1764 The Earl of Morton 87 



had a strong bias for scientific pursuits, especially in 

 astronomy, and was the friend and associate of the scientific 

 men of the day in Scotland. With them he took a large 

 part in the foundation of the Philosophical (afterwards the 

 Royal) Society of Edinburgh. He held the position of one 

 of the Commissioners of Longitude, and largely assisted in 

 the preparations for observing the transit of Venus in 1769. 

 He was one of the first Trustees of the British Museum and 

 was also Keeper of the Records of Scotland. He had been 

 elected a Fellow of the Royal Society when he was Lord 

 Aberdour, as far back as 1733, and he contributed papers, 

 chiefly astronomical, to the Philosophical Transactions. On 

 the death of the Earl of Macclesfield, the Earl of Morton was 

 chosen to succeed him as one of the eight foreign members 

 of the Academy of Sciences in Paris. The new President 

 having been a frequent guest of the Club in the past, was 

 on terms of pleasant intimacy with the members. 



At the Annual General Meeting held on July 26th, 

 when twelve members and two visitors attended, and the 

 Earl of Morton presided, the Treasurer reported that his 

 expenses had amounted to 9 35. iod., of which 4 135. 

 arose from deficiencies at dinner, and that the balance re- 

 maining in his hands was 3 143. The only death among 

 the members during the past year was that of the Earl of 

 Macclesfield, whose place in the Club had been immediately 

 filled up by the election of the Earl of Morton. It was then 

 resolved " in consideration of the dearness of Provisions 

 and the Good dinners Mr. Cox gives the Company, that 

 6d. per head be added to the Reckoning on account of wine, 

 but that deficiencys should pay 1/6 as usual." 



During the autumn months of this year the weekly dinner 

 went on as usual, but the attendance was sometimes so small 

 as to make a serious demand on the Fund. Thus on 3oth 

 August the faithful Treasurer was supported by only four 

 other members, and he had consequently to pay los. 6d. for 

 the seven absentees. This falling-off in the attendance con- 

 tinued into October ; on the i8th of that month the Treasurer 

 had only three companions and one of them was a visitor, 



