242 A Review of some leading Points in the Official Character 



librarian unheard and unadmonished, — sees not a fixed and set- 

 tled plan of despotism, not less violent in the means than trifling 

 in the object, must have been born bliijd, or have made himself 

 so." 



'^ Tlie President is incurably sick with the lust of domina- 

 tion* ; he imagines himself born to rule (Good God! how little 

 do men know themselves !); and cannot perceive that he has 

 neither the intellectual nor the moral qualities of a ruler. Ho- 

 nesty he possesses — the honesty of a private man. Of the honesty 

 of a governor, for which modern languages have no name, the 

 Greeks called it enislxziu, he is destitute." 



'* We have not written thus far to dissemble what we think. Sir 

 Joseph Banks might make a very good clerk, a very good attnr- 

 ney, or even a very good treasurer to the Society ; but the man 

 who is to fill the place of President should be something more. 

 We hear much of his hospitality, and of his public breakfasts ; 

 but surely the papers of Messrs. Cavendish, Kirwan, and Hers- 

 chel ; of Dr. Maskelyne, Dr. Hutton, and Mr. Wales ; of 

 Mr. Vince, Dr. Waring, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Maseres (and take 

 these away, what so great remains r) would have been produced, 

 though there had been no breakfasts in Soho Square ; and 7vho 

 knows after all (we speak upon more than conjecture) how many 

 papers have been stifled, and how many subjects of science have 

 been discouraged, by the same caprice and love of dominion, 

 which has dictated so many other innovations ? * * * * The 

 Royal Society was a Society ; we do not wish to see it a mo- 

 narchy : it did conduct itself according to the rules of justice and 

 equity ; we desire that it may not violate those rules ; its prin- 

 ciples ivere, that the first distinction of men is virtue, and the 

 second learning ; we cannot bear that birth (merely as such) 

 should take rank with either of these. Now, the President does 

 think that it ought (and forces his noble friend? upon us ac- 

 cordingly), and therejwe it is proper to look out for one who 

 with Sir Joseph Banks's merits, be those merits what they may, 

 does not think so." 



Such, according to the representation of those who were active 



* As an evidence of the manner in which the President dictated to the 

 fellows in the choic- of officers, I here insert a verbatim copy of an en- 

 graved card circulated to recommend Dr. Blagden. 



" In consequence of Mr. Matys resignation of the Secretaryship at the 

 last meeting of the Royal Societj', the President takes this method of ac- 

 quainting j'ou, that, at his desire, Dr. Blagden has declared himself a can- 

 didate for that office. From Dr. Blagden's known abilities and habits of 

 diligence, the President does not doubt but he will, if elected, fulfil the 

 duties of the station with advantage to the Society. 



" Soho Square, March 29, 1784." 



The card, of which the above is a copy, is now in my possession. 



members 



