io8 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



dealt with by Banks. There are some allusions to the 

 business in his available correspondence. We writes 

 to his friend John Dillwyn in South Wales (September 18, 

 1809) : 



" MY DEAR SIR, It always gives me pleasure to obey 

 your commands. In the present case, however, I have 

 little hope of indulging myself. The flock of merino sheep, 

 from which those were ordered for distribution by the 

 King, were in the course of the campaign taken by the 

 French, and soon after retaken by the Spaniards. The 

 French, however, succeeded in driving off and securing 

 480 of the rams. The number, therefore, sent over and 

 yet expected is very small indeed. It is not of so much 

 consequence as it might seem, for it is quite impossible 

 for me to proceed with the distribution this year (as the 

 sheep already arrived are in a shocking state of feebleness) 

 with any hope of doing right, till I can ascertain the 

 numbers to be divided and the extent and number of the 

 applications that will be made for them. I have already 

 abundance, and every day's post brings me as many 

 letters as half a day's work will answer." 



In the summer of 1805 there was a misunderstanding 

 between Banks and the King, the first in all their long 

 friendship of more than thirty years. It began, of course, 

 with a rather intemperate word on one side and wounded 

 pique on the other. At the period in question, George III 

 was beginning to display that hasty temper which was 

 the prelude of his last illness. Sir Joseph was more ready 

 to take offence than of old, and the utterance of a reproach 

 on the part of the King wounded him to the quick. The 

 circumstances are as follows : 



Mr. R. F. Greville, in attendance on the King at 

 Weymouth, told Banks by letter of His Majesty's general 

 satisfaction at the success of the annual sale of Rams, but 



