The most noted survivor of these old social gatherings in Edinburgh is the ‘Royal Society Club,’ to which allusion has already been made. This association was founded to promote good fellowship among the fellows of the Royal Society and to ensure a nucleus for the evening meetings. The club has from the beginning been limited in numbers, but has always included the most distinguished and ‘clubbable’ of the fellows. It meets in some hotel on the evenings on which the Society’s meetings are held, and after a pleasant dinner, with talk and songs, its members adjourn in time to take their places in the Society’s hall. When Neaves, Maclagan, Blackie, Christison, and Macnee were present, it will be understood how joyous such gatherings were. Many a good song was written for these occasions, and many an excellent story was told. A favourite ditty by Maclagan, sung by him with great effect, ended with the following verse, which illustrates the delightful mixture of science and fun with which the professor was wont to regale us: Lyon Playfair last winter took up a whole hour To prove so much mutton is just so much power; He might have done all that he did twice as well By an hour of good feeding in Slaney’s Hotel; And instead of the tables he hung on the wall, Have referred to the table in this festive hall; And as for his facts--have more clearly got at ’em From us than from Sappers and Miners at Chatham; Whilst like jolly good souls We emptied our bowls, And so washed down our grub In a style worth the name, Wealth, honour, and fame Of the Royal Society Club. Dr. Terrot, Bishop of Edinburgh, and Professor Pillans were members of this club. The bishop used to be a pretty constant attendant both at the dinners and at the Society’s meetings afterwards. Pillans, on the other hand, while he came to the dinner, shirked the meeting, the subjects discussed being usually scientific and not especially intelligible or interesting to him. He would say to those who rallied him for his absence, ‘I enjoy the play [meaning the dinner] very much; but I can’t stand the _farce_ [F.R.S.] that comes after it.’ [Sidenote: DISAPPEARANCE OF CONVIVIAL CLUBS]