2 2 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE BEGINNING OF THE SOCIETY. 



THE step of importance which interests us now more 

 directly is the formation of this Society. It clearly arose 

 from the high social position which Dr. Percival took. 

 As he attracted to himself all the talent of the town, and 

 was sufficiently easy in circumstances to entertain its 

 representatives at his house, these meetings became so 

 pleasant, and the conversations so important, that many 

 persons sought to attend, so that the resources of a private 

 house were strained. Then the proposal was to unite in a 

 formal manner so as to advance the ends which all had 

 in view, the promotion of Literature and Science. 



Dr. Percival being thus able to collect around him 

 men of influence, there came not merely such as were near 

 him, and to whom his house became an intellectual camp, 

 but men also from distant places, whilst others sent their 

 opinions as to one who knew how to use them. 



A lady now living remembers Dr. Percival, and having 

 seen the portrait of him when young lately presented to 

 the Society by Mr. F. Nicholson, our Honorary Librarian 

 and one of his relatives, considers that much as he had 

 changed when she saw him, there was still on the canvas 

 a trace of his appearance. We can imagine him still 

 young, charming all these men, many of them older, by 



