XXxvi BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 
that a stranger would not have supposed that he was often 
suffering at the time, nor even have observed an infirmity, 
which never disturbed his uniform cheerfulness. 
“ As the gout increased his difficulty of locomotion, Sir 
Joseph found it convenient to have some spot to retire to 
in the neighbourhood of London, and fixed upon a small 
villa near Hounslow Heath, called Spring Grove, consisting 
of some woods and a good garden laid out with ornamental 
shrubs and flower-beds, and neatly kept under the inspection 
of Lady and Miss Banks” (his sister) [Barrow, loc. cit. 
pp. 40-42]. Since his death the building has been pulled 
down and replaced by a mansion now in the possession of 
A. Pears, Esq. 
The last occasion on which Banks took the chair at the 
Royal Society was on 16th March 1820. In May, declining 
health led him to announce his resignation of the Presidency, 
which he had held for over forty-one years ; but the universal 
desire which was expressed, both by the Council of the 
Society and by the king himself, that he would retain the 
office, induced him to withdraw his resignation. He died, 
however, very shortly afterwards at Spring Grove, on the 
19th June 1820, leaving a widow but no lineal issue. 
He was buried at Heston, Middlesex, in which parish- 
Spring Grove is situated. The church has since been 
rebuilt, and now covers the spot where he was buried. A 
tablet with a simple inscription marks as nearly as possible 
the place where his body lies. By his will he expressly 
desires that his body be interred in the most private manner 
in the church or churchyard of the parish in which he 
should happen to die, and entreats his dear relatives to 
spare themselves the affliction of attending the ceremony, 
and earnestly requests that they will not erect any monu- 
ment to his memory. 
In July of the same year the Council of the Royal Society 
resolved to erect a full-length marble statue of Sir Joseph 
Banks, to be executed by Mr. (afterwards Sir Francis) 
Chantrey. A sum of £2000 was subscribed, of which £525 
was paid to the sculptor, the surplus being devoted to an 
