1 88 Presidentship of Sir Joseph Banks 1789 



was Gray's Elegy. He likewise revised his translation 

 of Horace's Odes. To his taste and energy Rio Janeiro 

 owed the foundation of a School of the Fine Arts. Later 

 in the year a third Portuguese was entertained by the Club 

 the Marquis de Souza. He also had a strong sympathy 

 for literature, and when resident in France published at 

 Paris a sumptuous edition of the Lusiades of Camoens. 



The English visitor with the most varied career who 

 appeared at the Club this year was Colonel Robert Morse, 

 who came on the invitation of Joseph Planta. He was 

 of the same age as the Club, being born in 1743. From the 

 time when he was twenty he had been engaged in fighting 

 the French by sea and land. He had taken part in landings 

 on the coast of France and had fought in the Westphalian 

 campaign. His appointment as assistant quartermaster- 

 general allowed him a short stay in England. But in 1773 

 he was sent as commanding engineer to the islands in the 

 Caribbean Sea which had been ceded by the French at the 

 end of the Seven Years' War. On his return he was employed 

 in constructing defences along the coasts of this county 

 and in 1788 he received promotion to Colonel. Two years 

 after he dined with the Club he was despatched to Gibraltar 

 and remained there for five years as commanding royal 

 engineer. In the succession of his several promotions and 

 appointments he was made Inspector-general of fortifica- 

 tions in this country and rose to the rank of General. He 

 retired from the service in 1811 and died in 1818 at the 

 age of 75. 



1790. The Annual General Meeting in 1790 was held on 

 July ist when the following was the attendance : 



Sir Joseph Banks, President 

 Earl of Morton Lord Palmerston 



Sir George Baker Dr. Charles Blagden 



Hon. Henry Cavendish Major Rennell 



Alexander Aubert Alexander Dalrymple 



Dr. S. F. Simmons Philip Stephens 



John Smeaton John Walsh 



Dr. Richard Warren Dr. Nevil Maskelyne 



William Marsden, Treasurer 



