138 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



on it to Sir Joseph Banks. Many congratulations came 

 from friends over the final success, beside public acknow- 

 ledgments from the Jamaica Assembly and other authori- 

 ties. Mr. Steele wrote from Barbados a long and enthusi- 

 astic letter, with news of the flourishing state of the 

 gardens, and their encouragement upon the safe arrival 

 of the new importations. 



The botanists of this Expedition were Christopher 

 Smith and James Wiles. The former returned home with 

 Bligh. He was admitted to the Linnean Society (1793), 

 and afterward went to Calcutta as Botanist to the East 

 India Company, where he had a long and distinguished 

 career. James Wiles elected to stay in the West Indies. 

 He was placed in charge of the Bath Garden, at Jamaica. 

 He wrote to Sir Joseph an interesting account of the 

 progress of the plantations under his care. For years 

 afterward he was in communication with Banks, entering 

 with lively spirit into the wonderful progress of the 

 exotic plants. The Bread-fruit tree was easily propa- 

 gated by suckers, and was become common all over the 

 island. The taste for planting, moreover, was on the 

 increase. Several private gardens had been formed on a 

 liberal plan. Wiles appears never to have returned to 

 England. Quite happy in his congenial post, he re- 

 mained there until his death in 1805. 



The authorities at Jamaica could not but recognize 

 the public spirit of Sir Joseph Banks. The House of 

 Assembly passed a resolution of thanks to him " for his 

 benevolent endeavours, exerted for the benefit of the 

 West Indies in general and of this Island in particular." 



