35 Presidentship of Marquess of Northampton 1847 



enlargement or other transformation of that company. 

 The more ardent of their number probably thought that 

 the atmosphere of the Club would hardly be altogether 

 congenial to their resolutely scientific habit of mind and 

 that it would be better to establish a dining club of their 

 own. This resolve they carried into effect on I2th April 

 1847, when they founded the " Philosophical Club." The 

 promoters of this enterprise were of course all Fellows 

 of the Royal Society, and about a dozen of them were also 

 members of the Royal Society Club. Their main purpose 

 was " to promote as much as possible the scientific objects 

 of the Royal Society, to facilitate intercourse between those 

 Fellows who are actively engaged in cultivating the various 

 branches of natural science and who have contributed to 

 its progress ; to increase the attendance at the evening 

 meetings, and to encourage the contribution and the dis- 

 cussion of Papers/' The number of members was limited 

 to forty-seven, no strangers except " scientific foreigners 

 temporarily visiting this country " were to be present at 

 any of the meetings, which were to be monthly. 



The Philosophical Club undoubtedly fulfilled the objects 

 for which it was instituted. It furthered the progress of 

 science among its cultivators and it rendered useful service 

 in promoting the best interests of the Royal Society. There 

 was an earnestness in its aim which was never lost sight 

 of throughout its career. The elaborate manuscript reports 

 of its meetings, as compiled by its line of accomplished 

 Treasurers, present a remarkable record of the variety, 

 and often the originality of the facts communicated by 

 the members and of the discussions which took place in 

 connection with these communications. It continued to 

 flourish for two generations. From its beginning onwards 

 a considerable proportion of its members continued to be 

 also members of the Royal Society Club and from first to 

 last no coolness or rivalry seems to have arisen between the 

 two institutions. But towards the end of last century a 

 desire arose among the members of both Clubs for the 

 fusion of the two organisations into one. Committees were 



