An Anonymous Letter 2 1 3 



Dr. Charles Burney, musician and traveller, father of 

 Madame D'Arblay and friend of Samuel Johnson, was 

 again one of the Club's guests this year. Many other 

 visitors of former years also reappeared Sir William 

 Hamilton, now back from Naples, Count Rumford, Captain 

 Bligh, Captain Huddart (again invited by Cavendish) , Lord 

 Valentia, Charles Hatchett, Sir Henry Englefield and others. 



1802. The Annual General Meeting for 1802 was held on 

 I5th July, presided over by Sir Joseph Banks and attended 

 by nineteen other members. The Treasurer reported that 

 his receipts had been 85 is., his disbursements 79 js. 2d., 

 leaving in his hands a balance of 5 133. lod. The sub- 

 scription for the ensuing year was fixed at a guinea and a 

 half. 



Reference may be made here to an anonymous letter 

 addressed to Marsden the Treasurer which he preserved 

 and which has survived among the Club's papers. The 

 reader has doubtless noticed the marked rise in the expenses 

 of the Club, and possibly the document suggested one source 

 of this rise. It will at least be seen that next year the 

 Treasurer had an unwontedly large balance in hand. The 

 letter, which bears the impress of the twopenny post and the 

 date May 3rd 1802, is as follows : 



A Hint to the Wise 



If you make an observation what wine is drank at 

 The Crown and Anchor Tavern, you will find 

 Two, four and sometimes six bottles charged more 

 Than is drank by the Company, each day they dine. 

 Q in the Corner. 



At this Annual General Meeting two vacancies were 

 announced, one caused by the death of Viscount Palmerston 

 (who had been a staunch supporter of the Club) ; the other 

 by the non-attendance of John Thomas Stanley. 1 These 

 vacancies were filled by the election of Charles Hatchett 

 and Earl Spencer. 



1 The " discontinuance " of John Thomas Stanley was perhaps rather 

 precipitate. He was re-elected seven years later and continued to be an 

 active and useful member of the Club till he retired on account of age 

 and infirmity in 1844. 



