No. ix.

[793] I was in Scotland when this Club was founded, and during all the
winter. Johnson, however, declared I should be a member, and invented a
word upon the occasion: 'Boswell (said he) is a very _clubable_ man.'
When I came to town I was proposed by Mr. Barrington, and chosen. I
believe there are few societies where there is better conversation or
more decorum. Several of us resolved to continue it after our great
founder was removed by death. Other members were added; and now, above
eight years since that loss, we go on happily. BOSWELL. Mr. Croker says
'Johnson had already invented _unclubable_ for Sir J. Hawkins,' and
refers to a note by Dr. Burney (_ante_, i. 480, note I), in which
Johnson is represented as saying of Hawkins, while he was still a member
of the Literary Club:--'Sir John, Sir, is a very unclubable man.' But,
as Mr. Croker points out (Croker's _Boswell_, p. 164), 'Hawkins was not
knighted till long after he had left the club.' The anecdote, being
proved to be inaccurate in one point, may be inaccurate in another, and
may therefore belong to a much later date.

[794] See Appendix D.

[795] Ben Jonson wrote _Leges Convivales_ that were 'engraven in marble
over the chimney in the Apollo of the Old Devil Tavern, Temple Bar; that
being his Club Room.' Jonson's _Works_, ed. 1756, vii. 291.

[796] RULES.

'To-day deep thoughts with me resolve to drench
In mirth, which after no repenting draws.'--MILTON.

['To-day deep thoughts _resolve with me_ to drench
In mirth _that_, &c.' _Sonnets_, xxi.]

'The Club shall consist of four-and-twenty.

'The meetings shall be on the Monday, Thursday, and Saturday of every
week; but in the week before Easter there shall be no meeting.

'Every member is at liberty to introduce a friend once a week, but not
oftener.

'Two members shall oblige themselves to attend in their turn every night
from eight to ten, or to procure two to attend in their room.

'Every member present at the Club shall spend at least sixpence; and
every member who stays away shall forfeit three-pence.

'The master of the house shall keep an account of the absent members;
and deliver to the President of the night a list of the
forfeits incurred.

'When any member returns after absence, he shall immediately lay down
his forfeits; which if he omits to do, the President shall require.

'There shall be no general reckoning, but every man shall adjust his own
expe