252 A Review of some leading Points in the Official Character 



and sanction the legitimate objects of the Society. Sir Joseph 

 shortly after retired from the institution ; hut ?int to remain in 

 inactivity. At that period a most virulent spirt of political 

 animosty, engendered bv the acts of the French revolution, was 

 in constant operation. Sir Joseph availing himself of tins, and 

 of the political character of Lord Stanhope, most diligently in- 

 sinuated among different members of Mis Majesty's Government, 

 that the Society, under colour of an association for l)etter pur- 

 poses, was a Jacobinical confederacy with Citizen Stanhope at 

 their head. This calumny soon produced its designed effect; so 

 that by a series of rapid steps, which 1 need not here detail, this 

 useful institution became extinct. 



Mr. Nicholson afterwards became a neighbour of Sir Joseph's, 

 in Soho Square, and a certain degree of intimacy, in consecuence, 

 subsisted between them ; Mr. Nicholson occasionally conducting 

 experiments on voltaism, &c. at the President's hcnise. Stili, 

 his crime in opposing Sir Joseph in the Society for improving 

 Naval Architecture was never cordially forgiven ; nor was lie ever 

 admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. No, no: " To be sure 

 Nicholson is a clever fellow. Bnt you know Ire is only a sailor- 

 bcy turned schoolmaster ; and we cannot, with any sort of pro- 

 priety, admit such people among us." 



When the '• Royal Institution" in Albemarle Street was esta- 

 blished, it commenced under too powerful auspices for Sir Joseph 

 to think it expedient to attempt any formal opposition. He 

 therefore became its friend ; and favoured the manngers with 

 his advice. But his conduct soon proved that he was actuated 

 by the puerile jealousies of a little mind. The influence of the 

 President of the Royal Society nnght naturally have been em- 

 ployed in recommending to the Institution Lecturers of eminence 

 in different departments, or in lending his mature and compre- 

 hensive judgenient in the formation of a library. But, instead 

 of these. Sir Joseph exerted the energies of his mighty mind — 

 how ? ill taking care that the Journals of the Royal Iiislitittioii 

 sho?ild not he printed in quarto ! Why not in quarto P Truly 

 for this cogent reason, that the Philosophical Transactions are 

 published in quarto; and to print those journals in the same 

 sized page might excite an unfavour ble comparison ! 



In 1813, when several distinguished mineralogists and geolo- 

 gists established the *' Geological Society," the members invited 

 the President of the Royal Society to join them, and he accept- 

 ed the invitation. He had not long, however, joined this new 

 association before he began to show, as on all similar occasions, 

 that he regarded the Royal Society as the " Aaron's rod " of 

 scientific institutions which was to swallow up all the rest. When 



the 



