-396 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 



Australia was fortunate in having such an unselfish, noble- 

 minded patriot to look after her interests in the early days, and I 

 am sure that, when the situation is properly explained, she will not 

 allow the man to whom she owes so much to be uncommemorated, 

 especially as she has so honoured men of inferior calibre and achieve- 

 ment. 



[The lecturer here announced that a committee had been formed 

 with the object (a) of erecting a replica of the Chantrey statue of 

 Banks in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, where so many of the Banksian 

 manuscripts have found a home, and [b) of founding a Banksian 

 University Prize in Botany.] 



A trait of Banks' character which always charms me is the 

 kindness and patience with which he deals with such of his friends 

 as were in humble walks of life. He writes at greater length to a 

 working man than to the Secretary to the Admiralty. He had the 

 knack of getting the best services out of a man for the benefit of 

 Australia. His, indeed, was a fine character, and I am confident 

 that my fellow-Australians admire a good man. 



He was corresponding member of the Institute of France, at a 

 tijne when England and France were engaged in the fiercest struggles, 

 but, throughout those stqrmy times, he retained the respect and affec- 

 tion of French scientific men. The eulogium of him by the eminent 

 Cuvier was one of the noblest discourses ever pronounced by one 

 scientific man upon another. He pointed out that on ten occasions 

 Banks caused specimens collected by French scientific men, and which 

 had been captured by British cruisers, to be transmitted to Paris un- 

 opened. Napoleon declared that the name of Banks was spoken of 

 with affection throughout France. We will let him rest with Cuvier's 

 beautiful tribute, the force of which is understood by every scientific 

 man. 



(The lecture was illustrated by 51 lantern slides.) 



