BANKS AS A TKATELLER. 7 



and boy were taken on board, through whom Banks directed, 

 when in New Zealand, those inquiries into the custom.s of its 

 inhabitants, which are the ioiindatioii of our knowledge of that 

 interesting people. And when it is considered that the informa- 

 tion obtained . . . the fulness and accuracy of the description of 

 tlie New Zealanders, even as viewed in the light of modern 

 knowledge, are very remarkable. Nor should it be forgotlen that 

 it was to the drawings made by the artists whom Banks took in 

 his suite that the public is indebted for the magnificent series of 

 plates that adorn Hawkesworth's account of the voyage. Still 

 another motive is that Banks's Journal gives a life-like portrait of 

 a naturalist's daily occupation at sea and ashore nearly one hundred 

 and thirty years ago ; and thus supplements the history of a 

 voyage which, for extent and importance of geographic and 

 Itydrographic results, was unique and ' to the English nation the 

 most momentous voyage of discovery that has ever taken place,' 

 aiul has, moreover, directly led to the prosperity of the Empire; 

 for it was owing to the reports of Cook and Banks, and it is 

 believed, to the representations of the latter on the advantages of 

 Botany Bay as a site for a settlement, that Australia was first 

 colonised." (Journal, pp. viii, ix.) 



Sir John Pringle, President of the Royal Society, took Banks 

 to Kew, and introduced him to the 'King; an audience was 

 granted on the lOtli August, when Banks and Solander had a long 

 conference on their discoveries and marvellous adventures. A 

 cordial friendship thus arose between George III. and Banks, 

 which resulted in great benefits to Science, as you will be reminded 

 almost immediately. 



The friendship between Banks and liO^rd Sandwich, the Chief 

 of the Admiralty, was increased by the success of this voyage, and 

 so soon as the month of Se|)tember in the same year another 

 expedition was being planned, with two vessels under Cook. 

 Banks readily consented to share in the expedition, and his pre- 

 l)arations were on a still more costly scale than on the former 

 voyage. But ditliculties arose from the additions which had been 

 made in the 'Kesohition' to acconnnodate the naturalists, and 

 ultimately all Banks's stores were removed from the ship, and he 

 withdrew from the expedition. The Eorsters, father and son, 

 took his place. 



The extensive preparations made by Banks were not, however, 

 fruitle>s, for they were used for an expedition to Iceland on a 

 ship specially chartered by Banks ; it sailed on 12th July, 1772, 

 with a party of forty persons. Passing down the Channel, tiiey 

 liinded for two days in the Isle of Wight, touched at Plymouth, 

 and then shaped a couise for the We.stern Islands of Scotland. 

 AVhilst lying in the Sound of Mull, a chance meeting of friends 

 revealed the fact of an island which had hardly ever been visited, 

 A boat was ecpiipped with two days' ])rovisions, and Bii-uks and 

 his party made their way to Stali'a, which was discovered in this 



