viii PREFACE 



his papers with the view to an authoritative biography. 

 When another generation arose which knew little of him 

 personally, the opportunity had passed for reproducing 

 those intimacies which only surviving friends could deal 

 with. Thus the personality of a man who had held a 

 foremost place in scientific society and in the polite 

 world for upwards of forty years was lost. The grateful 

 recollection of friends and cotemporaries was soon only 

 to be found in some stray memorial sketches. 1 



There were many noble examples of men, during the 

 eighteenth century, who left an impress of goodness and 

 greatness upon their time. Banks was a child of Fortune, 

 favoured alike in his manly and generous person and 

 in the possession of ample means wherewith to gratify 

 his liberal tastes. Light has been thrown upon many 

 fine characters, hitherto almost forgotten, through the 

 Dictionary of National Biography. In that useful cyclo- 

 paedia of the men who have made Britain famous, we are 

 ever reminded of the truth that Man is never so great as 

 his work. In the case before us, our own generation 

 knows him not ; but the fruit of his labours is ever 

 with us. 



Sir Joseph Banks gave enormous impulse to the study 

 of Natural Science, and to the improvement of social 

 conditions. 



His conduct of the Royal Society for forty years is, 



1 Since this work was finished, a book has reached London from 

 New South Wales : an excellent and deeply interesting record of one 

 side of Banks's career, under the title of Sir Joseph Banks, the Father 

 of Australia, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Director of the Sydney Botanic 

 Garden. Mr. Maiden's book has had great success in Australia ; which 

 is not wonderful, seeing that the people of New South Wales have kept 

 green the memory of Banks, and still hold his name in undying honour. 



