284 Presidentship of Sir Humphry Davy 1824 



with the Club for the first time Roderick Impey Murchison. 

 He had served under Wellesley and Moore in the Peninsula, 

 and been present at the Battle of Corunna. But after the 

 conclusion of the war, when prospects of advancement in 

 the military profession seemed to him dubious, he had sold 

 out of the Army and had taken, among other employments, 

 to fox-hunting. At Rokeby when staying with the Morritts 

 he met Sir Humphry Davy, who urged him to turn his atten- 

 tion to science. He followed this advice, sold his horses, 

 and began a diligent attendance on Brande's early morning 

 lectures at the Royal Institution. He was at this time in 

 his thirty-fifth year. The president invited him to the dinner 

 on November 4th. The retired soldier had many curious 

 experiences of warfare with which he could amuse and 

 interest his auditors, while at the same time contact with 

 the leaders of science, in the friendly converse of the " Crown 

 and Anchor/' would tend to stimulate him to perseverance 

 in the new career on which he had entered. 



Sir John Malcolm, the great administrator who spent 

 so many strenuous years in India, having come back to 

 England, was now engaged on some of the writings which 

 will remain as a permanent memorial of his literary ability 

 and his grasp of Eastern history. He dined with the Club 

 on January I5th and again on March 25th. 



Among the visitors who had previously attended the Club 

 a considerable number were invited again this year. Pro- 

 fessor Buckland's " clubbability " was as warmly welcomed 

 as ever, for he again dined six times. His friend W. D. 

 Conybeare came thrice. Captain Franklin, Captain Parry, 

 Captain Basil Hall, Francis Baily, Sir Stamford Raffles, and 

 Dr. Somerville also reappeared. 



1825. The Anniversary in 1825 was held on June 2nd, but 

 no minute of its proceedings has been entered in the Minute- 

 book, and we should be ignorant of any business then 

 transacted had it not been that among the separate papers 

 left by the Treasurer a memorandum of some at least of 

 the business was fortunately found. It appears from this 

 document that the following was the company present : 



