Page:The history of yachting.djvu/386

182 'Knight of the Island,' who was accountable not only for the 'goods and materials belonging to the club-room,' but that he 'do suffer no person or persons whatsoever to go into the club-room, unless brought by a member, or by an order of five members at least, under their hands, on pain of being cashiered.' The drinking propensities of the club appear to have required careful supervision, as we find, according to Rule 3, that 'no Admiral was to presume to bring more than two dozen of wine to his treat' A more recent rule, bearing date April 21st, 1737, orders 'That for the future, unless the company should exceed the number of fifteen, no man should be allowed more than one bottle to his share and a peremptory.' Now, what the meaning of a peremptory may be, we confess we know not. One would imagine it to be either a special additional bottle set apart to drink toasts, etc., from, or the term may have had reference to the aforesaid two dozen of wine brought by the admiral to his treat, and which, as the club was limited to twenty-five members, would allow an extra bottle, or peremptory to each man, leaving the gallant admiral to look out for squalls, and for himself. Confirmatory of our impression of the greater antiquity of the Water Club than the year 1720, is a passage in Rule 3, which, treating upon the wine question, renders the supposition conclusive to our minds. It runs thus: 'For it has always been deemed a breach of the ancient rules and constitutions of the club, except when my lords the judges are invited.' The uniform of the