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MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF

CHAPTER V.

Death of Sir Joseph Banks in 1820, whom he succeeds as President ofthe Royal Society —Particulars of him in connection with this office—Observations on it—Notices of his continued scientific labours ; espe-cially on magnetism and the liquefaction of the gases—Verses on LordByron—Researches on the corrosion and on the protection of thecopper sheathing of vessels—Journal of an excursion in Norway andSweden in 1824 — His declining health in 1825—Specimens of hispoetry at that time — His last election as president of the Royal Society .

On the 19th June, Sir Joseph Banks , who had been forso many years President of the Royal Society , died.*My brother immediately came forward as a candidatefor the office thus rendered vacant; the highest inhonour to which a man of science can aspire in England.The dignity, no doubt, was attractive to him. It wassurely an honourable ambition to occupy a place whichhad been filled by Newton. But this, I believe, wasnot his principal motive. He conceived that hispowers of usefulness would be increased; that he shouldbe able to give an impulse to science, and forward itsadvancement by example and exhortation; and heflattered himself that he might be able to prevail withthe members of his Majesty’s Government to afford toscience some substantial support, worthy of the cause

* He was first elected in 1778, and re-elected annually till his death,comprising a period of 42 years.