i68 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



enough to find other old friends, and regular employ- 

 ment. He must needs marry, thinking he was now settled 

 in life. But he was tempted with another voyage round 

 the world. The man's ingrained want of foresight, which 

 was at the root of all his past troubles, again made 

 itself manifest. The ship-owners undertook to provide 

 for Bacstrom's wife during his absence. And he had to 

 write to Sir Joseph for help in providing himself an outfit. 

 Banks sent him 10, and encouraged him to collect plants, 

 etc., for him. 



Bacstrom was away on his voyages for nearly four 

 years. The thing promised very well at first, and he 

 went out in the best of spirits. At length, in November, 

 1796, more than five years after parting, Sir Joseph 

 heard once again from him, with a wonderful tale of 

 adventure and trouble. The Doctor had served in six 

 different ships, had been taken prisoner three times, had 

 been the victim of a mutiny, and had lost the valuable 

 collection he had made for Banks of all sorts of curiosities. 

 He had brought many sketches and drawings home, 

 and had passed some time in pursuing a new system of 

 philosophy. Grateful to learn that Banks had befriended 

 his wife during his long absence, he craves the blessings of 

 Heaven upon his benefactor's head. A subscription to 

 Bacstrom's forthcoming work closes this rather sad 

 history of a man who had certainly great abilities, but was 

 handicapped with some obscure weakness of character 

 which had hindered his whole walk in life. 



Five years after this, Mr. T. H. Moseberg, architect 

 and surveyor, wrote to Sir Joseph, with a proposal to 

 colonize Surinam. His application is in Bacstrom's 

 handwriting. There is no record of any result. It is 

 pitiable to find a man of some natural parts hanging 

 on to the acquaintance of Banks for upwards of a quarter 

 of a century, unable to make substantial profit out of his 

 opportunities. 



