370 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



adversaries all pretence that they had a monopoly of 

 important science. 



Although the majorities were obtained and the debates 

 chiefly carried on by men who did not usually attend, 

 there can be no doubt that the Society was greatly 

 benefited by their interference. The asperity which had 

 marked the progress of the contest was testified in the 

 speeches of the opposition leader, Dr. Ilorsley. He had, 

 moreover, given a great and threatening notice of so 

 many motions as might occupy the Society for the whole 

 session, and until the annual period came round for 

 electing the officers, when he plainly hinted his hope 

 that another President would be chosen. The haughti- 

 ness of this arrogant ecclesiastic's tone in the debates 

 gave general offence, even to those who might be dis- 

 posed to admit the cleverness of his speeches. When, 

 perceiving a defeat approaching, he threatened a seces- 

 sion of the mathematical party, he exclaimed, " The 

 President will then be left with his train of feeble ama- 

 teurs and that toy* upon the table; the ghost of the 

 Society in which Philosophy once reigned, and Newton 

 presided as her minister." 



To have saved the Society from such a consumma- 

 tion as being under Dr. Horsley's presidency was truly a 

 service of the highest value, which, in a somewhat 

 unusual though certainly not an irregular manner, was 

 rendered by the members who attended and resisted the 

 factious combination. His assuming the station of leader 



o 



among the mathematicians was altogether preposterous; 

 and he might have been raised to the chair, by dint of the 



* The mace, to which he pointed. 



