166

HISTORY OF

[ 1780 — 85 .

The 5th May was appointed for the election. TheMeeting-room was crowded by Fellows. The Presi-dent took the chair at half-past eleven, a.m., andannounced that the ballot would be kept open untilhalf-past two p.m. At the latter hour the boxeswere closed, and the scrutators reported that thenumbers for Dr. Blagden were 139, and for Dr. Hut-ton 39. This great majority in favour of the candi-date brought forward by the President and Council,had the happy effect which was anticipated. The ordi-nary Meetings resumed their former scientific appear-ance ; and if harmony was not entirely restored, atleast there was no longer any violent attempts madeto interrupt the regular business of the Society.

Another, and a strong reason had, there is nodoubt, considerable influence in restoring order. Thiswas the discovery that Dr. Horsley had ulteriormotives for his violent conduct, besides the imme-diate reformation of the subjects of his complaint.In short, it was shrewdly suspected that he aimed atbeing raised to occupy the chair, from whence he wasso anxious to eject Sir Joseph Banks .

On this subject Lord Brougham says :—

“ To have saved the Society from such a consumma-tion as being under Dr. Horsley's presidency, was trulya service of the highest value, which, in a somewhat un-usual, though certainly not an irregular manner, wasrendered by the Members who attended and resistedthe factious combination. His assuming the station ofleader among the mathematicians was altogether pre-posterous ; and he might have been raised to the Chairby dint of the intrigue which he set on foot, and theferment which he excited in the bosom of the Society,without any victory whatever being gained for mathe-