A Note on the History of the Statutes of the Society. 107 



mention of the matter being made in 1752, that, from an early period, 

 a distinction was made between Fellows who were Foreigners and 

 others, and that the Fellows who were Foreigners did not, of neces- 

 sity, pay contributions to the Society. In the Register of Fellows, 

 however, at this date no distinction of any kind is made. 



It was apparently soon felt that the Foreign Members were too 

 numerous and in some cases not of sufficient distinction ; for in 

 1761 (March 19) the Council, in order to ensure that "no 

 persons residing in Foreign parts, not being subjects of 

 the Crown of Great Britain, be elected Fellows unless their Qualifica- 

 tions be very well known as well abroad as at home," enacted a Statute 

 providing that in the case of such persons the certificate should be 

 signed by at least "three Foreign Fellows," as well as at least "by 

 three Fellows named in the Home List." And in 1 765 

 (December 19) on a proposal "to restrain the number of 

 Foreign Members," it was resolved " that no Foreigner be proposed for 

 election that is not known to the learned world, by some publication 

 or invention which may enable the Society to form a judgment of his 

 merit, and that till the number of Foreign Members be reduced to 

 eighty, not more than two shall be admitted in one year." A special 

 mode of procedure in the election of Foreigners as Fellows was, at 

 the same time, resolved upon, providing for an election of two a 

 year ; and a subsequent resolution (December 26) provides that 

 Foreign Members paying contributions shall '"have their names printed 

 in a.n alphabetical List next after that of the Home Members, as 

 Foreign Members* contributing towards the expenses of the Society," 

 and so distinct from "other Foreign Members" "who do not con- 

 tribute." On January 16 of the next year the limitation 

 to eighty was withdrawn, and the above resolutions were 

 then embodied in the form of Statutes. These at the same time pro- 

 vided that the new regulation should not extend to Foreign Princes 

 or their sons, and gave permission to Foreigners resident in Great 

 Britain to become Fellows in the usual way, which permission was 

 Ann 1-69 exteilded on January 26, 1769, to Foreigners who had 

 been resident in Great Britain for the space of six 

 Ann. 1773. months. Soon after, namely on June 10, 1773, the word 

 " Foreigner " appears in the " Register " for the first 

 time, being placed after the names of Stehelin, Le Boy, and Le Due ; 

 thenceforward it is used frequently. 



In the Edition of 1776 these regulations, in a somewhat 

 modified form, are introduced as part of Sec. 8 of Cap. I ; 

 the limitation to the election of two a year is omitted, and the certifi- 

 cates, signed by at least three Fellows upon the Foreign List, and at 

 * It may be remarked that in the early records of the Society the words 

 " Member" and ".Fellow" appear to be used indiscriminately. 



