It appears that to the military we are indebted for the origin of these establishments. The officers of the army, whether in camp or quarters, have always experienced the advantage and economy of clubbing for their provisions. They have found that the pay of each individual, spent separately, would scarcely procure him ordinary necessaries; whilst, by adding it to a general fund, to be judiciously dis bursed by :in experienced caterer, he would obtain for his subscription not only requisites, but luxuries.
At the peace of 1815, a reduction of the army withdrew a number of officers front the " messes" to which they had been accustomed. Thus a great many gentlemen of com paratively limited means were thrown into private life, sub jected to all the expenses and inconveniences of hotels, taverns, and lodging-houses. In instances long and continued absence from home had severed these brave men from domestic ties; yet having always lived among a con genial hrotherhood-society, it was essential to their happiness. In these circumstances, the mess-system was naturally thought I if and the late General Lord Lvnedoch, with five brother officers, met for the purpose of devising a plan by which a similar system might be made applicable to non-professional life. i() effectual were their deliberations, and so well grounded their preliminary measures, that a club was formed during the same year, (1815.) intended, in the first instance, Cu. military men only, but naval officers, as well as military, were afterwards brought within the senile of their design, and an association enrolled, entitled the " United Service Club." A building fund was formed ; a neat edifice,—from the designs of Sir Robert Smirke,—was erected at the corner of Charles Street, St. and in the year 1819 the first modern club was opened for the reception of its members. Candidates for :admission, however, increased so rapidly, that a larger habitation was rendered necessary. A building, on a grand scale, from the plans of Mr. Nash, was erected at the east corner of the new entrance to St. James's Park from l'all Mall, and taken possession of in 182S, while the resi dence in Charles Street, vacated by the " United Service Club"—now generally called the " Senior United Service"— was taken by a new association, under the title of the "Junior United Service Club." The establishment of the "United Service. Club" was speedily fi,llowed by that of others, and the number of these, institutions, which is daily increasing, now amounts to above thirty. The principal club-h(mses are situated in Pall Mall and its immediate neighbourhood, and a person re-visiting London, after an absence of several years, would be surprised to see here clustered together a number of mansions exhibiting every order of architecture, from the severest Doric to the most florid Composite. The following description, subject,
of course, to modification in particular instances, will give a tolerably correct idea of the general arrangement of a modern club-house.
The visitor, on entering one of these palace-like edifices, finds himself in a lobby, in which are the hall-porter, who is seated at a desk, and his assistants. The duty of thee officials is to see that none have access to the club but members, to receive letters, &c. Close to the hall is a reception-room for strangers wishing to see members, and beyond this a hall, or vestibule, from which doors open on the various apart ments on the grinind-floor. Of these there is, first, a" morn ing room," which is used for reading newspapers and writing letters. And to give some idea of the liberal scale on which these morning-rooms are supplied, and of the profusion of periodicals taken in by the large clubs, it may be stated, that at the Atheneum, in the year 1844, the sum of £471 2s. 6)1. was expended for English and foreign news papers and periodicals. Stationery also is supplied to an unlimited extent.
The "coffee-room" is furnished with rows of small tables projecting from each side, with all avenue up the middle. These tables are laid for breakfasts and luncheons till four o'clock in the day, after that hour they are arranged for dinners. For the accomtnodation of members who may feel inclined to form themselves into parties to dine together, in preference to the detached mode of dining at the small tables of the colfee-room, a dining,-roorn, handsomely thr nished, is provided on the ground-lloor, in which they can do so—these dinners are termed, in club-parlance, " house dinners." The principal apartment above stairs is the drawing-room, in which members take their evening coffee or tea. In some clubs a great display of luxury and expensiveness is made in this room, and, notwithstanding that it is perhaps less used than any room in the house, the finest taste of the decorator and upholsterer is called into requisition to adorn it. Near to the drawing-room is the library, fitted up with every convenience for reading. consulting maps, &c. The books are accumulated by donations, and by a sum set aside from the general funds for their purchase. These libraries are generally well supplied with books, and that of the Atheruetnn is said to contain near 30,0001 vo.umes. Five hun dred pounds is annually expended by this club for increasing its library. Near the library is in some clubs, a card room. but gaining is as much as possible discouraged in these institutions.