1780 — 85 .]

THE ROYAL SOCIETY.

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are rendered thereby monuments worthy the actionsthey record, and the gratitude of a liberal and power-ful nation.

“ I am, &c.

“ Earl of Sandwich .” “ Joseph Banks .

The next letter is addressed to Dr. Franklin:—

“Dear Sir, “Soho Square, Aug. 13. 1784.

“Willing as much as is in my powerto clear the Royal Society and myself from our shareof the charge of illiberal treatment towards you, withwhich I fear this country may too justly be accused, Itake my pen with no small pleasure to inform you, thatI am instructed by the Council of the Royal Society , topresent to you, in their name, the gold medal which theyhave struck in honour of Captain Cook , in testimonyhow truly they respect those liberal sentiments whichinduced you, upon his return to Europe unexpected, toissue your orders to such American cruisers as werethen under your direction, to abstain from molestingthat great navigator; an act worthy those sentiments ofgeneral philanthropy by which 1 have observed yourconduct ever actuated since I have had the honour ofyour acquaintance. At the same time, give me leaveto congratulate you on the honourable manner in Avhichyou received a copy of Captain Cook’s Voyages , sent byhis Britannic Majesty, as a testimony of his Royal appro-bation of the same liberal conduct. As I suppose youwould wish to know to whom you are obliged for therepresentation which induced his Majesty to send it, Ican inform you that though I, who by desire of theAdmiralty conducted the general business of that pub-lication, when I reported to them the names of thoseto whom I thought it right presents of the work ought