378 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



the sanction of one Act of Parliament at a low rate, and to 

 be taxed under another Act at a high one ? English policy 

 does not admit such an idea, and I doubt whether it would 

 b(! well received in Turkey or in Barbary; besides, no in- 

 crease in the value of stock has taken place since this valu- 

 ation was made. 



" I thank you much for having provided me with a 

 pony. I can do without it till I come to lievesby : you 

 will by that time be perfectly acquainted with its qualities. 

 Perfect surefootedness is my great object. I am weak ; 

 and if a horse should fall under me, I cannot hold myself 

 upon him. 



" You were right in telling the Fen Commissioners, that 

 if they do not allow to the soke their just rights over the 

 Fodder Fen, I must seek justice elsewhere. The Fodder 

 Dike is so strong an argument, and the constant usage, 

 that it would be in truth a crying injustice to be blind, as 

 they seemed to wish to be, to a right so substantially 

 established. 



" If you wish for further instructions on the subject of 

 the surcharges, be good enough to write to me, and state 

 what your opinion is, and what other people think. I could 

 easily fill another sheet of paper, for I am sure that Govern- 

 ment never meant a surcharge on property let honestly and 

 i'nirly, however low that rent might be ; all they sought for 

 was to check collusion and other kinds of cheating. 

 " Your sure friend, 



11 Jos. BANKS." 



SIE J. BANKS TO LOED GRENYILLE. 



" MY LOUD, " SOHO SQUARE, July 20th, 179G. 



" When I had the honour near three weeks ago of 

 waiting upon your Lordship, by your appointment, on the 

 business of M. de Billardiere, I was in hopes I had con- 

 vinced your Lordship that the measure of returning to that 

 gentleman the collections of natural history he had made 

 during his employment as a naturalist on the voyage of 

 discovery sent from France for the purpose of inquiring 

 into the fate of the late M. de Peyrouse, was a measure 

 likely to do honour to the national character of the English, 



