1807. ] 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
STR, 
REGARD the formation of focieties 
for the cultivation of feience and 
philofophy to be of confiderable import- 
ance to mankind. Such affociations are 
calculated to ftimulate the exertions of 
individuals in the purfuit of knowledge, 
to aflift them in their enquiries, and to 
promote a ta{te for rational improvement 
in the places where they exilt, It is 
pleating to find that fuch focieties are 
inereafing ; and your widely-circulated 
and truly valuable Magazine 1s certainly 
@ proper channel for communicating to 
the world notices of their exiftence and 
proceedings, I now fend you a fhort ac- 
count of a Scientific Society, lately 
formed in Wifbeach, the publication of 
which, it is hoped, may- promote the 
tormation of fimilar focieties in places 
where they do not at prefent exift. 
This fociety commenced in January 
1804, under circumftances highly difcou- 
raging, and with but little profpeét of 
fuecefs. At firft it-confifted of only four 
perfons, and very few new members 
were added during the years 1804 and 
1805: however, fmall as their number 
was, they had the virtue to perfevere ; 
they continued to hold weekly meetings 
for the difcuilion of f{cientifie and philo- 
fophical fubjeéts, and their efforts have 
been fuccetsful beyond what the moft | 
fanguine among them expected in the 
time. Thefe circumftances are men- 
tioned with a view to ftimulate the friends 
of fcience in other places, however fall 
their number, or however difcouraging 
appearances may be, to attempt the 
formation of fuch focieties ; as their do- 
ing this may draw others to them, and 
excite enquiry on philofophical fubjeéts, 
as well as accelerate their own progref- 
five knowledge. 
During the laft year, the above-men- 
tioned fociety added nine new membeys, 
befides two honorary members,* fitted 
up a room in which its meetings are 
held, and procured an air-pump, fome 
electrical and other apparatus, and a 
tew philofophical books. The prefident 
performed a number of curious and in- 
ftructive, and fome original, experiments. 
All the meetings have been conducted 
with mach good nature, friendfhip, and 
unanimity. Still the fociety is yet in its 
* The honorary members are gentlemen 
refiding too far from Wifbeach to atterd the 
mectings uf the fociety. 
Account of a Screntific Society at Wifbeach. 
241 
infancy; the prefent profpect, however, 
is encouraging. 
The following is the plan on which the 
above fociety 1s formed and condut¢ted. 
The fum of two guineas is required as a 
term of admiffion, and every member 
pays a finall fubfcription monthly. The 
money is expended im purchafing philo- 
fophical apparatus, books, &c. A pre~ 
fident, treatarer, and fecretary, are chofen 
annually. The members of the fociety 
hold a meeting every Monday evening, 
At each meeting fome fcientihe or phi- 
lofophical fubject 1s difeulfed, and, when 
it will admit of it, illudtrated by experi- 
ments. Regular minutes of the praceed- 
ings are preferved in a book provided 
for the purpofe. No fubject but what 
an{wers to the name and nature of the 
fociety can be difcufled during the time 
of meeting: confequently all the dif 
cuffions are abfolutely reftricted to what 
is fcientific, &c. 
‘Withing that ufeful knowledge may 
every where increaie, I requeft you will 
give this fhort communication a place in 
your mifcellany. 
Your’s, &c. 
Wifbeach, R. Wricut. 
March 3, 1807. 
unatt 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N the Vanity of Human Withes, by 
Dr. Johnfon, he cites as one of-his 
examples the celebrated Lady Vane, 
For Vane can tell, what ills from beauty 
a > 
fpring. 
T fhall be extremely obliged to any of 
your correfpondents for the fequel of her 
hiftery: it is left unfimfhed by Smollet 
in the Memoirs of a Lady of Quality 
(confidered as her genuine biftory), which 
he has introduced in Peregrine Pickle ; 
and to be informed where aad when the 
died. In the fame novel, the hiftory of 
the Annefley claimant is related, but left 
unfinifhed. E have feen the origmal 
trial, in the Erifh courts, between, Richard 
Earl of Annefiey and James Annefley, 
Eefq. in whofe favour a verdi& was given, 
but a rule for a new trial was immedi- 
ately granted.’ Some of your correfpon- 
dents, converfant in the decifions of the 
courts of law, will perhaps have the 
poodnefs to mform me, through the 
Monthty Magazine, what was the final 
termination of the affair. 
December 8, 1806, C. Y. 
Te 
