Note 130 — § 6. ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE.

This society continues. The plan of it was discussed by the Junto, from which came six of the nine original members. Its investigations were to be in botany, medicine, mineralogy and mining, mathematics, chemistry, mechanics, arts, trades and manufactures, geography, topography, agriculture, and "all philosophical experiments that let light into the nature of things, tend to increase the power of man over matter, and multiply the conveniences and pleasures of life." "Benjamin Franklin, the writer of this proposal, offers himself to serve the society as their secretary till they shall be provided with one more capable."