d
resigned it, on receiving the appointment of Secretary to the late Board
of Longitude, to be appointed.

I am, Sir, Your obedient servant,

JOHN BARROW.

The representation made by the Council was not calculated to produce
much effect; but the Secretary of the Admiralty, who knew well the stuff
of which Councils of the Royal Society are composed, might have spared
the bitter irony of making their Lordships say, that they recommended
this plan "AS A MARK OF RESPECT TO THE SOCIETY," and "AS A PLEDGE TO
THE PUBLIC OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PERSONS CHOSEN," whilst he
delicately hints to them their dependent situation, by observing, that
the "RESIDENT COMMITTEE IS ALSO ANNUALLY APPOINTED."

The Secretary knew that, PRACTICALLY speaking, it had been the custom
for years for the President of the Royal Society to nominate the
Council, and consequently he knew that every scientific adviser must
first be indebted to the President for being qualified to advise, and
then to the Admiralty for deriving profit from his counsel. Thus then
their Lordships, as a "MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE SOCIETY" confirm the
dependence of the Council on the President, by making his nomination
a qualification for place, and establish a new dependence of the same
Council on themselves, by giving a hundred pounds each year to such
three members of that Council as they may select. "THE PLEDGE" they
offer "TO THE PUBLIC, OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PERSONS CHOSEN," is,
that Mr. Davies Gilbert had previously thought they would do for his
Council.

What the Society, when they are acquainted with it, may think of this
mark of respect, or what value the public may put upon this pledge, must
be left to themselves to express.

In looking over the list of officers and Council of the Royal Society
the weakest perhaps (for purposes of science) which was ever made, a
consolation arises from the possibility of some of those who were placed
there by way of compliment, occasionally attending. In that contracted
field Lord Melville's penetration may not be uselessly employed; and the
soldier who presides over our colonies may judge whether the principles
which pervade it are open and liberal as his own.

The inconvenience to the public service from such an arrangement is,
that the number out of which the advisers are selected must, in
any case, be very small; and may, from several circumstances, be
considerably reduced. In a council fairly selected, to judge