124 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



he has considerable property in the Island, and that 

 the population are not always too well-off for food. 

 He proposes the introduction of the Bread-fruit tree, 

 and is certain it would be the greatest blessing to the 

 inhabitants. 



Hinton East was in England in August, 1786. There 

 is mention, in a casual note, of the Senna Alexandria 

 (Cassia acutifolia), seeds of which Sir Joseph has given 

 him, which will go to Jamaica the first opportunity ; 

 where he fondly hopes " they may lay the foundation 

 of an export of that article in due course of time to this 

 country." A zealous man this Mr. East : one after 

 Banks's own heart. Other letters of his, after his return 

 to Jamaica, are in the same vein, always with practical 

 and far-sighted views. But 'twas now easy, in personal 

 conference with Sir Joseph, to raise with some energy 

 the question of acclimatizing the Bread-fruit tree in the 

 West Indies. When the idea was put before the King by 

 Sir Joseph, it was adopted with some alacrity. It was 

 just one of those schemes which appealed to the benevo- 

 lent heart of George III. No long time elapsed before 

 orders were given for getting ready a ship, on purpose for 

 an expedition to the South Sea Islands. 



Mr. Joshua Steele, of Barbados, was one of the in- 

 creasing list of Banks's West Indian correspondents. 

 As one of the early members of the Society of Arts, 

 he belonged, doubtless, to Banks's circle in London. He 

 went to Barbados in 1780, in order to manage his estates 

 there personally. In this he was indefatigable, taking 

 great care of his people, and setting a general example 

 of well-doing. He was one of the foremost planters to 

 grapple with the question of slavery ; and probably a 

 leader of public opinion. In association with some other 

 gentlemen, he started a Barbados Society for the En- 

 couragement of Arts, etc. ; and proposed, in a letter to 

 Banks (July, 1781), their being admitted, in an aggregate 



