CHAPTER VII. 



PRESIDENTSHIP OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS, continued 

 1789-1810 



1789. AT the Annual General Meeting on soth July 1789, when 

 there were twenty members present, with Sir Joseph Banks 

 in the Chair, the financial statement of the new Treasurer 

 was submitted, from which it appeared that a balance of 

 11 los. 6d. was due to him. It was accordingly resolved 

 that each member of the Club should contribute a guinea 

 to make good the deficiency and provide for the expenses 

 of the ensuing year. There were no vacancies in the mem- 

 bership to be filled. A resolution was passed which brought 

 the meetings of the Club into still closer relation with those 

 of the Royal Society " that the future anniversary meet- 

 ings of the Club shall be held on the Thursday next succeed- 

 ing the last meeting of the Royal Society previous to the 

 long vacation." Though the number of the company to 

 be provided for at each dinner during the autumn months 

 had in the previous year been reduced to seven, the atten- 

 dance in September and the first half of October of that year 

 had been generally much below the required number, in- 

 volving a considerable drain on the Fund. This year saw 

 no improvement. The last two meetings in September were 

 attended respectively by five and by four members without 

 guests, while at the first meeting in October only three 

 mustered, and at the second only two. The most steady 

 attendant was as usual Henry Cavendish. On the 8th Octo- 

 ber he and Dr. Simmons had the whole of the provender 

 as well as the conversation at their own disposal. The change 



