1772 Daines Barrington ; Alexander Aubert 1 1 5 



meetings, and even Sir Joseph Banks was not more active 

 and successful in bringing eminent men, native and foreign, 

 as guests to the dinners. 



The General Meeting, held on July 30, 1772, was attended 

 by eleven members, James Burrow in the chair. The 

 Treasurer reported that the expenses had come to 5 45., 

 including 2 175. for deficiencies in attendance, and that 

 there remained in his hands unexpended the sum of 6 i6s. 

 lod. He announced that by the death of James West, 

 the President, of John Ellicott and of Dr. Gowin Knight 

 three vacancies arose ; that Lord Charles Cavendish had 

 intimated his desire to resign his membership ; that Earl 

 Verney had not attended since May 10, 1770, and Israel 

 Wilkes had been absent from the meetings since October 

 4, 1770. The list of Candidates having been read six 

 vacancies were declared. These were filled by ballot, 

 when the following Candidates were elected : the Honour- 

 able Daines Barrington, Dr. John Turton, Rev. Francis 

 Wollaston, John Walsh, Alexander Aubert and Thomas 

 Astle. 



It was further resolved that the President of the Royal 

 Society should be deemed a member of this Club ex officio, 

 if not already a member. 



A few biographical facts about the new members may 

 be inserted here. Daines Barrington (1727-1800), son of 

 the first Viscount Barrington, had often in past years been 

 a guest at the meetings of the Club. He was a barrister of 

 the Inner Temple, keenly interested in antiquarian and 

 natural history pursuits. He held successively various legal 

 appointments. About this time he was much concerned 

 in furthering Arctic exploration, and was largely instru- 

 mental in prevailing on the Admiralty to dispatch two 

 exploring vessels to the northern coasts of North America 

 in 1773, when Captain Phipps, as already mentioned, com- 

 manded the Racehorse. Perhaps his chief claim to remem- 

 brance is that he was one of the privileged correspondents 

 of Gilbert White, and that he is credited with having 

 suggested to that naturalist to put together the materials 



