10 
HISTORY OF THE 
[1820-50 
Resolved unanimously— 
That the Treasurer be required to lay out, from time to time, 
in public securities, such other sums in his hands, not requisite for 
the current expences of the Society. 
The above minutes were read and admitted to be correct, 
April 14, 1820. 
Francis Baily, Sec. H. T. Colebrooke. 
At this distance of time we can afford to regard with equanimity 
the action of Sir Joseph Banks, and to recall some circumstances 
which may remove any feeling of bitterness. He had had a long 
and distinguished reign of forty years over the Royal Society, 
but it had nearly come to an end. On 1820 May 18, age and 
illness led him to tender his resignation of the Presidency; but it 
was not accepted by the Council, and he accordingly withdrew 
it. The early R.A.S. Minutes have reminded us of the death of 
King George III. on January 29. When the Bishop of Carlisle and 
the Vice-Presidents of the Royal Society waited upon the new 
monarch with the book of signatures, he took occasion, after 
inscribing his name as Patron, to congratulate the Society that 
Sir Joseph Banks should have withdrawn his resignation and 
continue in office : and doubtless His Majesty represented public 
opinion. But the continuance was for a few months only, and on 
the death of the veteran, the new President, Sir Humphry Davy, 
was most cordial to the new Society. We need not make too much 
of the fears of an old and enfeebled man : nor need w r e regard un 
favourably the action of his friend the Duke of Somerset in refusing 
to wound him at such a time. Their relations were apparently 
closely personal, as we may gather from the Duke’s letter itself, 
but more definitely still on looking up his personal history. 
According to The Times for 1855 August 16, he named his third 
son Algernon Percy Banks Seymour (1813-94), doubtless out of 
regard for his friend. [The son of this third son ultimately suc 
ceeded to the title, following his father after all three sons had 
inherited in turn.] The Duke chosen as President was the eleventh 
(1775-1855), and succeeded to the peerage on his father’s death in 
1793. He was F.R.S., F.S.A., F.L.S. ; President of the Royal 
Literary Fund (1801-38) and of the Royal Institution for some 
years ; “an excellent landlord ; ” supported the repeal of the 
Corn Laws ; and wrote books on the ellipse and circle (1842 and 
1850). Our founders seem to have made a thoroughly good 
choice, and we may well regret that regard for an old friend’s 
feelings, however mistaken they may have been, prevented so 
worthy a man starting us on our w r ay. 
The first impulse of the executive was to find a new President