Annals of the Philosophical Club of the Royal Society

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919. Excerpt: ... SECTION I THE HISTORY OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL CLUB On April I2th, 1847, twenty-seven Fellows of the Royal Society met at Clunn's Hotel, Covent Garden, and decided on forming a Club. For this the name of the Forty-seven Club was at first suggested, but it was ultimately decided to call it the Philosophical Club. Rules were also proposed, discussed, and adopted, as the Minutes duly record, but I think it needless to print them in full, because some are quite of the usual character. The following, however, are more or less indicative of the special purpose of the Club: (1) The purpose of the Club is to promote as much as possible the scientific objects of the Royal Society, to facilitate intercourse between those Fellows who are actively engaged in cultivating the various branches of Natural Science and who have contributed to its progress, to increase the attendance at the evening meetings,1 and to encourage the contribution and discussion of papers. (2) The Members of the Club shall be limited to fortyseven, of whom thirty-five at least shall be resident within ten miles of the General Post Office. With the exception of scientific foreigners temporarily visiting this country, no strangers are to be present at any of the Meetings. (3) With the exception of the President of the Royal Society for the time being, those only shall be eligible as Members of the Club who are Fellows of the Royal Society and authors of a paper published in the Transactions of one of the Chartered Societies, established for the promoting of Natural Science, or of some work of original research in Natural Science.1 1 The Royal Society then met at 8.30. P.C. A (4) The Meetings of the Club shall take place once a month, on Thursdays from October to June, both inclusive, except the Annive...