THE EDINBURGH SOCIETY. 41 



So far as we can discover, no other competitions were held, 

 or prizes of any kind adjudged. An ominous intimation 

 appeared as an advertisement in the Mercury of 3rd De- 

 cember 1764, to the effect that 'as many subscribers had 

 neglected to pay up their arrears, the premiums for 1764 

 cannot be paid till six months after they are determined ; 

 all competitors will, therefore, take note of this.' A little 

 later we are led to understand that the Society had ob- 

 . tained the requisite funds, as the Mercury of 2nd February 

 1765 has a notice on the part of the ' managers of the 

 Edinburgh Society,' requiring the competitors for 1764 to 

 attend at the Royal Infirmary, on the 9th of same month, 

 'when they will be informed of the determination of the 

 judges.' The payment of the premiums, we must conclude, 

 would follow. 



The Edinburgh Society was fairly moribund in 1765. 

 The Mercury of March i8th has an intimation of pre- 

 miums which the Society offered, but the}' are only six in 

 number, and are limited to strong ale, beer, and porter, 

 specimens of which are directed to be lodged with the 

 housekeeper of the Royal Infirmary. One would almost 

 think that the Society had gone into hospital, and was in 

 need of stimulants. The secretary and a few devoted 

 members probably clung to the idea that the Society was 

 not yet dead, for they published in the Jllercury of the 

 13th July a notice that 'The contributors to the fund of 

 the Edinburgh Society are earnestly requested to meet by 

 themselves or by proxies in the Advocates' Library, on 

 Tuesday next, the i6th current, at six o'clock in the even- 

 ing, when matters of the utmost importance to the Society 

 would be laid before them.' The meeting of the i6th had 

 probably adjourned for ten days, for the Mercury of the 

 27th July contains the following ' last word ' of the ' Edin- 

 burgh Society :' — 



Edinburgh, 26th July 1765. 



The Edinburgh Society have come to the following resolutions : — i. That 

 the subscription money payable at Candlemas 1765 be immediately collected in 

 order to answer the premiums now due. 2. That an action be raised against 

 the subscribers who are in arrears for the subscription payable at Candlemas 



