16 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



answer was, " Every blockhead does that ; my Grand 

 Tour shall be one round the whole globe." 



Several correspondents presented him with advice, not 

 to say elementary instruction. But there is a general 

 tone of real friendliness and appreciation. Mr. Pennant 

 warned him not to forget umbrellas (which were at that 

 time novel in England) and oilskin coats. Thomas 

 Falconer sent many pages of pure prolixity, on geo- 

 graphy and geographers. A London merchant provided 

 him with peach-spirit ; and with advice on the use of 

 lemon-juice and the proper way of curing fresh provisions 

 at sea. This gentleman had also a little bottle to offer 

 Banks, made from a " peculiar elastic glutinous body of 

 which small bottles and balls are made." Few persons, 

 in the year 1768, had seen caoutchouc ; but Banks was 

 one of them, having brought from Lisbon two balls of it. 

 The Rev. Gilbert White had heard of the projected 

 voyage. He writes certain memoranda on Birds, and 

 wishes Mr. Banks a great deal of success and satisfaction 

 in his laudable pursuits ; a prosperous voyage, and a safe 

 return. . . . " P.S. I became somewhat of a botanist 

 without any teaching, and almost without books. But 

 under such a master as you are, I should be convinced 

 how little I knew." 



Banks 's preparations for his voyage were made on a 

 most ample, not to say extravagant, scale. No expense 

 was spared. The staff included John Reynolds, Sydney 

 Parkinson, and Alexander Buchan, artists ; Henry 

 Sporing, assistant draughtsman ; James Roberts and 

 Peter Briscoe, servants from Revesby ; and two negro 

 servants. Beside these was Daniel Carl Solander, whose 

 acquaintance Banks had made in the preceding year. 

 His status was, perhaps, that of a friend and guest. 

 Solander was a Swedish naturalist who had come to 

 England on the suggestion of Linnaeus. He made his 

 mark at once : was appointed a naturalist at the British 



