SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 347 



whose name has been blackened by the assiduous efforts 

 of political faction, but who for many years was the firm 

 friend and only patron of Cook, being appointed to the 

 Government of Newfoundland, obtained for him the place 

 of marine surveyor of that island and Labrador. He 

 held that place for nearly four years, and enriched hydro- 

 graphical science by the most valuable charts of those 

 regions. The talents ^hich he had displayed as a navi- 

 gator were united to every bodily quality that can 

 fit men for either action, or labour, or suffering an eye 

 sure in estimating directions and distances; a frame of 

 iron ; an entire indifference to fatigue, or privations, or 

 the times of wakefulness or of rest. But these natural 

 aptitudes for great actions were even exceeded by his 

 excellent demeanour in every station whether of obe- 

 dience 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 audacke ad pericula capessenda, plurimum 

 consilii inter ipsa pericula erat ; nullo labore aut corpus 

 fatigari aut animus vinci poterat. Caloris ac frigoris 

 patientia par; cibi potionisque desiderio naturali, non 

 voluptate, modus finitus, vigiliarum sonmique 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 



