io THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



tellectual status than his election to the Royal Society 

 at the early age of twenty-three. Banks was nominated 

 (April, 1766) by Dr. Charles Lyttleton, Bishop of Carlisle, 

 an antiquary of the period ; Dr. Morton, librarian at the 

 British Museum ; William Watson, M.D., who always re- 

 mained a friend and associate of Banks, and was himself 

 highly distinguished in physics and astronomy ; Richard 

 Kaye, afterwards Dean of Lincoln ; and Mr. James West, 

 a former President of the Society. Banks was already 

 a member of the Society of Arts, and in time came to be 

 one of its most assiduous supporters. 



Banks had what were then unusually wide views as to 

 the possibility of extending his knowledge of botany and 

 natural history. It was nothing new to send out ex- 

 plorers and collectors of exotic plants. But he was, 

 perhaps, the first young man of fortune who was induced 

 personally to take the hazards of such a life. In this very 

 year, 1766, an opportunity occurred for a first adventure, 

 or what his friend Lightfoot would call a freak, of this 

 sort. 



The occasion was this. The Niger t Captain Thomas 

 Adams, was ordered to Newfoundland and Labrador on 

 business concerning the fisheries. An Oxford friend of 

 Banks, Lieutenant Constantine Phipps, was on board. 

 Phipps was at the beginning of a career of some little 

 note. After several years of naval life, he succeeded his 

 father as Lord Mulgrave, and took an active part in 

 public affairs. Now, at twenty- two years of age, he was 

 prepared for any step which would lead to distinction. 

 The spirit of adventure was in the air, and specially 

 attractive was any project for exploring distant lands. 

 The idea of Banks accompanying the ship with the view 

 of studying Natural History was made only to be warmly 

 adopted. Preparations for joining the Niger were made 

 with that profusion, and disregard of expense, which 

 characterized Banks during all his lifetime when there 



