368 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



III. was of long standing : that Prince loved the manly 

 frankness of his character, the cburage with which he 

 had so often exposed himself to danger in the pursuit 

 of knowledge, and the firmness with which his conduct 

 was marked on all trying occasions. Sir Joseph's poli- 

 tical principles, too, those of a high tory, were much 

 to the Monarch's liking ; and a country gentleman who 

 never troubled himself with Parliamentary life, nor 

 ever desired to rise above the rank he was born to, 

 was sure to find a friend in His Majesty. Though a 

 tory, and very firm in his opinions, both in Church 

 and State, he was anything rather than a party man. 

 He never interfered in politics beyond using his legiti- 

 mate influence in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, where 

 his property lay, to aid those country gentlemen whom 

 he believed fitted to make useful representatives of the 

 landed interest; and so entirely devoid of common 

 party feelings was his use of this influence, that he 

 always supported Lord Yarborough, then Mr. Pelham, 

 a whig, as well as Mr. Chaplin, a tory. This just and 

 impartial conduct was not displeasing to the King; 

 and among other marks of good-will, was his recom- 

 mending to Sir Joseph an attention to agricultural 

 pursuits. I have heard him say that he took to farm- 

 ing by the King's desire. He pursued this pleasing 

 occupation with his characteristic energy, and under- 

 stood its principles thoroughly, as he practised it with 

 far more than the success that usually attends amateurs. 

 When the King fell hopelessly ill, in 1811, I well re- 

 member Sir Joseph Banks saying, he had ceased since 

 then being a farmer, having only " taken up the trade 

 by his Majesty's commands." 



A common story is to be found in the slight attempts 

 that have been made to write his life, as if the Minis- 

 ters were used occasionally to employ his personal 

 influence with the King, to obtain his consent to 

 measures which he disliked. I will venture to give 

 this statement a very peremptory contradiction. 1 am 



