1786 Continued Increase of Expenses 175 



powerful and much respected representatives at its table. 

 The leaders of the defeated party felt so keenly their dis- 

 comfiture that they gave up attendance at the Club-dinners, 

 thereby exposing themselves to the probable loss of their 

 membership. 



It was at the Annual General Meeting on July 27th 1786 

 (which was attended by fifteen members, Sir Joseph Banks 

 presiding) that the matter first came formally before the 

 Club. The Treasurer having stated that his disbursements 

 amounted to 47 8s. 7d., and that there was a balance 

 against the Club of 25 i8s. id., it was unanimously resolved 

 that a call of one guinea from each member should be made. 

 He announced the death of the Rev. Samuel Hemming. 



The Treasurer further reported that certain members had 

 not attended any of the meetings during the past year. 

 They were leaders in the opposition to the President and 

 Council. A ballot was then taken upon each of these mem- 

 bers severally, and it was thereby determined that Dr. 

 Horsley, Mr. Stuart, Sir Noah Thomas and Mr. Maty 

 had vacated their seats in the Club. Their names accord- 

 ingly henceforth disappear from the list of the member- 

 ship. 



As the result of the ballot only two vacancies were filled 

 up, by the election of the Earl of Leicester and the Earl 

 of Morton. 



The Earl of Leicester had received this title in 1784. 

 On the death of his mother in 1770, who was a peeress in 

 her own right, he was summoned to parliament as Baron 

 Ferrars de Chartley. In his youth he had been in the army 

 but he soon went into official life. In 1781 as Lord Ferrars 

 he was elected into the Royal Society. In 1784 when he 

 received his earldom he was chosen President of the Society 

 of Antiquaries. He was appointed Master of the Mint in 

 1790, an office which he exchanged for that of joint Post- 

 master-General in 1794. He became Lord Steward of the 

 Household in 1799. He was also a Trustee of the British 

 Museum. In 1807 he succeeded his father as Marquis 

 Townshend. He died in 1811. 



