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The Horticultural Society has been ridden almost to death； and is now rousing itself； but its constitution seems to have been somewhat impaired。 There are hopes of its purgation； and ultimate restoration； notwithstanding a debt of 19；000L。； which the Committee of Inquiry have ascertained to exist。 This； after all； will not be without its advantage to science； if it puts a stop to HOUSE…LISTS； NAMED BY ONE OR TWO PERSONS； to making COMPLIMENTARY councillors；and to auditing the accounts WITHOUT EXAMINING EVERY ITEM； or to omitting even that form altogether。
The Medico…Botanical Society suddenly claimed the attention of the public； its pretensions were greatits assurance unbounded。 It speedily became distinguished； not by its publications or discoveries； but by the number of princes it enrolled in its list。 It is needless now to expose the extent of its short…lived quackery； but the evil deeds of that institution will long remain in the impression they have contributed to confirm throughout Europe； of the character of our scientific establishments。 It would be at once a judicious and a dignified course； if those lovers of science； who have been so grievously deceived in this Society； were to enrol upon the latest page of its history its highest claim to public approbation； and by signing its dissolution； offer the only atonement in their power to the insulted science of their country。 As with a singular inversion of principle； the society contrived to render EXPULSION* the highest HONOUR it could confer； so it remains for it to exemplify； in suicide； the sublimest virtue of which it is capable。 ＇* They expelled from amongst them a gentleman； of whom it is but slight praise to say； that he is the first and most philosophical botanist of our own country； and who is admired abroad as he is respected at home。 The circumstance which surprised the world was not his exit from； but his previous entrance into that Society。＇
CHAPTER IV。
STATE OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY IN PARTICULAR。
As the venerable first parent of English； and I might perhaps say； of European scientific societies； as a body in the welfare of which； in the opinions of many； the interests of British science are materially involved； I may be permitted to feel anxiously； and to speak more in detail。
SECTION 1。
MODE OF BECOMING A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY。
I have no intention of stating what ought to be the qualifications of a Fellow of the Royal Society； but； for years； the practical mode of arriving at that honour； has been as follows：
A。 B。 gets any three Fellows to sign a certificate； stating that he （A。 B。） is desirous of becoming a member； and likely to be a useful and valuable one。 This is handed in to the Secretary； and suspended in the meeting…room。 At the end of ten weeks； if A。 B。 has the good fortune to be perfectly unknown by any literary or scientific achievement； however small； he is quite sure of being elected as a matter of course。 If； on the other hand； he has unfortunately written on any subject connected with science； or is supposed to be acquainted with any branch of it； the members begin to inquire what he has done to deserve the honour； and； unless he has powerful friends； he has a fair chance of being black…balled。 ＇I understand that certificates are now read at the Council； previously to their being hung up in the meeting…room； but I am not aware that this has in the slightest degree diminished their number； which was； at the time of writing this note； TWENTY…FOUR。＇
In fourteen years' experience； the few whom I have seen rejected； have all been known persons； but even in such cases a hope remains； perseverance will do much； and a gentleman who values so highly the distinction of admission to the Royal Society； may try again； and even after being twice black…balled； if he will a third time condescend to express his desire to become a member； he may perhaps succeed； by the aid of a hard canvass。 In such circumstances； the odds are much in favour of the candidate possessing great scientific claims； and the only objection that could then reasonably be suggested； would arise from his estimating rather too highly a distinction which had become insignificant from its unlimited extension。
It should be observed； that all members contribute equally； and that the sum now required is fifty pounds。 It used； until lately； to be ten pounds on entrance； and four pounds annually。 The amount of this subscription is so large； that it is calculated to prevent many men of real science from entering the Society； and is a very severe tax on those who do so； for very few indeed of the cultivators of science rank amongst the wealthy classes。 Several times； whilst I have been consulting books or papers at Somerset House； persons have called to ask the Assistant… secretary the mode of becoming a member of the Royal Society。 I should conjecture； from some of these applications； that it is not very unusual for gentlemen in the country to order their agents in London to take measures for putting them up at the Royal Society。
SECTION 2。
OF THE PRESIDENCY AND VICE…PRESIDENCIES。
Why Mr。 Davies Gilbert became President of the Royal Society I cannot precisely say。 Let him who penned； and those who supported this resolution solve the enigma：
〃It was Resolved；
〃That it is the opinion of the Council that Davies Gilbert； Esq。 is by far the most fit person to be proposed to the Society at the approaching anniversary as President； and that he be recommended accordingly。〃
To resolve that he was a FIT person might have been sufficiently flattering： to state that he was the most fit； was a little hard upon the rest of the Society； but to resolve that he was 〃BY FAR THE MOST FIT〃 was only consistent with that strain of compliment in which his supporters indulge； and was a eulogy； by no means unique in its kind； I believe； even at that very Council。
That Mr。 Gilbert is a most amiable and kind…hearted man will be instantly admitted by all who are； in the least degree； acquainted with him： that he is fit for the chair of the Royal Society； will be allowed by few； except those who have committed themselves to the above…quoted resolution。
Possessed of knowledge and of fortune more than sufficient for it； he might have been the restorer of its lustre。 He might have called round him； at the council board； those most actively engaged in the pursuits of science； most anxious for the improvement of the Royal Society。 Instead of himself proposing resolutions； he might have been； what a chairman ought to be； the organ of the body over which he presides。 By the firmness of his own conduct he might have taught the subordinate officers of the Society the duties of their station。 Instead of paying compliments to Ministers； who must have smiled at his simplicity； he might have maintained the dignity of his Council by the dignity of knowledge。
But he has chosen a different path； with no motives of interest to allure； or of ambition to betray him； instead of making himself respected as the powerful chief of a united republic； that of science；he has grasped at despotic power； and stands the feeble occupant of its desolated kingdom； trembling at the force of opinions he might have directed； and refused even the patronage of their names by those whose energies he might have commanded。
Mr。 Gilbert told the Society he accepted the situation for a year； and this circumstance caused a difficulty in finding a Treasurer： an office which he had long held； and to which he wished to return。
Another difficulty might have arisen； from the fact of the late Board of Longitude comprising amongst its Members the PRESIDENT of the Royal Society； and three of its Fellows； appointed by the President and Council。 Of course； when Mr。 Gilbert accepted the higher situation； he became； EX OFFICIO； a Member of the Board of Longitude； and a vacancy occurred； which ought to have been filled up by the President and Council。 But when this subject was brought before them； in defiance of common sense； and the plain meaning of the act of parliament； which had enacted that the Board of Longitude should have the assistance of four persons belonging to the Royal Society；