158 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



alive or dead ; chests of tea " for Lady Banks " ; beside 

 the inevitable bags of seeds, and collections of dried 

 plants. Banks's friends all over the world believed in his 

 capacity and resources perhaps more soundly than people 

 about him at home ; seeing that he was, in a sense, their 

 far-away lode-star. Their contributions were frequent 

 and various, sometimes mightily curious, as " Indian 

 cement for mending noses." 



All these attentions were pleasing to Sir Joseph. 

 His insatiable curiosity in the Natural Sciences had 

 inspired an unusually wide circle of followers. The 

 men who forgathered with him, alike with those who 

 furthered his interests in foreign lands, were in a sense 

 his disciples. Old and young alike rallied round him. 

 The dignity of advancing years did not place under 

 reserve that open, and kindly, and courteous way which 

 had given a charm to his younger days and made him 

 the soul of good company. At his table were grouped the 

 surviving friends of his youth, together with young 

 and fervent minds opening with the dawn of a new age. 

 The cycle was never broken in Banks's lifetime : a period 

 of ever-progressive culture, remarkable for its mastery 

 over the secrets of Nature, and its pursuit of Philan- 

 thropic ends. 



The numberless calls on Banks's time and attention 

 would be of less moment to a man with fewer public 

 responsibilities. But these he had in abundance. He 

 had a surprising number of serious engagements, any 

 one or two of which might well have employed a person 

 of average versatility. Beside his absorbing functions 

 in connection with the Royal Society, he was a diligent 

 member of the Society of Arts, the Engineers' Society, 

 the Dilettanti Society, the Society for the Improve- 

 ment of Naval Architecture, and the Society of 

 Antiquaries. All this involved regular convivial oc- 

 casions : for Banks was an ardent clubbist. As an 



