ON MR. DU PONCEAU'S HISTORY. 87 



The first supposition is rendered plausible by the 

 fact, that subordinate Clubs to the Junto were, at 

 one time, secretly formed by different members of 

 the original Club. This plan originated with Frank- 

 lin, as a substitute for one of increasing the number 

 of members of the original Junto beyond twelve, to 

 which he was opposed. He says, "I was one of 

 those who were against any addition to our numbers ; 

 but, instead of it, made in writing a proposal, that 

 every member separately should endeavor to form 

 a subordinate Club, with the same rules respecting 

 queries, etc., and without informing them of the 

 connection with the Junto. " Autobiography, 1, 

 Sparks, 129. Several of these subordinate Clubs 

 were completed under different names ; as the vine, 

 the union, the band. In these Clubs it is true that 

 the name "Junto" is not employed; but might not 

 the idea of inducing their young friends to establish 

 a similar association to the Junto, and under the same 

 name, have been carried into effect in 1750, by the 

 influence of its members, not known as such; it being 

 a rule to keep the Institution secret? Under the 

 circumstances of the assumed secrecy of the original 

 Club, the members would feel no objection to suggest- 

 ing the same name for its copy. 



On the other supposition, which the Committee con- 

 sider the more probable, the original Club may be 

 supposed to have relinquished, about the year 1750, 

 all intention of keeping up their original number of 



