266 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE 



had arrived, with the infirmities attendant thereon, and the 

 probably distant year of my return to my native country 

 there, to enjoy the afternoon of my life, (a period I occasion- 

 ally contemplate,) I scarcely could for a moment hope for 

 such a gratification. I duly received his last letter, (of date 

 the 14th April, 1820;) it was short and explicit, and to me 

 highly gratifying — fully approving of my conduct in this 

 country, and reporting that the various journeyings of the 

 ]ast six years of an active life have eventually added something 

 to the brilliancy of the garden of our Sovereign. I am par- 

 ticular in preserving all the letters of my superiors; but this 

 I shall guard as I would the essential points of the religion 

 ill which I have been educated : it is the word of a dying 

 nobleman, whose liberality had fallen alike on the just and 

 unjust, whose kindnesses none of us can any more experi- 

 ence; and if, from a sight of it, I can from time to time 

 call up the courteous spirit of its illustrious writer, to regulate 

 my own frame of mind in the " jostlings of the world," liter- 

 ally I shall be a happy man.* 



On a previous occasion Sir Joseph Banks evinced that 

 kindness of heart and friendship for his proteg^, in a much 



* The following is the letter mentioned with such unmingled praise : — 



SoHO Square, Ut^ April, 18-20. 

 Ma Cunningham, 



Sia, — I have received safe and in good condition the numerous things 

 you have sent me, and the Royal Gardens have materially benefited by 

 what we have had from you. I give you great credit for having the second 

 time volunteered to go with Captain King to the north coast, we could 

 have no account of the plants he meets with from any other quarter. I 

 trust and hope, however, you will not be called away any more, but will be 

 able to attend to the inland excursions made from Sydney. I write you a 

 short letter, because I am not well. I know of nothing more to say to 

 you, than that I entirely approve of the whole of your conduct, as does 

 also our worthy friend, Aiton at Kew. 



Your sure Friend, 



(Signed) Jos. Banks. 



To Mr A. Cunningham, Botanical Collector ) 

 to His Majesty, George IV. i 



