74 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



somewhat energetic disposition, he found a congenial 

 resource in the Royal Society, to which he was elected in 

 1771. 



Mr. Joseph Planta (born in Switzerland, 1744) was the 

 son of a German Reforming Pastor in London. He was 

 assistant, and afterward chief, Librarian at the British 

 Museum for the long period of fifty-four years, with entire 

 public approval and benefit ; a leading figure in the 

 intellectual life of London. He had been Foreign Secretary 

 to the Royal Society for two years, and in 1776 became 

 Second or Assistant Secretary. 



It appears from Blagden's correspondence with Sir 

 Joseph that both Maty and Planta were aggrieved by 

 the firm demeanour of the young President. They had 

 raised a strong party among the members of the Society, 

 opposed to the continuance of what they held to be a 

 too highly pitched notion of presidential authority. The 

 storm burst suddenly upon the Society at the opening of 

 the session of 1783, and arose out of the allegation that 

 Dr. Hutton, the existing Foreign Secretary, was not 

 performing his duties efficiently. Now, Charles Hutton 

 was truly a busy man, one of the first mathematicians 

 of the age. He had been chosen Professor at the Royal 

 Military Academy at Woolwich by a very strong Com- 

 mittee. His hands were tolerably full of his work, the 

 fruit of which is not discarded to this day. He had to 

 take occasional lodgings in London to fulfil his secretarial 

 duties. Hence it was that these duties were rather 

 perfunctorily performed. The Foreign Correspondence 

 was not being dealt with promptly and punctually 

 (according to a Council minute of January 24, 1782). 



A Committee appointed to consider his case (November, 

 1783) resolved that " for the benefit of the Society, the 

 business of the Foreign Secretary be done by a person 

 constantly resident in London." Shortly after this Dr. 

 Hutton resigned his office. 



