4 Baron Cuvier's Historical Eloge of 



year in this country. Here he perfected the art of digging canals 

 and raising dikes, so important for the improvement of land 

 like this ; he peopled the pools and small lakes of this fenny 

 country, and sometimes amused himself with fishing. It is even 

 said that it was in this exercise that he contracted a friendship 

 with John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, who afterwards became 

 First Lord of the Admiralty, and who saw his name immorta^ 

 lized by the surprising advances in physical geography that 

 took place during the time of his administration. 



If this anecdote be true, it presents an additional example of 

 the great eiFects that may result from a trivial cause ; for it can- 

 not be doubted that Mr Banks's influence contributed power- 

 fully to multiply these discoveries. If he did not require to ex- 

 cite the Earl of Sandwich to expeditions which the will of the 

 King sufficiently recommended to him, it is not the less true 

 that he more than once pointed out to him the places to which 

 it would be most advantageous to direct them, and acquainted 

 him with the surest means of rendering them successful. 



The example of this minister besides, became at length a 

 sort of rule, and the numerous successors which he had in this 

 elevated post, all thought themselves honoured by consulting 

 the man whose advice had proved so beneficial. 



Mr Banks, however, did not wait until he had acquired this 

 degree of credit, to carry his views into execution. In 1766, 

 one of his friends being captain of the vessel that was destined 

 to protect the Newfoundland Fishery, he profited by the oppor- 

 tunity thus aflbrded of visiting that country. This was not 

 indeed directing his first course toward the most attractive coast, 

 but he soon had an opportunity of compensating for it. 



The peace of 1763 came to restore tranquillity to Europe, 

 and to open the seas again. The nations sought to repair, by 

 new enterprises, the evils which their dissensions had caused. 

 England especially, victorious in both hemispheres, and seeing 

 unlimited careers present themselves on all sides to her fortune, 

 shewed an energy, which, directed by an ambitious chief, might 

 have proved highly injurious to humanity. Fortunately, at this 

 period, a sceptre which was almost that of the ocean, passed into 

 the hands of a young Monarch, pure in his morals, simple in 

 his tastes, and who had early learned that useful discoveries 



