SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



a Privy Councillor, was an honorary member of the Board 

 of Trade, the indulgence was granted" (Barrow, loc. cit. p. 29). 

 That Banks contemplated a voyage to the North Pole 

 appears from a statement by Barrow that he announced 

 such an intention at a meeting of the Batavian Society at 

 Eotterdam in 1773, when he desired to be put in possession 

 of such discoveries and observations as had been made by 

 the Dutch, promising to acquaint them with any discoveries 

 he might make in the course of such a voyage. 



, On his return from Iceland, Banks settled in Soho 

 Square, where he accumulated a magnificent library (as 

 well as at Eevesby Abbey) and large collections, the whole 

 being arranged in the most methodical manner. These 

 business-like habits formed a marked feature in everything 

 he undertook throughout his life, as to which interesting 

 testimony is afforded by Barrow, who, during a visit shortly 

 before Banks's death, was shown his papers and correspond- 

 ence carefully assorted and labelled. In this he received 

 considerable assistance from his successive librarians, 

 Solander and Dryander. 



On the resignation of Sir John Pringle in November 

 1778, Banks was chosen to succeed him as President of 

 the Eoyal Society, an honour for which he had incontest- 

 able claims, in his many sacrifices to science in all climates 

 during the voyages to Newfoundland, round the world with 

 Cook, and to Iceland, in his ardent love of natural science, 

 his many accomplishments, his wealth and social position, 

 his habitual intercourse with the king and with the heads 

 of public departments whose influence was greatest for the 

 furtherance of scientific research, and, above all, perhaps, in 

 the disinterestedness with which he placed his collections 

 and library at the disposal of all applicants of merit, and 

 in the expenditure of his wealth. 



Notwithstanding all these claims on the votes of the 

 Fellows of the Society, Banks was not destined to retain 

 tranquil possession of the Presidency, and two or three 

 circumstances, arising out of the zeal with which he dis- 

 charged his duties, made him several enemies. One of 



