AMEKICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 29 



and to be called "The American Philosophical So- 

 ciety." He offered to be its Secretary until, he 

 modestly said, a better one could be provided. 



The members of that Society were to correspond 

 with each other, with the Eoyal Society of London, 

 and that of Dublin. No mention is made of a for- 

 eign Correspondence. 



There should always be at Philadelphia at least 

 seven members, viz : a Physician, a Botanist, a Mathe- 

 matician, a Chemist, a Mechanician, a Geographer, 

 and a general Natural Philosopher, besides a Presi- 

 dent, Treasurer, and Secretary. 22 



It is evident that the Junto at that time could not 

 furnish these requisites; therefore it could not be 

 made the basis of the proposed Association, besides 

 he wanted the aid of the men of wealth and influence, 

 which that little obscure band could not have pro- 

 cured. 



Franklin had probably in his eye when he wrote 

 those proposals the seven Philadelphia Members that 

 he speaks of, as well as the President, Treasurer, and 

 Secretary. He found, I presume, no difficulty in 

 collecting them and in obtaining their co-operation. 

 They had several meetings, but of what they did, 

 we have no information except from a letter of 

 Franklin to his friend Cadwallader Colden, which is 

 in these words: 



22 6 Sparks' " Franklin," 14. 



