Foinidation and Early History. 5 



clock on Fryday, to consult about such orders in reference to the 

 constitution, as they shall think fitt to offer to the whole company, 

 and so to adjourne de die in diem." 



Under the above date of the 5th Dec. 1660, the first page of the 

 Journal-book contains the following obligation : 



" Wee whose names are underwritten, doe consent and agree that 

 wee will meet together weekely (if not hindered by necessary occa- 

 sions), to consult and debate concerning the promoting of experi- 

 mental! learning. And that each of us will allowe one shilling 

 weekely, towards the defraying of occasional! charges. Provided 

 that if any one or more of us shall thinke fitt at any time to with- 

 drawe, he or they shall, after notice thereof given to the Company 

 at a meeting, be freed from this obligation for the future." 



To this are attached the signatures of all those persons comprised 

 in the Catalogue of names prepared at the meeting on the 28th of 

 November, as also of seventy-three others, who were subsequently 

 elected into the Society, as may be seen in the Journal-book. 



On the 12th December another Meeting was held. The following 

 is the entry in the Journal-book : 



" It was referred to my Lord Brouncker, Sir Robert Moray, Sir 

 Paul Neil, Mr. Matthew Wren, Dr. Goddard, and Mr. Christopher 

 Wren, to consult about a convenient place for the weekly meeting of 

 the Society. 



"It was then voted that no person shall be admitted into the 

 Society without scrutiny, excepting only such as are of the degree of 

 Barons or above. 



" Sir Kenelme Digby, Mr. Austen, and Dr. Bates, were then by 

 vote chosen into the Society. 



" That the stated number of this Society be five and fifty. That 

 twenty-one of the stated number of this Society be the quorum for 

 Elections. 



" That any person of the degree of Baron or above may be ad- 

 mitted as supernumerary s, if they shall desire it, and will conforme 

 themselves to such orders as are or shall be established. 



" Whereas it was suggested at the Committee that the Colledge of 

 Physitians would afford convenient accommodation for the meeting of 

 this Society ; uppon supposition that it be graunted and accepted of, 

 it was thought reasonable, that any of the Poll owes of the said Col- 

 ledge, if they shall desire it, be likewise admitted as Supernumerarys, 

 they submitting to the Lawes of the Society, both as to the pay at 

 their admission, and the weekly allowance ; as likewise the particular 

 works or tasks that may be allotted to them. 



" That the Publick Professors of Mathematicks, Physick, and 

 Natural! Philosophy, of both Universitys, have the same priviledge 

 with the Colledge of Physitians, they paying as others at their 



