SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 37 



This voyage terminated his foreign travels, 

 and for some years Mr Banks passed his time 

 between his Lincohishire property and his house in 

 London, where he formed a splendid library, with 

 a valuable and extensive collection of natural 

 curiosities. He corresponded with the celebrated 

 men of all countries, and was looked up to as a 

 proper person to preside over the Royal Society. 

 They had for some time been embroiled in party 

 disputes, which led to very acrimonious feelings 

 on both sides, and finally to the resignation of Sir 

 John Pringle, on St Andrew's day, 1778, when 

 Mr Banks was elected president in his room. 

 There was at the time much difference of opinion 

 as to the propriety of this selection. It was 

 objected that he had not sufficiently distinguished 

 himself as an original discoverer, or even im- 

 prover, in any branch of science. For the first 

 few years he had many opponents, but the suavity 

 of his manners, and the zeal with which he pro 

 secuted the objects and interests of the Society, 

 finally triumphed over his adversaries. 



On the 29th March, 1779, he married Doro- 

 thea, daughter and co-heiress of William Weston 

 Huguesson, Esq. of Provender, in the parish of 

 Norton, in Kent, with whom he lived happily 

 many years. They had no children, but this lady 

 survived him, dying on the 28th of June, 1828. 

 In 1781, the King, with whom he had become a 



