VARIOUS ADVENTURERS 141 



influential P.R.S., he wrote to Sir Joseph, stating that 

 he would dispense with the restrictions in the case of 

 Menzies. Besides, he highly approved of the young 

 man's conduct and manners. ..." My younger brother 

 is going the voyage, and I have given him orders to pay 

 every attention to Mr. Menzies." The merchant further 

 says that a gentleman has proposed to go as a passenger, 

 with a servant, to Otaheite ; and to stay for two or three 

 years. And he can accommodate another or two, if 

 Sir Joseph knows of anybody. He could engage to 

 fetch them back again in 1788 or 1789. 



The Prince of Wales had a fortunate voyage round 

 Cape Horn to the North Pacific Ocean. Menzies had 

 just reason to be gratified when, nearly three years 

 later, he reappeared in England. He had sent home a 

 consignment of plants, and he had brought back the 

 ship's company in perfect health ; only one man had 

 died, and he from the consequences of intemperance. 

 The following extract from his letter just before landing 

 (dated July 14, 1789) must have been particularly in- 

 teresting to Sir Joseph : 



" On the west side of North America, in a remote 

 corner inland, the natives had a short warlike weapon of 

 solid brass, somewhat in the shape of a New Zealand 

 pata-patos, about fifteen inches long. It had a short 

 handle, with a round knob at the end ; and the blade 

 was of an oval form, thick in the middle but becoming 

 thinner toward the edges, and embellished on one side 

 with an escutcheon, inscribing Jos. BANKS, Esq. The 

 natives put a high value on it ; they would not part with 

 it for considerable offers. The inscription, and escut- 

 cheonal embellishments, were nearly worn off by their 

 great attentions in keeping it clean. ... To commemo- 

 rate this discovery I have given your name to a cluster 

 of islands, round where we were then at anchor. In the 



