SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 357 



undervaluing of all but the exertions required to per- 

 form great or useful actions. 



After his return to England, he settled in London, 

 except the short period every summer which he passed 

 at Revesby, his seat in Lincolnshire. His hospitality 

 in the country was quite unbounded, and extended to 

 all parties and all classes. His house in Soho Square 

 was with its noble library, and precious collection of 

 maps, drawings, and engravings, connected with botany, 

 and the various branches of natural history, always open 

 to the student and the author. Foreigners as well as 

 natives were ever his welcome guests, and it was his 

 delight to be surrounded by the cultivators and the 

 promoters of science in all its branches. 



In 1777, Sir John Pringle resigned his office as 

 President of the Royal Society, and in Nov. 1778, Mr. 

 Banks was chosen his successor. He lost no time in 

 devoting himself with his accustomed ardour to the 

 duties of his high station, and for some years his ad- 

 ministration was carried on with general approval. 

 But the person who undertakes to reform abuses in 

 any public department, must lay his account with 

 making enemies ; and though these may be at the first 

 few in number, and of little weight, they form a centre, 

 around which will soon gather all, who on any account 

 are discontented ; all who regard a superior with envy 

 or an exalted equal with jealousy; not seldom all who 

 would fain displace him, and succeed to his station. 

 So it fared with Mr. Banks ; for he too, had early per- 

 ceived, and speedily checked some manifest abuses. 

 The chief of these was the ease with which the door 

 of the Society was opened, to admit all who desired to 

 be Fellows. The Secretaries might be almost said to 

 elect them at their pleasure ; for whoever wished to 

 add the title of F.R.S. to his name, as author of a book, 

 or as a Divine seeking preferment, or as a Physician in 

 quest of practice, had only to become acquainted with 

 those officers, and obtain their good will. Their con- 



