3VLECENAS AND HIS HAPPENINGS 159 



archaeologist, he was second to none in his abounding 

 curiosity and zeal. As a mere matter of paper-and-print, 

 it would appear that there is better record of his doings in 

 the Archceologia than in all the volumes of the Philosophi- 

 cal Transactions. Sir Joseph sat on the Council of the 

 Society of Antiquaries from 1785 to 1787, and again from 

 1813 to 1820. Then, further, he was on the Board of 

 Longitude for many years, concerned in the superin- 

 tendence of the Nautical Almanac, and similar abstruse 

 matters. Presently his services were required on the 

 subject of coinage, when he was made a Privy Councillor 

 in 1797. This honour was conferred upon Banks with 

 a view to his assistance in connection with the Board of 

 Trade, together with a committee on the new copper 

 coinage. This latter was a particularly laborious and 

 prolonged business. The first Lord Liverpool and Mr. 

 Matthew Boulton were long engaged with Sir Joseph on 

 this recondite subject ; the former as the most learned 

 authority on coinage and currency, the latter as manu- 

 facturer. Sir John Sinclair and Arthur Young, with their 

 questions relative to the breeding of sheep, were seldom 

 absent from his mind ; nor did he want occupation in 

 looking after the King's flocks and herds. The East 

 India Company frequently consulted him on Economic 

 products ; and the Botanic Gardens at Calcutta, at 

 St. Helena, and the West Indies, had his constant 

 attention. Far from being overwhelmed with all these 

 things, Banks could take a part in the affairs of his parish ; 

 and when at home in Lincolnshire, was as devoted to 

 county affairs as if he had no other irons in the fire 

 whatever. 



Temporary concerns would arise sometimes, in which 

 Banks was expected to engage. He was usually con- 

 sidered an indispensable member when a good sound 

 Committee was to be formed. Such, for example, was 

 the case when the question of a monument to Samuel 



