language, " entertained the Company with an Homer- 

 ian Chine of Beef and his health was particularly drank 

 and thanks returned him for it." It should be added that 

 Mr. Hanbury was there in person to receive the plaudits 

 of his colleagues. 



Among the guests entertained this year a number of 

 noblemen were included. Besides the President, there came 

 the Earl of Marchmont, whose gifts of pickled salmon still 



