THE ROYAL SOCIETY 73 



good social position who were willing to expend their 

 wealth and influence in the promotion of Science. Some 

 latitude had grown up in this way ; a vital point if the 

 Society would preserve its dignity and renown. 1 



In the course of devoting himself to the interests of the 

 Society, Sir Joseph soon made his personality felt ; and, 

 among other things, " took measures to render the 

 Fellowship more difficult of attainment than it was at the 

 time of his election." The Secretaries, there is reason to 

 believe, had the power of electing any candidate who 

 was ambitious of becoming a Fellow of the Society ; 

 and the President, whose " duty it clearly is to preserve 

 the purity of election, was seldom consulted." 2 Banks 

 presently announced to the Secretaries and Members 

 that he meant to watch over the application for admission. 

 " Previous to an election, he spoke to the Members who 

 usually attended ; he gave his opinion freely on the merits 

 of candidates, and when he considered a rejection 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." 3 



There were eleven rejections in the first five years of his 

 incumbency. Hence the partial loss of popularity which 

 the President suffered. In the year 1783 discontent 

 came to a head, doubtless fomented by the Secretaries. 



Mr. Paul Henry Maty (b. 1744 ; son of Dr. Matthew 

 Maty, a distinguished physician of Huguenot parentage) 

 was the General Secretary, which office he had held since 

 1778, having previously been Foreign Secretary for six 

 years. With many respectable literary friends, and a 



1 A humorous story was afloat at one time, bearing on the facility 

 with which admission was granted to the Royal Society : " D'Alembert 

 used jocosely to ask any of his acquaintance coming to England, if 

 they wished to become members of the Society ; intimating that, if they 

 thought it an honour, he could easily obtain it for them." Tilloch's 

 Philosophical Magazine, vol. LVI. 



2 C. R. Weld : Hist, of the Royal Soc., II, 152. 



3 Brougham, op. cit. 



