SIB JOSEPH BANKS. 367 



Hutton alone furnished the matter of dispute. But it was 

 the occasion, not the cause of the dissension. A party 

 had clearly been formed against the President: at the 

 head of that party Dr. Horsley had placed himself; he had 

 raised an absurd cry that the mathematics were neglected, 

 and botany alone patronised ; and he was plainly looking 

 to eject Sir Joseph Banks, and raise himself to the chair. 

 This enabled the latter to commit his second great error 

 the calling in members who were only titular, and 

 never took a part in the ordinary business of the Society, 

 any more than they were capable of sharing in its 

 labours. These came down on the 8th January, 1784, in 

 great numbers ; and, after a long debate, they carried, by 

 a large majority of 119 to 42, a vote of confidence, " ap- 

 proving of Sir Joseph Banks as President, and resolving 

 to support him in his office." At a subsequent meeting, 

 a motion for rescinding the resolution of the Council on 

 the residence of the Foreign Secretary, was lost by a 

 majority of 85 to 47; as were afterwards, by still larger 

 majorities, three several motions, censuring all endeavours 

 of the President to influence the votes of members by 

 solicitation, either on elections or on any other matters. 

 The two most important of these motions were lost by 

 115 to 27, the other by 102 to 23. Mr. Maty, ,a person 

 of some accomplishments, of amiable character, of hasty, 

 fickle temper, who had warmly sided with the President's 

 opponents, soon after resigned his place as one of the 

 ordinary secretaries; Dr. Blagden was chosen his suc- 

 cessor by 139 to 39, Dr. Hutton being the other candidate. 

 It was possibly a third error of the President, that he 

 sought for a defender in a learned equity barrister, the 

 Accountant-general, Mr. Anguish, who was unknown in 



