132 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



" Had I been accidentally appointed to the command 

 the loss of the ship would give me no material concern. 

 But when I reflect that it was through you, Sir, who 

 undertook to assert I was fully capable ; and the Eyes 

 of every one regarding the progress of the voyage, and 

 perhaps more with envy than delight, I cannot say but it 

 affects me considerably. To those, however, who may be 

 disposed to blame, let them see I had in fact completed 

 my undertaking. What man's situation could be so 

 peculiarly flattering as mine twelve hours before the loss 

 of the ship ? Everything was in the most perfect order, 

 and we were well stored with every necessary both for 

 service and health. By early attention to those particu- 

 lars I acted against the power of chance, in case I could 

 not get through Endeavour Straits, as well as against any 

 accident that might befal me in them. And, to add to all 

 this, I had most successfully got all my plants in a most 

 flourishing and fine order. . . . Every person was in the 

 most perfect health, to establish which I had taken the 

 greatest pains, and bore a most anxious care through the 

 whole length of the voyage. I even rejected carrying 

 stock for my own use, throwing away the hen-coops and 

 every convenience. I roofed a place over the quarter-deck 

 and filled it with plants, which I looked at with delight 

 every day of my life. 



" I can only conjecture that the Pirates (among whom 

 is poor Nelson's assistant) have ideally assured themselves 

 of a more happy life among the Otaheitans than they 

 could possibly have in England ; which, joined to some 

 female connections, has most likely been the leading cause 

 of the whole business. If I had been equipped with more 

 officers and marines, the piracy could never have hap- 

 pened. 



" I arrived here -on the ist instant, and solicited the 

 Governor-General to be allowed a passage in the first 

 ship that sailed for Europe. But he has told me that he 



