SOCIETY, in general, denotes a number of persons united together for their mutual assistance, security,
Society. rity, interest, or entertainment.
The social principle in man is of such an expansive nature, that it cannot be confined within the circuit of a family, of friends, of a neighbourhood: it spreads into wider systems, and draws men into larger communities and commonwealths; since it is in these only that the more sublime powers of our nature attain the highest improvement and perfection of which they are capable.
Royal Society, an academy or college, established by charter by king Charles II. for promoting natural knowledge and useful arts by experiments.
It consists of several hundred fellows or members, mostly British; some persons of the highest rank, and many eminent gentlemen and learned men of other nations. Their meetings are held once a-week, at their house in Crane-court, Fleet-Street, London; where they discourse upon the productions and rarities of nature and art, and consider how the same may be improved for the good of mankind: here are also read letters and other philosophical papers sent by ingenious persons both at home and abroad; upon which they discourse in the plainest manner, without affecting studied speeches.
This society, of which his Britannic majesty is perpetual patron, is governed by a council of twenty-one members, ten of whom are yearly chosen out of the society, on St Andrew's day. The chief of the council bears the title of President, whose proper office is to call and dissolve the meetings; to propose the matter to be debated; call for experiments; and admit such members as shall be elected, which must be by a majority of at least twenty-one votes; whereupon he is admitted, after paying 40s. and subscribing that he will endeavour to promote the good of the Royal Society of London by the improvement of natural knowledge; and being thus admitted, he afterwards pays 23s. a-quarter, as long as he continues a member of the society.