Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/596

 472 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. Not on board the Kesolution. In Iceland. 1743-1830. The success of this voyage, and the enthusiasm it evoked, led to a second voyage under the same commander in the Kesolution. At the solicitation of Lord Sandwich, Banks offered to accompany this expedition. The offer being accepted, the outfit was begun, and Zoffany the painter, three draughtsmen, two secretaries, and nine other skilled assistants were engaged. The accommodation on board was found insufficient, and additional cabins were built on deck. These were found on trial not only to affect the ship's sailing powers, but also her stability. They were therefore ordered to be demolished, and Banks abandoned his intention of sailing in the Resolution. Dr. Lind had been appointed naturalist to the expedition nnder a grant of £4,000, but on hearing of Banks's decision he declined the post. Dr. Johann Reinhold Forster and his son George ultimately sailed with the expedition. Being disap- pointed in this quarter. Banks resolved to visit Iceland with his followers and Dr. Solander. He reached that island in August, 1772, climbed to the top of Hecla, and returned in six weeks, the results being summarised in Dr. Von. Troils' volume. Sir John Pringle, president of the Royal Society, retired from the chair in 1 777, and Banks was chosen as his successor on 30th November, 1778, and held that distinguished position until his death. He found, it is stated, seci-etariea assuming the power which belonged to the president alone, and other abuses which he determined to rectify. This intention, coupled with the fact that natural history had been less cultivated than mathematics in the Royal Society, caused an amount of discontent amongst some of the members, which broke out a few years later in the session of 1783-4. ... A motion was ultimately carried in support of the president's conduct, and a few members left the society. Har- mony, however, was restored, and the ascendancy of Banks never again questioned. In March, 1779, Banks married Dorothea, daughter of William Weston Hugessen, of Provender, in Kent, who survived him. He was created a Baronet in 1781, invested with the Order of the Bath in July, 1795, and sworn of the Privy Council in March, 1797. In 1802 he was chosen a member of the National Institute of France, and his letter of thanks in response for the honour was the occasion of a bitter anonymous attack by an old opponent, Dr. Horsley, who taxed him with want of patriotic feeling. Towards the close of his life he was greatly troubled with gout, so much so as to lose at times the use of his limbs. He died at his house at Spring Grove, Isleworth, on 19 June, 1820, leaving a widow, but no children. By his express desire, he was buried in the simplest manner in the parish church. By will he left JB200 per annum to his librarian at his death, Robert Brown, with the use of his herbarium and library during his life, the reversion The Royal Society. Honours. Death. Digitized by Google