164 Presidentship of Sir Joseph Banks 1784 



and introduced into Russia the newest methods of cultiva- 

 tion. In July the President introduced MM. Duzach, 

 Roland, Deu and Lanthenas ; in August MM. Bertier de 

 Sauvigny, de Chateau, and Flandrin. Louis Benigne- 

 Francois Bertier de Sauvigny was intendant of the Division 

 (Generalite) of Paris. The outbreak of the Revolution 

 found him at his post, but he was not allowed to remain 

 there. The mob accused him of practices of which he was 

 entirely innocent, seized him at Compiegne, marched him 

 with every form of insult and indignity to the Hotel de 

 Ville where, defending himself with desperation, he fell 

 pierced with wounds. Tearing out his heart and cutting 

 off his head, they carried these bloody trophies on the point 

 of a cutlass through Paris. 



Dr. Broussonet of Montpellier reappeared at three dinners 

 in August and September. But the most remarkable assem- 

 blage of foreigners this year met at the dinner on Thursday, 

 August I2th. They included some who have been already 

 mentioned- Bertier de Sauvigny, Flandrin, and Broussonet. 

 Of special note in the history of the Club was the presence 

 of Faujas de Saint Fond, the enlightened explorer of the 

 geology of the Vivarais, who had come to this country 

 mainly to visit the basaltic tracts of Scotland, and above 

 all to see Staffa, the marvels of which had been described 

 by Sir Joseph Banks a few years before. He wrote an 

 account of his journey through England and Scotland, 

 and in his narrative gave a graphic description of the dinner 

 of the Royal Society Club which will be cited on a later 

 page at the close of the record of this year. He was accom- 

 panied at the dinner by his two travelling companions, Count 

 Andreani of Milan and Mr. Thornton. 



The autumn visitors included Count Castiglioni, Dr. 

 Groschke, M. Frogoart and Vincenzo Lunardi. The last- 

 named was one of the Secretaries of the Neapolitan legation 

 in London, and suddenly rose to fame by ascending and 

 travelling some distance in an air balloon ; of whom more 

 anon. 



The home visitors this year make a long and varied list 



