and Proceedings of the late President of the Royal Society, 247 



the admission of London tradesmen ! " A fine illustration, truly, 

 of the avowed principles of the Society in 1693, quoted at the 

 beginning of this review*. 



The sequel of this affair should not be omitted. In two or 

 three years afterwards Mr. Groombridge was much extolled by 

 French and German astronomers on account of the accuracy and 

 utility of his researches. A new attempt was made (Maskelyne 

 being dead) to get him elected ; and the Royal Society was ac- 

 iuaWy ^^ degraded by the admission of a London tradesman." 

 Poor Sir.Ioseph ! " O consistent spirit of inconsistency, how har- 

 monious are all thy blessed operations ! " 



On the death of Dr. Maskelyne in 1811, (twenty-seven years 

 after the dissensions,) some of his friends informed Mrs. Maske- 

 lyne that his library, which contained a judicious selection of the 

 best books connected with astronomy in'all languages, would be 

 a valuable accjuisition to the Doctor's successor, whoever he 

 might be. She therefore offv'^red the whole library to Govern- 

 ment on a fair valuation. The members of administration to 

 whom this proposal was made were at first disposed to accede 

 to it: but, on consulting Sir Joseph Banks on the subject, who, 

 as President of the Royal Society, was one of the visitors of the 

 Observatorv, he depreciated the value of the library, and per- 

 suaded them to decline the oft'er. The consequence was, that 

 the lihrarv was sold by auction, and agents employed by Sir 

 •Toseph selected during the sale those books which they thought 

 most valuable. 



Similar to this, both in kind and in operation, was the hosti- 



* It would be easy to fill a volume with miscellaneous examples of the 

 capricious exercise of the Piesidtnt's power with regard to exclusion. A 

 single example shall be placed in this note. A distinguished physiologist 

 was proposed as a candidate; his certificate being signed by two noblemen, 

 by a member whom, to avoid circumlocution, I will call Mr. A. C, and by 

 three other members. On the evening of election Mr. A. C. observed 

 Dr. Dryunder (who, though not a fellow, was usually very busy on these 

 occa.sions) trotting about from fellow to fellow, and whispering to each. 

 Ere long he came to bim: " The President's compliments, and he will 

 thank you to bhink-hall this candidate." " Give my compliments to the 

 President (rejoined Mr. A. C), and say, that though I might be happy to 

 oblige him on ordinary occasions, it would not be decent now ; as my name 

 is on the certificate." By and by, on examining the balloting-box, the Pre- 

 sident exultingly exclaimed "-All black-hulls bat one! " It seems the candi- 

 date had no other friend than Mr. A. C. present. But what, the reader 

 will inquire, was the reason of his exclusion? Simply this : the names of 

 two noblemen were on his certificate ! Had only one nobleman signed, it 

 would have added weight to the testimonial ; but two noblemen were usually 

 interpreted to indicate a wish to overpower the President; and then it was 

 " IVe'll show them who's who : no undue aristocratical authority here ! " 



lity 



