CHAPTER VI.

Dissensions in the Society—Determination of Sir Joseph Banks towatch over the Election of Fellows—Causes him to be unpo-pular—The Council conceive the Duties of the Foreign Secre-tary to have been neglected—Dr. Hutton resigns that office—Thanks voted to him by the Society—Dr. Hutton’s Defence—Tarty against the President—Dr. Horsley becomes Leader ofthe Opposition—Large Meeting of the Society—Resolution infavour of the President—Temporary cessation of Dissensions—Present of a Pamphlet against the Society—Sir Joseph Banks refuses to propose the usual Thanks of the Society to theDonor—Dr. Horsley moves that Thanks be given—Mr. Matyalone supports his Motion—Several Members take part in theDebate—Mr. Maty (Secretary) resigns—Dr. Blagden appointedhis Successor, in opposition to Dr. Hutton — Restoration ofTranquillity—Anniversary Address of President—Controversyrespecting the Discovery of the Composition of W ater.

1780—85.

I T is painful to turn from the events recorded inthe preceding Chapter, so honourable to philoso-phers, to the years 1783, and 1784, when dissensionsturned the hall of science into an arena of angrydebate, to the great and manifest detriment of theSociety. It would be far more agreeable to passover this period in silence, but duty forbids. I shalltherefore proceed to give a succinct and impartial ac-count of the various circumstances relating to thisstormy period, endeavouring to act upon the whole-some maxim, Audi alteram partem.

We have seen that Sir Joseph Banks was exceed-ingly active in all that concerned the internal affairsof the Society. He did not, however, stop here, but,