1 62 Presidentship of Sir Joseph Banks 1783 



to science, and practically demonstrated the efficacy of his 

 discovery. He died in 1793 at the age of 52. 



The other foreign visitors included the Marquis de Bien- 

 court, Marquis Durazzo, Professor de Luino of Pavia, and 

 some who were already well-known guests at the Club, 

 such as Count Briihl and Baron de Geer. Among the British 

 guests were two Irish bishops, those of Clonfert and Killaloe, 

 Alexander Tytler, historian, in 1802 appointed to the Scottish 

 bench with the title of Lord Woodhouselee ; the Earl of 

 Aldborough, Robert Mylne, architect and engineer, Mr. Frere, 

 probably John Frere, F.R.S., antiquary, who was one of 

 the pioneers in the study of prehistoric flint-implements, 

 Aime Argand, a Swiss who invented the lamp that bears 

 his name, and others whose names appear for the first time 

 in the dinner lists. Of those who had already been visitors, 

 the Club this year welcomed the return of Thomas Pennant, 

 William Herschel, Sir James Hall, Sir Henry Englefield, 

 and John Paradise. 



1784. The year 1784 was ushered in to the Club by repre- 

 sentations from the Master of the " Crown and Anchor " 

 Tavern that the arrangements which had been made with 

 him were found by him not to be satisfactory, and he 

 suggested that in order to enable him to give such dinners 

 as the company expected of him some additional charge 

 was necessary. After his interview with the President, the 

 subject was taken into consideration by the Club on 2Qth 

 January. A small Committee was formed to which the 

 interest of the Society was entrusted and which drew up 

 the following Report : 



" Mr. Simkin has made promises of mending the commons so 

 greatly that no person will in future complain of his dinners." 



It was accordingly recommended : 



" i st. That he find dinner every Thursday at four shillings for 

 every person that dines, being always allowed to charge for ten, 

 though not so many are present ; strong and small beer, cheese, 

 butter and dressing venison included. 



2d. That for gentlemen who come too late to dine on what he 

 has provided, he be allowed to charge for what is dressed for them, 

 when fewer than ten are present. 



