2 
HISTORY OF THE 
[1820-30 
1820-30' 
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 :— 
Minutes of the General Meetings of the Astronomical 
Society of London 
I 
1 
up s 
I 
5 
H. 1 
D. » 
men 
I 
Wednesday, January 12, 1820 ^ 
On this day several gentlemen, whose names are hereafter Stre 
mentioned, met together by appointment, at the Freemason’s take 
Tavern, Great Queen Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, to take then 
into consideration the propriety and expediency of establishing I 
a Society for the encouragement and promotion of Astronomy. i 
The following are the names of the gentlemen present :— of tl 
prio 
No. 1. Charles Babbage, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.L. & E., No. 5 Devon- sign: 
shire Street, Portland Place. a m( 
2. Arthur Baily, Esq., No. 6 Gower Street. a m) 
3. Francis Baily, Esq., F.L.S., Gray’s Inn. ] 
4. Capt. Thomas Colby, of the Royal Engineers, LL.D., * 
F.R.S.E., Tower. expl 
5. Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Esq., F.R.S. & S.A., Albany, circi 
Piccadilly. I 
6. Olinthus G. Gregory, LL.D., Woolwich. ( 
7. Stephen Groombridge, Esq., F.R.S., Blackheath. j 
8. John Fred. W. Herschel, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.L. & E., Slough. that 
9. Patrick Kelly, LL.D., Finsbury Square. F: 
10. Daniel Moore, Esq., F.R.S., S.A., and L.S., Lincoln’s Inn. 
11. Rev. William Pearson, LL.D., F.R.S., East Sheen. Retu 
12. James South, Esq., 11 Blackman Street, Southwark. fi rs t acti 
13. Charles Stokes, Esq., F.S.A. & L.S., Gray’s Inn. an( j 
14. Peter Slawinski, D.P. Proff. University, Wilna. help of 
The following mutual agreement was then drawn up and signed the Seer 
by all the gentlemen present, viz. :— 19, and 
“ At a meeting held this twelfth day of January 1820, at that it , 
the Freemason’s Tavern, London, to take into consideration 
the advantages that are likely to result from the establishment 1 
of a Society for the cultivation of Astronomy,—We, whose hav< 
names are hereunto subscribed, being fully aware of the utility the 
of such an institution, do hereby mutually agree to constitute whi< 
ourselves a Society, to be called the Astronomical Society of I W£ 
London ; and to be guided, in our future proceedings, by such '