372 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



The escape from such a chief was further enhanced 

 in value by the excellent qualities of him whom the 

 victory kept in the chair. He showed no jealousy of any 

 rival, no prejudice in one person's favour rather than 

 another's. He was equally accessible to all, for counsel 

 and for help ; where his own knowledge did not suffice, 

 he could easily obtain the aid of those more devoted to 

 the subject of the application. His house, his library, his 

 whole valuable collections, were at all times open to 

 men of science ; while his credit, both with our own and 

 foreign Governments, and, if need were, the resource of 

 his purse, was ever ready to help the prosecution of their 

 inquiries. I know of many persons, since eminent, who 

 when only tyros in science, and wholly unknown to fame, 

 have been patronized by him ; and one of these tells me, 

 with grateful recollection, of the kindness he experienced 

 in his younger days from that useful and liberal patron, 

 " who would (says my friend) send all over Europe and 

 further to get either the information or the thing that I 

 wished to have." Where private aid failed of the desired 

 effects, he had access to the Government ; he could obtain 

 countenance and assistance from the public departments, 

 beside removing those many and so often insurmount- 

 able obstacles which the forms of office and the prejudices 

 of official men plant in the way of literary research. 



Many circumstances concurred to give Sir Joseph Banks 

 the power which he so largely exercised of patronizing 

 and promoting the labours of scientific men. His ample 



for the Right Reverend Editor, or the least disposition to admit his 

 claim either as head of the mathematicians whom he marshalled to 

 defeat, or as aspiring to fill the Society's chair. 



