4 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



formerly^ '. l . \'* Browne Willis found Banks thirsting for 

 information on the history of his county, and worked up 

 some records of Revesby for him. And he gave the pro- 

 found advice for every gentleman's son " every lad of a 

 mannour " to collect in a book what he could of his parish, 

 urging his old friend to employ a transcriber from the 

 Records, when next time he is called up to London. 



Mr. Banks died in 1727, aged sixty-two years. His 

 son Joseph was another honoured squire : Fellow of the 

 Society of Antiquaries, and a member of the Spalding 

 Gentlemen's Society. He was member of Parliament for 

 Peterborough, and sometime Sheriff of Lincolnshire. He 

 rebuilt Revesby Church. 



The next generation is represented by William Banks, 

 who succeeded to the family estates on his father's death 

 in 1736. This was another public-spirited man, doubtless 

 a person of some consequence in the county. There was 

 published, in 1749, an " Open Letter " to this gentleman 

 on " Distemper among Horned Cattle " : a circumstance 

 which would imply something of leadership in agricultural 

 improvement. He represented Grampound in Parliament. 



William Banks's wife was Marianne, daughter of William 

 Bate, Esq. One would like to know more of this lady, 

 the parent of such a masterful character as was that 

 of Sir Joseph throughout his long life. Nowadays, we 

 justly insist upon the share of mental and moral vigour in 

 a mother, as a factor in the mental and moral develop- 

 ment of a great and good man. The little that is recorded 

 of Mrs. William Banks, however, goes far enough to show 

 that she encouraged instead of thwarted the instincts 

 which afterward led her son to deserved honour. And 

 she had the great blessing of witnessing the best part of 

 his career. She died at an advanced age in 1804, at Sir 

 Joseph's house in Soho Square. 1 



1 " A lady remarkable for her charities and piety ; and devoted to 

 her religious duties in the Church of England." G. Suttor. 



