SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 359 



the other and pressing case of abuse, the indiscriminate 

 election, was at once corrected by Mr. Banks, and with 

 a firm hand. He announced to the secretaries and 

 members his determination to watch over the appli- 

 cations for admission, and the election by ballot. Pre- 

 vious to the election, he spoke to the members who 

 usually attended ; he gave his opinion freely on the 

 merits of candidates, and when he considered a rejec- 

 tion proper, he hesitated not to advise it giving his 

 opinion, and recommending, or asking a black-ball 

 from individuals at the time of the ballot. The con- 

 sequence was the rejection of several persons, and this 

 was afterwards made the chief ground of attack upon 

 him in the dissensions which unfortunately broke out, 

 and for some time grievously disturbed the peace of 

 the Society. 



The immediate occasion of these dissensions, how- 

 ever, was an accident of a different kind. The office 

 of Secretary for Foreign Correspondence had been con- 

 ferred upon Dr. Charles Hutton, a mathematician of 

 distinguished reputation, and whose official duties at 

 the Koyai Academy of Woolwich, obliged him to re- 

 side there. Some neglect of his duties, as Secre- 

 tary was said to have been thus occasioned. Upon 

 examination, the. charge was found to rest on very in- 

 sufficient grounds ; and the childish complaint of M. 

 Bonnet, of Geneva, that a dry and laconic answer had 

 been returned to his letter, accompanying a present of 

 his works, really appears to be the only remains of the 

 accusation which a full inquiry left standing against 

 Dr. Hutton.* It was a much more serious charge, 

 that he held no communication with the President; 

 and certainly this was mainly imputable to his residing 

 at a distance. The Council passed a resolution, 20th 



* The feeble and very trimming tract of Dr. Kippis on these disputes, 

 seriously represents the dry style of Dr. Hutton' s letter as worthy of blame. 

 The doctor desiderated more courtesy, that is, flummery after the foreign 

 fashion. 



