152 ADDENDUM. 



as the present, with the cause or excuse, as " apolo- 

 gized, " "unwell," "out of town," "absent in Eng- 

 land" (as William Franklin was at the second 

 Meeting). 



D r Franklin, then could not have been a member, as 

 absence in England did not suspend membership, 

 nor Hugh Eoberts, nor any of the other survivors of 

 the Old Junto and these were several at that time. 

 In a letter above quoted, dated February, 1761, D r 

 Franklin speaks of Hugh Eoberts ' occasional attend- 

 ance at the meetings of the Old Club now had it 

 been the same as this Society its Minutes, which for 

 three previous years are regularly kept, would have 

 mentioned his presence which they do not nor does 

 the name of any of Franklin's associates of the Junto 

 occur but that of Philip Syng, who was perhaps son 

 of the member of the old Club of the same name. 



But this is not all, D r Franklin, tho' still in Eng- 

 land, was elected into this Society the 19 th of Feb- 

 ruary 1768, and chosen it's President the 4 th of No- 

 vember following just previous to its union with the 

 American Philosophical Society. Into his own Club, 

 the old Junto, he surely would not need a re-election. 



So far, I had already satisfied myself, when I heard 

 of a letter from Charles Thomson to D r Franklin 

 in the possession of William B. Reed Esq u in which 

 one of the Societies was spoken of. In it I have found 

 unexpected and entire confirmation of my opinion. 



The following is a copy. 



