1756 Troubles of the Treasurer 59 



flourished on the Club's table, the Earl of Morton, a future 

 President of the Royal Society, Lord Royston, staunch 

 friend and supporter of the Club, the veteran Lord Willoughby 

 and Lord Cadogan. 



The Annual General Meeting in 1756 was held on 2Qth 

 July and was attended by sixteen members and one visitor, 

 the chair being taken by James Burrow. The Treasurer's 

 financial statement showed that the charges connected with 

 venison and other dainties presented to the Club had during 

 the interval since the last General Meeting amounted to 

 i 145. gd., and that the deficiencies arising from non- 

 attendance came to 5 2s. gd., leaving a balance in his hands 

 of 8 75. 5d. As there were only two vacancies in the 

 membership, and eight candidates for admission, it was 

 agreed to postpone election until next year. 



The Treasurer's expectation in the autumn of 1755 that 

 his last call for subscriptions had replenished the Fund to 

 such a degree that he felt he could meet all claims for a long 

 time to come appeared to justify the Club in ordering the 

 weekly dinner for eighteen, and this was accordingly done 

 on soth October of that year. The arrangement appears 

 to have continued through the winter and spring till the 

 middle of July 1756, when the number was prudently 

 reduced to twelve. When, however, the Club mustered to 

 the number of nineteen on 4th November, with the President 

 in the chair, it was boldly resolved to return to the provision 

 for eighteen. But immediately thereafter came a marked 

 falling off in the attendance, entailing a concomitant drain 

 on the Fund. A fortnight after the increased provision had 

 been decided upon, a deficiency of three was registered, 

 next week this number rose to five and the following 

 Thursday to nine. At most of the dinners the required 

 limit was not reached. 



1757. By the end of March 1757 the Treasurer was com- 

 pelled to announce to the Club that " the Fund grew so low 

 that a Supply would be absolutely necessary before the Veni- 

 son Season." To meet the expenses which the gifts of that 

 season entailed he had only in hand the sum of i 45. 5d. 



