Biographical Note. ix. 



July 14th, 1789, and written just before landing in England, he tells 

 of an interesting discovery he made while on the west side of North 

 America, as follows: "In a remote corner inland the natives had a 

 short warlike weapon of solid brass, somewhat in the shape of a New 

 Zealand pata-patos, about 15 inches long. It had a short handle, with 

 a round knob at the end ; and the blade was of an oval form, thick 

 in the middle but becoming thinner toward the edges, and embellished 

 on one side with an escutcheon, inscribing Jos. Banks, Esq. The 

 natives put a high value on it ; they would not part with it for con- 

 siderable offers. The inscription and escutcheonal embellishments were 

 nearly worn off by their great attentions in keeping it clean. . . . 

 To commemorate this discovery I have given your name to a cluster 

 of islands round where we were then at anchor. In the course of a 

 few days I shall have the honour of pointing out to you their situation 

 and extent on a chart which I have made of the coast ; as also of 

 presenting you with a few mementoes from that and other parts of 

 it. Till which I am, with due respect," etc. 



Having attained some fame as a botanist, the British Government 

 appointed him in 1790 as Naturalist to accompany Captain Vancouver 

 in the " Discovery " on a voyage round the world. He visited the 

 Cape of Good Hope, Australia, New Zealand, the Sandwich Islands, 

 and the North-west Coast of America. Owing to the sickness of Mr. 

 Cranstoun, the surgeon of the " Discovery," Menzies was appointed 

 in his place, and his services in this connection were commended by 

 Captain Vancouver, who says in the preface to his journal of the 

 voyage that not one man died from ill-health between the date of the 

 departure of the expedition from the Cape on the way out and that of 

 its return in October, 1795. 



Before setting out on the voyage. Sir Joseph Banks, at the request 

 of Lord Gi^nville, furnished Menzies with formal instructions. He 

 was to investigate the whole of the natural history of the countries 

 visited, paying attention to the nature of the soil, and in view of the 

 prospect of sending out settlers from England, whether grains, fruits, 

 etc., cultivated in Europe are likely to thrive. All trees, shrubs, plants, 

 grasses, ferns, and mosses were to be enumerated by their scientific 

 names as well as those used in the language of the natives. He was to 

 dry specimens of all that were worthy of being brought home and all 

 that could be procured, either living plants or seeds, so that their names 

 and qualities could be ascertained at His Majesty's gardens at Kew. Any 

 curious or valuable plants that could not be propagated from seeds were 

 to be dug up and planted in the glass frame provided for the purpose. 

 He was also to examine beds of brooks, sides of cliffs, and other places 



