196 Presidentship of Sir Joseph Banks I79 2 



with the elucidation of the history of Cornwall and the pre- 

 servation of such fragments as remain of Cornish literature. 

 The most notable representative of the Navy at the 

 Club's table this year was Captain Edward Riou. After 

 a varied service at sea, including the brilliant exploit of 

 saving a 44 gun ship, which was badly damaged against 

 an iceberg, and piloting it with a load of stores, cattle and 

 convicts to Table Bay, he was appointed to the Augusta in 

 which he carried Sir Hyde Parker and Nelson to reconnoitre 

 the defences of Copenhagen before the Battle of the Baltic 

 (April 2, 1801), and took charge of the frigates and small 

 craft. Though severely wounded, he was encouraging his men 

 when he was cut in two by a cannon ball. Nelson wrote : 

 " In poor dear Riou the country has sustained an irreparable 

 loss," and Thomas Campbell in his " Battle of the Baltic " 

 commemorates him together with the other " brave hearts " 



On the deck of fame that died 

 With the gallant good Riou. 



Among the guests who had previously been entertained 

 by the Club there appeared again this year Sir Joshua 

 Reynolds, Lord Hailes, Mendoza y Rios, Lord Midleton, 

 Lord Loughborough, and others. 



1792. The Annual General Meeting of 1792 took place on 

 5th July, and was attended by eighteen members, the Presi- 

 dent in the chair. The Treasurer stated that his disburse- 

 ments to complete payment of tavern bills since the last 

 audit had amounted to 35 95. 7d., and that a balance of 

 28 135. i id. remained in his hands. It was then determined 

 that the call upon each member for the expenses of the 

 Club in the ensuing year should be one guinea. The number 

 of members and guests who had dined since last Anniversary 

 was 550. The Treasurer reported that no vacancy had 

 occurred either from death or non-attendance and that 

 three vacancies remained from last anniversary. Mr. Aubert, 

 who had at the previous Anniversary presented to the Club 

 a set of balloting balls, now completed his donation by 

 making a gift of a ballot-box. But it could not be used on 



