iS 4 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



" Mr. Banks will send Dr. Fothergill's drawing of the 

 Heliconia back to Mr. Miller when he has done with it." 



Mr. Pennant to Sir Joseph Banks. 



" DOWNING, May n, 1783. 



" DEAR SIR, A loitering journey prevented me meet- 

 ing your favour sooner than last night. Be assured I 

 shall never do any act which may deprive you of the 

 least particle of fame or emolument, therefore rest assured 

 that the Drawing returns into the magazine of my private 

 amusement. I was directed to that in question by an 

 information of Mr. Greville that such was on public sale, 

 otherwise should never have thought of them. 



" My design is in my preface to my ' Arctic Zoology ' to 

 give an historical, geographical, and physical account of 

 the countries of whose animals I treat ; and my intention 

 was to have illustrated it with views expressive of the 

 regions I passed through. For that end, I applied to 

 Mr. Stephens for the use of a few of the drawings of the 

 headlands on the northern side of N. America, and which 

 he informed me were in your custody. They were those 

 which I saw on your table in company with Captain King. 

 I should have been happy to have had the use of them, 

 as I heard you mention that they were not to be en- 

 graven. Nor did I see them in the list of plates shewn to 

 me by Dr. Douglas. Those drawings were mere head- 

 lands, very lofty, black streaked with snow. As they 

 are neither with you nor the Admiralty I presume that 

 Captain King has them. My assiduity and labour for 

 so great a length of time make me consider myself as a 

 public man, meriting the assistance of my friends. I 

 therefore hope. Had those drawings been with you I 

 should not have been denied my request. My Preface 

 has had the sanction of good judges, therefore must not 

 be suppressed. I am," etc. 



