144
HISTORY OF
[ 1780 — 85 .
It may be mentioned here, that in May, 1835, Mrs.Cook , feeling her end approaching, presented the goldmedal which she had received from the Society , aswell as the Copley Medal awarded to her husband,to the British Museum , where they are preserved.She died shortly after.
The preceding details respecting Captain Cook ’smedal have carried us a little in advance of our time.In 1780, at Sir Joseph Banks ’ suggestion, the Councilordered Nollekens to make a new bust of the Founder ,Charles II., for which the Society paid 737 10s. Thisbust now stands behind the President’s chair in theMeeting-room. It was also at Sir Joseph ’s desire,that two large arm-chairs, richly gilt, were providedfor distinguished visitors to the Society.
This circumstance, of apparent unimportance, wassubsequently brought forward as a serious chargeagainst the President. The hour of the ordinaryMeeting was altered from 6 to 8 o’clock; and, for thefirst time, the titles of Fellows were appended totheir names in the list, which at this period used tobe printed on a large sheet. In all departments, SirJoseph appears to have manifested great energy,entering also into the details of the Society’s businesswith extraordinary zeal. Of this we have a strikinginstance. A certain nobleman died largely indebtedto the Society for his subscription, which he had notpaid for many years, although repeated applicationshad been made to him. On his son’s succession tohis deceased father’s estates and title, Sir Joseph addressed him in the following terms 9 :—•