308 Presidentship of the Duke of Sussex 1832 



There were no vacancies caused by death or by non- 

 attendance, but one arose from the resignation of Sir Everard 

 Home. This active member was now seventy-six years of 

 age, and on account of his " increasing infirmities " desired 

 to withdraw from the Club. He died later in the year. 

 As the result of the ballot for the one vacancy Dr. William 

 Babington was elected. He has been already mentioned 

 as a visitor (p. 289). His fondness for mineralogy led him 

 to take much interest in the foundation of the Geological 

 Society of which the first beginnings took place in his house. 

 He became its President in 1822. He had been elected into 

 the Royal Society in 1805. He was now seventy-six years 

 of age, and he died in the following year. 



At the Anniversary the following motions were put and 

 carried : 



" That members of the Council [of the Royal Society] upon paying 

 the subscription for the current year, shall have the right of dining 

 at the Club as visitors without invitation, upon the usual terms, 

 during the time for which they may be members of Council. 



" That the resolution of last year, restricting the right of voting 

 at the annual meetings of the Club, to those Members who shall 

 have attended the Club three times at least, during the current year, 

 be rescinded." 



The disposition of the members to enjoy a recess at Easter 

 and at Whitsun week, and to take a still longer holiday 

 in the late summer and autumn, continued to grow in force. 

 The dinners were still provided during these different sea- 

 sons, but the Treasurer evidently thought the insertion of 

 some explanation of the non-attendance to be necessary 

 in his register. Hence at Easter time he wrote on the margin 

 of the page " Vacation," and in June, when Robert Brown 

 was the sole diner, " Whitsun Week " is recorded. Habits 

 had changed since the early days of the Club, when no 

 general exodus from London took place at these times, 

 and when the dinners continued to be well attended even 

 in the autumn. It would seem that there had arisen among 

 the members an inclination to look on the Anniversary 

 Meeting as marking the end of the " season " of Club dinners 

 and business. And this impression was probably strength- 



