mness 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, Mr. Gilbert refused to allow
it to be filled up, on the ground that he should not be President next
year, and had made no vacancy.

Next year Mr. Gilbert wished again to be President one other year; but
the Board of Longitude was dissolved, otherwise we might have had some
LOCUM TENENS to retire at Mr. Gilbert's pleasure.

These circumstances are in themselves of trifling importance, but they
illustrate the character of the proceedings: and it is not becoming
the dignity of science or of the Society that its officers should be so
circumstanced as to have an apparent and direct interest in supporting
the existing President, in order to retain their own places; and if
such a system is once discovered, doubt immediately arises as to the
frequency of such arrangements.

SECTION 3. OF THE SECRETARISHIPS.

Whether the present Secretaries are