And that of making an empty bladder swell in the same engine. Then the experiment of making a body swim in the middle of the water. And that of two well-wrought marbles which were not separated but by the weight of
forty-seven pounds."No mention being made here of the "one which did while she was there turn a piece of roasted mutton into pure blood," we are left to conjecture entirely as to the nature of this experiment, which Pepys correctly designated as "very rare."
The frequent references in the 'Diary' to Pepys' visits to taverns invites attention to the probable origin of the Royal Society Club being traceable to these social assemblages held usually after the meetings of the Society had broken up. For example,' under date February 15th, 1664–5:—
"After this being done, they to the Crown Tavern behind the 'Change, and there my Lord* and most of the company to a club supper. Sir P* Neale, Sir R. Murrey, Dr. Clerke, Dr. Whistler, Dr. Goddard, and others^ of the most eminent worth. Above all, Mr. Boyle was at the meeting, and above him Mr. Hooke, who is the most, and promises the least, of any man in the world that ever I saw. Here excellent discourse till ten at night, and then home." — Vol. ii., p. 248.
And again (June 4th, 1666), "To the Crown, behind the 'Change, and there supped at the Club with my Lord Brouncker, Sir G. Ent, and others of Gresham College."
Weld* says the Royal Society Club was founded in 1743, under the designation of the "Club of the Royal Philosophers," and bases this statement, apparently, on the fact of the original "Rules and Orders to be observed by the Thursday's Club called the Royal Philosophers" bearing date October 27th, 1743.
The late Admiral William Henry Smyth, however, in his amusing 'Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the Royal Societv Club,' privately printed in 1860, observes (p. 10): — "Though the com- mencement of the oldest minute-book which has descended to us is assumed as the date of establishment, it would appear, both from circumstance and tradition, that the Club was certainlv in existence before the year 1743." This supposition of the gallant Admiral is abundantly borne out by the ' Diary,' which proves, indeed, that the existence of the "Club" was about coincident with the establishment of the " Societv."
Lord Brouncker.
'Hist. Royal Soc,' vol. i., p. 401,
