278 Presidentship of Sir Humphry Davy 1822 



from whom he received his training in politics. When only 

 an infant he had succeeded his father as third Baron Holland 

 in 1774. He led an active life in the House of Lords as a 

 liberal peer. His brilliant wife and he made their residence 

 in London a centre in which all the wits, men of letters 

 and prominent politicians of the day met each other. He 

 was invited to the Royal Society Club by Lord Aberdeen, 

 who at this time was not so immersed in parliamentary 

 duties as to be unable now and then to dine with the Philo- 

 sophers. Another political guest this year was Nicholas 

 Vansittart, who dined the same evening as Lord Holland. 

 He entered parliament in 1796 and filled various depart- 

 mental posts until he became Chancellor of the Exchequer 

 in 1812. He retained that office until 1823, when he was 

 raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Bexley. 



Science was of course fully recognised in the invitations 

 to the Club. This year Professor Buckland, Charles Bab- 

 bage, James South, Edward Sabine, and others of lesser note 

 were again present at the meetings, sometimes several 

 evenings in succession. It may be noted that on one of 

 the occasions when Buckland dined, he was the guest of 

 Chantrey, who, now a member, lost no time in beginning 

 to exercise his rights of hospitality. 



1823. The Anniversary of 1823 took place on 5th June and 

 was attended by twenty-seven members, with the President 

 in the chair. The Treasurer announced that the expenses 

 since the last Anniversary amounted to 123 75. 6d., leaving 

 a balance in hand of 53 75. 4d., to which arrears from two 

 members amounting to 6 would fall to be added. The 

 contribution for the ensuing year was fixed at 2 from each 

 member. 



The deaths of Baron Best and Sir William Herschel were 

 reported. The two vacancies thus caused were filled by 

 the election of Lord Darnley and Charles Babbage. Succes- 

 sive generations of the Earls of Darnley have been enrolled 

 in the fellowship of the Royal Society. Edward the second 

 Earl was elected into the Society in 1737 ; John, fourth 

 Earl, was elected a Fellow in 1810, while Edward, the fifth 



