SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 363 



for he too, had early perceived, 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 

 said almost to elect them at their pleasure ; for whoever 

 wished to add the title of F.R.S. to his name, on the title 

 of a book, or as a Divine seeking preferment, or as a 

 Physician in quest of practice, had only to become ac- 

 quainted with these officers, and obtain their good will. 

 Their constant intercourse with the members gave them so 

 many opportunities of recommendation, that the election 

 was quite secure of any whom, they chose to favour. 

 The President was little consulted, whose especial duty 

 it, however, is, to preserve the purity of election, and to 

 see that improper or improvident choice be not made. 

 It is well known that D'Alembert, in allusion to the ex- 

 treme prodigality with which the honours of the fellow- 

 ship were distributed, was in use to ask jocularly any 

 person going to England, if he desired to be made a 

 member, as he could easily obtain it for him, should he 

 think it any honour. The new President was resolved 

 that this should no longer be allowed, and though the 

 unlimited number of its fellows must always prevent the 

 place of F.R.S. from being an object of so much value 

 and of so much desire as that of an Academician in 

 France, he thought that at all events it should be re- 

 stored to somewhat of its primitive value, by being no 

 longer indiscriminately bestowed. Two principles were 

 laid down by him; first, that any person who had suc- 

 cessfully cultivated science, especially by original investi- 

 gations, should be admitted, whatever might be his rank 

 or his fortune ; secondly, that men of wealth or station, 



