144 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



The Discovery, together with an armed tender, the 

 Chatham, sailed in April, 1791. Vancouver visited the 

 Sandwich Islands ; from thence went to Nootka Sound, 

 where he established good relations with Spaniards ; 

 returned along the coast of South America, visiting the 

 Spanish Settlements and continuing the process of survey ; 

 doubled Cape Horn, and anchored in the river Shannon, 

 September 14, 1795. The whole voyage was passed 

 without serious disaster of any kind. An excellent bill 

 of health prevailed all the way. 



Yet, this interesting yoyage was not destined to be 

 without some unpleasantness at the last. There are 

 always times when the kindest disciplinarian may 

 seem to exceed the limits of his powers and of his 

 own discretion. Thus it was with Vancouver. There is 

 a story of a young midshipman, Lord Camelford, being 

 flogged for some youthful indiscretion " at a gun in the 

 cabin before all the officers." Menzies protests that the 

 punishment was undeserved, besides being severe : and 

 that Camelford will prove an ornament to his profession. 



The relations between the Captain and the Surgeon 

 were generally good. Menzies was permitted (according 

 to Sir Joseph's wish) to build a glass house for his plants 

 upon the quarter-deck. Yet, proper feeling could not 

 endure when the Captain claimed possession of Menzies 's 

 journals, and the latter refused to give them up until 

 Sir Joseph Banks and the Admiralty had granted per- 

 mission. Presently, when Menzies complained that he 

 had lost some of his best plants through his servant being 

 taken off his duties, Vancouver put him under arrest for 

 " insolence and contempt." This misunderstanding 

 lasted from July 28 until their arrival in port. 1 



1 By a memorandum of Banks (? Oct., 1796), it is plain that Van- 

 couver was capricious and sometimes unjust to his middies. There are 

 allusions to a published caricature of the fracas with Lord Camelford : 

 the story, then, must have become public. Lady Camelford appears to 

 have threatened action on behalf of her son. 



