356 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



patience, and he reluctantly abandoned this enterprise 

 so near his heart. The name of the wrong-doer must 

 not be suffered to perish, and thus escape the scorn 

 which it so well deserves from each friend of science, 

 and of a liberal and enlightened national policy ; nor 

 must it be concealed even because of the great service 

 he had before rendered by his patronage of Capt. Cook. 

 The Comptroller who thus thwarted both the wishes of 

 the scientific world and the views of his own official 

 superiors, probably from being one that 



Hated learning worse than toad or asp, 



was Sir Hugh Palliser. The common report that Capt. 

 Cook had himself objected to and frustrated Sir Joseph's 

 plan of accompanying him, is against all probability, 

 and it rests on no evidence whatever. A letter of the 

 Captain's is given in the Appendix, and it betokens an 

 entire disposition to aid his friend and fellow-voyager 

 in his arrangements. 



Mr. Banks, however, was determined not altogether 

 to lose the fruits of his extensive and costly prepara- 

 tions for an expedition which he was thus prevented 

 from joining. He fitted out a voyage to Iceland, which 

 he undertook with his trusty and tried friend, Dr. So- 

 lander, and with a Swedish clergyman, Dr. Von Troil, 

 of Iceland. Including draughtsmen, secretaries, sea- 

 men and attendants, there were forty persons in com- 

 pany ; and in August, 1772, they reached the island. 

 They remained there for a month, examining everything 

 that related to its natural history, and especially the 

 volcano, Hecla, and the boiling springs, Reykum and 

 Geyser, for which it is famous. A rich collection of 

 books and manuscripts was likewise purchased, and pre- 

 sented by Mr. Banks to the British Museum. Dr. Von 

 Troil, who afterwards became Archbishop of Upsal, 

 published a full and interesting account of the voyage. 

 Mr. Banks left the subject in his hands with his wonted 

 aversion to the pursuit of literary fame, and his habitual 



