1829 Decline of the dinners in Autumn 297 



attendance or otherwise a fit recognition of his long and 

 useful membership and his great distinction in geographical 

 research. But he was now in his eighty-seventh year, and 

 he died a few months afterwards. 



There was only one new member elected Captain Basil 

 Hall, son of Sir James Hall, Bart., the associate of Hutton 

 and Playfair. He entered the Royal Navy at the age of 

 fourteen, and became a post-captain in 1817. Having 

 command of a sloop in the escort of Lord Amherst's mission 

 to China in 1816 he had the opportunity of visiting the 

 little-known coasts of the Corea, and thereafter he saw 

 service on the coasts of Chili, Peru and Mexico. He pos- 

 sessed considerable literary power and, as already stated, 

 wrote accounts of his journeys which became popular. 

 His " Fragments of Voyages and Travels " went through 

 many editions. He was elected into the Royal Society in 

 1816. He died insane in Haslar Hospital in 1844. 



Neither in the Minute-book nor in the Dinner-register 

 is there any reference to the decision of the Club about 

 the autumn dinners ; the customary practice of the Club 

 to hold these dinners appears to have been resumed this 

 year. The result, however, was more melancholy than ever. 

 The defections began again in July. On the 23rd of that 

 month two visitors came, but neither of the members who 

 had invited them made their appearance. Next week only 

 one member and his guest attended. At the first meeting 

 in August neither member nor guest appeared. The week 

 after there was a company of six, apparently largely brought 

 together through the efforts of the Treasurer and his brother. 

 From that date till the igth November each week is entered 

 in the register and after the date is regularly recorded 

 " no attendance." It would thus appear that all through 

 these months a dinner continued to be provided for a certain 

 number at the expense of the Club. For the first time 

 there is this year the recognition of a possible short vaca- 

 tion in the spring as shown by the entry : " April i6th and 

 23rd. The Easter recess : dinner ordered each day for 

 four persons, but no attendance." Henceforth this recess 



