VARIOUS ADVENTURERS 153 



Society, and the Raleigh became the Geographical 

 Club. 



Another distinguished plant-collector was Adam Afze- 

 lius. Mr. Wilberforce having consulted Sir Joseph, on 

 behalf of the Sierra Leone Company, as to the appoint- 

 ment of a Botanist in their service, conversant with tropi- 

 cal plants, Banks gave the name of his Swedish friend. 

 Afzelius was in London in 1791, and welcomed the oppor- 

 tunity of going out to West Africa. The occasion added 

 to his renown. He had the optimistic temper of his 

 nation ; and appears to have held himself always superior 

 to the great trials and hazards of his occupation. From 

 the first, Banks was careful to insist that his friend be 

 treated with every consideration, and all proper provision 

 made for him, as " a well-educated gentleman, and of 

 high consideration in his own country." To this, Banks 

 added his own friendly efforts to encourage Afzelius 

 throughout the period of his exile. 



Afzelius arrived outward at Freetown on May 6, 1792. 

 He found the Colony in some disorder and confusion 

 arising from the want of dwellings. But he put some 

 energy into matters, and was able to get comfortable 

 by the end of the year ; and to send home a consignment 

 of plants. His letters are always cheerful, until November, 

 1794, when he tells the story of a French invasion of the 

 place. They simply sacked it. Everything was de- 

 stroyed, and the settlers were left in a deplorable plight. 

 " I saw my garden destroyed, my quadrupeds, birds, and 

 lizards, all killed ; my bottles containing quadrupeds, 

 birds, amphibia, fishes, vermes, flowers and fruits, broke 

 to pieces ; my dry plants, fruits, seeds, shells, books and 

 manuscripts scattered over the floor . . . trampled upon 

 and covered with dirt, grease, molasses, rum, porter, 

 bread, meat, bones, etc." To this was to be added the 

 loss of his journal during the whole time of his residence ; 



