Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/14

 A few later extracts are deferred for use in other connections. From the above we gather the important fact that the preliminary meeting was held either before or after dinner at the Freemason's Tavern on January 12. Many years later De Morgan rejoiced to find other evidence of this dinner, which had become almost legendary: the diary shows that it was a pleasant addition to the formal business of the preliminary meeting, fully preserved for us in the Minutes, which may now be given verbatim:—

On this day several gentlemen, whose names are hereafter mentioned, met together by appointment, at the Freemason's Tavern, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, to take into consideration the propriety and expediency of establishing a Society for the encouragement and promotion of Astronomy. The following are the names of the gentlemen present:—

The following mutual agreement was then drawn up and signed by all the gentlemen present, viz.:—

"At a meeting held this twelfth day of January 1820, at the Freemason's Tavern, London, to take into consideration the advantages that are likely to result from the establishment of a Society for the cultivation of Astronomy, We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being fully aware of the utility of such an institution, do hereby mutually agree to constitute ourselves a Society, to be called the Astronomical Society of London ; and to be guided, in our future proceedings, by such