1782 Count Zenobio ; Count of Barbiano 1 57 



Sir Joseph Banks continued to be indefatigable in the 

 discharge of what he regarded as one of the important duties 

 of his office showing hospitality to distinguished strangers 

 from abroad. Early in this year he introduced the Count 

 Zenobio, a somewhat erratic Italian, born in Venice about 

 1757, and the representative of an ancient and noble family. 

 To escape from the tyranny and extortion of the Venetian 

 Inquisition, the Count came to England at an early period 

 of his life and invested a great part of his wealth in the 

 English funds. Here he took part in public meetings for 

 any popular object. During the war with France he used 

 to visit the Continent, but meeting with many difficulties 

 in France, he finally betook himself to Portugal in 1806, 

 only to be there suspected, seized, imprisoned and bundled 

 off to Africa. At Tangier he was befriended by the English 

 Consul, and on regaining his liberty returned to France. 

 But he was immediately expelled from that country. Mak- 

 ing for Germany he obtained at last an asylum at the Court 

 of the Duke of Brunswick. After the disastrous battle of 

 Jena, the British Government gave him leave to return to 

 England, but by this time he seems to have been soured 

 by his various trials and especially by the sequestration and 

 spoliation of his paternal property by Buonaparte, against 

 whom he fulminated pamphlets in strongly- worded English. 

 He is described as always good-natured, inoffensive in his 

 manners, and ever ready to do a kindness. He died in 

 London in December 1817. 



In December the President brought again to the Club 

 the Count of Barbiano and Belgiojoso, and renewed friendly 

 relations with Poland by inviting the Baron de Jeszenak 

 and his brother. In November he entertained a Scandi- 

 navian party which included the Swedish Ambassador, 

 Mr. Noring, Mr. Cederberg, Mr. Dryander, and Sir William 

 Herschel. Professor Linne and Dr. Broussonet, being still 

 in the country, were guests again and again in the course 

 of the first half of the year. A few words may be added 

 here with regard to Jonas Dryander, who from this time 

 onward was destined to play a considerable part in the 



