AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



called the Junto. It consisted of a select number of 

 his younger friends, who met weekly, for the discus- 

 sion of Questions in Morality, Politics, and Natural 

 Philosophy. The number was limited to twelve mem- 

 bers. After having existed forty years, and having 

 contributed to the formation of some very great men, 

 besides Franklin himself, this Society became at last, 

 the foundation of the American Philosophical Society 

 now assembled to pay the last tribute to his memory. " 



We shall see in the sequel that the Junto of 1727, 

 and that of 1758 and 1766, of which alone the re- 

 corded proceedings have been preserved, were formed 

 on the same model, pursued the same objects by the 

 same means, and were governed by the same rules 

 (as far as can be ascertained) and I am forced to 

 conclude that the last was a continuation of the 

 original Club, until it thought proper to change its 

 name, with a view to the enlargement of its objects. 



Having premised thus much, I shall now proceed 

 historically. I shall draw my facts from the minutes 

 of the two Societies that are deposited in our Ar- 

 chives, and from the information that I obtained from 

 Cotemporaries. About twelve or fifteen years ago, I 

 had formed the design, which I have since abandoned, 

 of writing the History of this Society, at least to a 

 certain period. With that view I made copious ex- 

 tracts from the Minutes above mentioned, which have 

 aided me in preparing this humble sketch, which will, 

 perhaps, facilitate the labours of our future historian. 



