The President,
Joshua Kirby had clearly made plans to send some form of private petition to the King, immediately after the resignation of eight Directors on 10 November 1768. The petition did not, in the event, materialise.
Describing the need to obtain a new letter of attorney in order for Paine to gain access to the funds of the Society of Artists and sell £80 of stock to discharge bills. Ralph goes on to criticise the "absurd" petition [to
the King] (in remarks that are strictly between themselves) which he says asks
nothing, and, if rejected, will result in the Society being laughed at, to the exultation of "the other side". He adds, in parenthesis, that he is "amazed at
Paton's acquiescence."