Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/275

11 S. VI. 21, 1912.] the "Council of State" took his proposals into consideration, and on 2 January, 1650, appointed him to be "Consul at Andalusia." Two days later, perhaps on ascertaining the fate awaiting him in Spain, Peters withdrew, and the Council's vote was "vacated" ('Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1649-50,' pp. 449, 466, and 468). He obtained, however, another appointment. Downing wrote to Winthrop from "Salem, 29. 2. 50" (29 May, 1650), "Your father Peters is a colonell and governor of Milford Haven" (C.M.H.S., Series IV., vol. vi. p. 76). Henceforward, up to June, 1650, a letter from Peters to Walker appeared every week in Severall Proceedings. After this Peters's regiment still existed, though there is the same dishonesty and concealment about it in all official documents.

In 1651 Christoph Arnold, a German, came to London, and wrote to his friend Richter as follows:——

Mercurius Pragmaticus for 18-30 January, 1649 (not then written by Nedham), contained a distich about Pride and Peters, which seems to have been thoroughly justified:—

first President of the Philosophical Society was Sir Robert Moray, for although his name is not given in the list of Presidents of the Royal Society he is mentioned in 'The Record' as having been elected on the 6th of March, 1660-61, and re-elected on April 10th for another month. He had been knighted by Charles I., and joined Charles II. in his exile. With the latter monarch he had much influence, which he used greatly to the benefit of the infant Society. Bishop Burnet in the 'History of his own Times' states that Seth Ward was the second President; but although his services to the Society are mentioned, he does not appear to have been President. 'The Record' gives the following list of the Presidents:—