20 MEMOIR OF 



Seas, under the command of Lieutenant Cook, 

 than he intimated to his neighbour, Lord Sand- 

 wich, then first Lord of the Admiralty, with 

 whom he was in the habit of enjoying aquatic 

 sports on Whittlesea Mere, his desire to be per- 

 mitted to join the expedition. This was readily 

 acceded to, and Mr Banks determined to spare no 

 expense in availing himself of the advantages that 

 were thus opened before him. He, therefore, en- 

 gaged the celebrated Dr Solander,* the friend and 

 pupil of Linnaeus, at a salary of 400 per annum, 

 during the voyage ; together with Mr Sydney 



* Of the wisdom of this choice, Dr Pulteney's character 

 of Solander is a proof. He says, '* At this juncture, it is 

 material, among those circumstances which accelerated the 

 progress of the new system, (the Linnsean,) to mention 

 the arrival of the late much lamented Dr Solander, who 

 came into England on the first of July, 1760. His name, 

 and the connection he was known to bear as the favourite 

 pupil of his great master, had of themselves some share in 

 exciting a curiosity, which led to information ; whilst 

 his perfect acquaintance with the whole scheme enabled 

 him to explain its minutest parts, and elucidate all those 

 obscurities with which, on a superficial view, it was 

 thought to be enveloped. I add to this, that the urbanity 

 of his manners, and his readiness to afford every assistance 

 in his power, joined to that clearness and energy with 

 which he effected it, not only brought conviction of its 

 excellence in those who were inclined to receive it, but 

 conciliated the mind, and dispelled the prejudices of many 

 who had been averse to it." Sketches of the Progress of 

 Botany, vol. ii. p. 350. 



