BANKS AS rATRON" OF SCIENCK. i) 



BANKS AS PATRON OF SCIENCE. 

 By A. B. Eendle, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S., Sec.L.S. 



A VEUV early instance of Banks's interest in ilie pi-oiuotion ot" 

 .Science is fouiul in his lime at Oxford. Banks wished to learn 

 sometliing of Botany, but the t,eacliin<j; of Jiotany was a|)pai"entiy 

 not one of the functions of the then Professor, 11 iiinphrey Sib- 

 thorp ; however, he was pleased to approve a suygesiion by voting 

 liaiiks iliat a lecturer or reader nnght be i)i-oviiled who should be 

 reniunerated bv com rif)ut ions from his students. No such person 

 being available at Oxfoid, Jianks rode to Cambridge to consult 

 John Martyn, w lio was abl<- to supply the want in the person of 

 Jsrael Lyons, a niathematician and botanist of Trinity, irom 

 whose teaching IJimks and his fellow-students at Oxford profited. 



The long three-vear Noynge with Capt. Cook, suggesting to a 

 mind keen on the i)ursiiit uf Natural History and quick to a|)pi'e- 

 ■ciate Its api)licatii/n ill the interest and for the delight of his 

 felljw-men, the wonderful possibilities of botanical exploration in 

 little-known parts of the world, supplied the stimulus for the 

 numerous remarkabl}^ varied schemes and pursuits which lead us 

 to regard Banks as a great patron of Science. On his return to 

 England in 1771 Banks found himself already famous. He wns 

 introduced to the King, and a friendship beg.ui '.vhich was fraught 

 with gre;it benefit to Science and to humanity. The Kinii; 

 habitually consulted Banks on matters bearing on the welfare of 

 his people, and Banks was able to suggest or help forward useful 

 schemes. 



In the autumn of 1777 Banks took tlie large house in Soho 

 Square (No. ^2), which was his principal residence for the rest of 

 his liie, and which became the resort of stiidenls, who were free 

 to consult the tine lilirary, museum, and herbarium, and of all 

 ■classes of persons interested in schemes of philanthropy or for the 

 advancement of Science. 



The French traveller and scientist, Bartlu'lemy Faiqas de 

 ■Saint-Foiid, writes (' Travels in Enifland aiul Scotland and the 

 Western Islands in 17S4'): — 



Banks's house was the "rendezvous of those who cultivate the 

 sciences. They assemble every morninij; in one of the apartments 

 of a numerous library, which consists entirely of books on Natural 

 History, and is the completest of its kind in existence. There 

 all the journals and public papers, relative to the sciences, are to 

 be found; and there they communicate to each other such new 

 discoveries, as they are informed of by their respective correspon- 

 dents, or wdiich are transmitted by the learned foreigners who 

 visit Lonilon, and who are all admitted into this society. A 

 friendly breakfast of tea or coii'ee supports that tone of ease and 

 fraternity which ought universally to prevail among men of 

 ■Science and letters." 



