52 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



sale were very great, and Mrs. Cook's share provided her 

 with a fair annuity. 



Meanwhile, one year after another discovered a new 

 candidate for the honours attaching to the story. Ellis, 

 the surgeon, produced the earliest. He was an artist 

 also, and his drawings made excellent illustrations. 

 As it is written well, and it probably had a good vogue 

 as the first published account of the voyage, it ought 

 to have been a more profitable venture than it was. 

 Only there was the poor bookseller to be considered. 



It appears that Banks had duly befriended Ellis 

 (on Lieutenant Clerke's suggestion), and had advanced 

 him money. For some reason or other, perhaps because 

 he had imprudently run to a publisher without consulting 

 Banks, Ellis found himself compelled to offer apologies 

 and regrets. He was very poor, and, " full of expectation, 

 called upon the bookseller." After much haggling, he 

 consented to take fifty guineas the only alternative 

 being " half profits." His very long letter to Banks 

 is an explanatory apology, upon " hearing " that he has 

 incurred his displeasure. It is very sad to read, and too 

 long to print here. But Banks's reply is really deserving 

 the reader's attention, especially the last paragraph. 



Sir Joseph Banks to W. W. Ellis. 



" SOHO SQUARE, January 23, 1782. 



" SIR, I received yours, and am sorry you have 

 engaged in so imprudent a business as the publication 

 of your Observations. 



" From my situation, and connexion with the Board of 

 Admiralty, from whence only I could have hoped to have 

 served you, I fear it will not in future be in my power 

 to do what it might have been, had you asked and 

 followed my advice. 



" Your note of hand, which is in my possession, I am 



