314 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



But these natural aptitudes for great actions were even 

 exceeded by his excellent demeanour in every station 

 whether of obedience or of command, by his fertility 

 of resources in all difficult situations, by his calmness 

 in danger, his firmness and presence of mind on every 

 emergency, " Plurimum audaciae ad pericula capes- 

 senda, plurimum consilii inter ipsa pericula erat; nullo 

 labore aut corpus fatigari aut animus vinci poterat. 

 Caloris ac frigoris patientia par ; cibi potionisque de- 

 siderio naturali, non voluptate, modus finitus. Vigili- 

 arum somnique nee die nee nocte discriminata tempora: 

 id quod gerendis rebus superesset quieti datum." 

 (Liv. xxi. c. 4.) 



So accomplished a seaman, or one so admirably 

 fitted for exploring new and unknown regions, guided 

 only by science and relying only on his own resources 

 in all perils and all emergencies, has never perhaps 

 been offered to the choice of a Government desirous 

 of promoting this interesting and difficult branch of 

 the public service. He was accordingly promoted to 

 the rank of Lieutenant and placed at the head of this 

 expedition. Such was the chief under whom Mr. 

 Banks embarked in this important enterprise ; and in 

 admiration of his great qualities he yielded to none of 

 his followers. There was, indeed, something exceed- 

 ingly congenial in the two characters ; the same love 

 of discipline, the same firmness of purpose, the same 

 exclusive devotion to the one object in view, the same 

 strict and even punctilious regard to the performance 

 of his duty, the same active habits, and the same con- 

 tempt of everything but action, distinguished alike 

 these eminent individuals, and knit them together in 

 an indissoluble friendship notwithstanding the some- 

 what stern temper of the one and the occasionally 

 irascible disposition of the other, and notwithstanding 

 the wide difference of the favourite pursuits to which 

 their several lives had been devoted. There was, 

 moreover, a considerable difference of age ; for Banks 



