The Society so called consisted at first of no more than three members, one of whom, being Mr.Bentham's amanuensis, obtained for us permission to hold our meetings in his house.

The number never, I think, reached ten, and the Society was broken up in 1826.

It had thus an existence of about three years and a half.

The chief effect of it as regards myself, over and above the benefit of practice in oral discussion, was that of bringing me in contact with several young men at that time less advanced than myself, among whom, as they professed the same opinions, I was for some time a sort of leader, and had considerable influence on their mental progress.

Any young man of education who fell in my way, and whose opinions were not incompatible with those of the Society, I endeavoured to press into its service; and some others I probably should never have known, had they not joined it.