94 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



and asks Banks for "a letter or verbal recommendation" to the 

 Count. 



On Sept. 26 of the same year," Bacstrom writes at length as to 

 a proposal of the Government "to transport the convicts to the 

 coast of New Holland," where " they mean to build a little fort 

 and estalilish a kind of colony." He thought he might go out 

 with the two frigates which were to be sent to arrange things 

 there, returning with them when things were settled, and in the 

 interval collecting "plants, seeds, shells, minerals, or whatever 

 [he] could meet with." He enters into details as to his proposed 

 mineralogical investigations, and continues, " Though I am but a 

 very poor botanist, yet I c'' collect whatever I c'^ get, plants and 

 seeds ; I c'' make shift to make a tolerable sketch * of a plant 

 relative to colours and shape, tho' not botanically true, yet the 

 dried specimens brought home, and the seed raised afterwards in 

 a hot house in England w'' ascertain the character and compleat 

 what I had imperfectly delineated." 



This plan like others apparently came to nothing. The next 

 we hear of Bacstrom is in his letter dated June 15, 1791, from 

 which we learn that in 1786 he " became acquainted with a 

 gentleman who was a lover of chymical experiments for the sake 

 of making useful discoveries in natural subjects, who placed me 

 in the house where I live at present [2 Paradise Place, Maryle- 

 bone] , who enabled me by his generous assistance to establish a 

 compendious and convenient laboratory, which has cost £200, 

 and then allowed me £150 a year for making chymical experi- 

 ments, for rent, taxes, our living, &c., all included." This kept 

 Bacstrom employed until 1789, but in September of that year 

 his patron died ; " to my great misfortune he was behindhand with 

 me for his last quarterly payment, and left me indebted above £30, 

 with only 5 shill: in the house. Since that time I have struggled 

 on. I have practised physic, and performed some good cures, but 

 among people of no note. But my practice is insufficient to 

 support me, as I cannot depend upon one guinea a month." He 

 adds that his wife had " waited on General Kainsford, who pro- 

 posed that a subscription might be raised with Sir Joseph's 

 approbation and under his sanction." At the foot of this letter 

 Banks has added a copy of his answer : 



" As during the time you received a salary from me you always 

 conducted yourself with integrity, I shall readily subscribe 5 guineas 

 towards extricating you from your present distress, provided Gen. 

 Eainsford will undertake to promote a subscription among his 

 chemical friends to whom you are much better known than to any 

 acquaintance of mine." 



This note has reference to the appeal in the first paragraph of 

 Bacstrom's letter, in which he refers to Banks's having formerly 

 treated him " with so much goodness ; yet where can I apply to ? 



* A water-colour drawing of a whale in the Library of the Zoological 

 Department of the Natural History Museum (dated 1786) sliows that Bacstrom 

 was a careful draughtsman. 



