18 HISTOBICAL ACCOUNT OF THE OKIGIN OF THE 



its members. It would, probably, have been dis- 

 solved, like so many others, if Franklin had not ex- 

 erted himself by his presence while here, and by his 

 correspondence when abroad, to keep it alive. As 

 his representative, as it were, we find his son William 

 Franklin in this list of members, though he does not 

 appear to have been a very constant attendant. He 

 went often into the country, probably to New Jersey, 

 of which he was appointed Governor about the time 

 when this volume ends. 



As to Hugh Eoberts, he does not seem to have 

 shared in the enthusiasm of his illustrious friend. 

 He was advanced in years and did not probably like 

 to associate with a younger race. He considered 

 himself as emeritus. In 1768, when the differences 

 were at their height between the two Societies, we 

 find him enlisted with that opposed to the old Junto. 18 



In a Club like that we are speaking of, which lasted 

 during forty years, limited to twelve members, and 

 originally formed by young men for their mutual 

 improvement, we must not expect to find constantly 

 the same names; as the old ones retire, younger ones 

 take their places, but the Club still remains, notwith- 

 standing these successive mutations, the same as 

 originally formed. 



Thus the Junto will be found to have been until 

 a short time before its union under another name 



16 He was elected a member of the Philosophical Society, on the 

 19th of January, 1768. 



