Trenton, and Mr. Martyn, of the same place. Mr. Nicholls tells me of several other gentlemen of this city that incline to encourage the thing. And there are a Number of others in Virginia, Maryland, Carolina, and the New England Colonies who we expect to join us as soon as they are acquainted that the Society has begun to form itself.
I am, sir, with much Respect,
your most humble Servant,
B. FRANKLIN.
The Hon. Cadwallader Colden, Esq.
It will thus be seen that in the organization of the Philosophical Society our profession occupied a prominent place. The subjects of inquiry pertaining to it stood at the head of the list, and of the nine original founders two were medical men.
Another society came into existence about the year 1750, which in a considerable measure took precedence of its elder sister. This association had its origin very much in the same way as the first, and was likewise, in its infancy, called the Junto. In April, 1766, it assumed the name, and went into operation as the “American Society for Promoting and Propagating Useful Knowledge.” It was likewise supported by the medical men of the day, and the names of Morgan, Evans, Cadwalader, Bard, Redman, Kuhn, Moore, Graeme, and Shippen may be enumerated as contributing to give weight and dignity to its proceedings.[1]
In the year 1768, greater activity was infused into the “American Society;” large additions were made to the list of fellows and correspondents, and among them were Dr. Franklin himself, then in England, and other men of great distinction. “The proceedings were no longer those of a debating club, but of a learned Society.” At the same time the Philosophical Society appears to have acquired additional vitality, as it were, from emulation infused into it by the activity of its younger sister. Nevertheless, “the necessity for the existence of two societies devoted to the same extended field of research and inquiry did not exist, and it is an evi-
- ↑ Minutes of the American Society.
