KEW GARDENS GEORGE III 95 



of every known plant that could be of utility to the people 

 of Europe, or ornamental to their dwellings. A recent 

 foreign traveller in England has entitled Kew the Mecca 

 of Botanists. No expression could so happily indicate 

 the idea which gradually took possession of Banks, 

 and which has so signally enriched the Science of Horti- 

 culture. 



So it happened that, during a great part of the re- 

 mainder of Banks's long life, an abiding interest was 

 taken in the fortunes of Kew Gardens. After some thirty- 

 five years or so of these activities, we shall come to the 

 pathetic moment when, because of advancing age and 

 infirmities, he is compelled to cease relations with a man 

 whom he had trained as a Botanical Collector, and who 

 now deserved the reward of years of diligence and zeal. 

 Within this long period, it may be said there was a race 

 of men come into being whose taste for natural science 

 was actually inspired by Banks's renown. It was natural 

 that exiled medical men, stationed in places far removed 

 from the ordinary social amenities, should become ardent 

 Botanists. It is more significant still that persons of all 

 classes in life who were condemned to wander in foreign 

 lands and seas, were aroused to habits of observation, 

 and to take a share in the work of adding to the sum of 

 human knowledge. An immense system of correspon- 

 dence grew up, from persons in all parts of the world : 

 so large, indeed, that it is not likely Banks was able to 

 respond habitually. But the fact of the preservation of 

 many hundreds of such letters is evidence that they were 

 read and treasured ; and there is no lack of proof that 

 the writers themselves were kept in mind. Indeed, Banks 

 appears to have held all such persons in very close regard, 

 always manifested without reserve when occasion brought 

 them the chance of a personal interview. The letters from 

 Banks's various correspondents reveal the astonishing 

 activity which resulted from these botanical explorations. 



