282 MEMOIR OF AUGUSTUS DE MOEGAN. 



1864. handwriting of those Mathematicians who were invited 

 to join, with the names marked of the gentlemen who 

 accepted the invitations. Among these were many of the 

 first Mathematicians in England, and their number rapidly 

 increased. 



One of the first documents relating to this Society- 

 it may have a value in its future history is the following, 

 lithographed from George's writing : 



University College, Gower Street, Oct. 10, 1864. 

 SIR, We beg leave to request the honour of your attendance 

 at the first meeting of the * University College Mathematical 

 Society,' which will be held at the College in the Botanical 

 Theatre on the evening of the 7th of November, at eight o'clock 

 precisely. 



Professor De Morgan has promised to take the chair, and 

 will give an introductory address, and the general objects and 

 plans of the Society may then be discussed. 



It is proposed that the ordinary meetings of the Society 

 should take place once a month, and that the papers then read 

 should be lithographed and circulated among the members. 

 The annual subscription will not exceed half a guinea. 

 We have the honour, &c., 



G. C. DE MORGAN, 

 ARTHUR C. RANYARD, 



Hon. Sees, pro tern. 



1865. The first meeting was held January 16, 1865. My 

 husband was the first President, and his inaugural speech 

 contains so many of his own leading thoughts, that I 

 may give a few sentences. The first conveys his old 

 opinion, formed early in life, upon the constitution of 

 public bodies, and the inexpediency of crippling their 

 future action by legislation at the outset. 



There is much discussion about what our Society should be. 

 But this cannot be settled and marked out ; it must be deter- 

 mined by the disposition of its members. All scientific societies 

 are in danger of getting into a groove, and settling into a 

 routine which possesses small interest to the great body of their 

 members. . . . On the other side, there is always the danger of 



