THE SCOFFER ABROAD 185 



Sir Joseph Banks to Mr. Pennant. 



(May 15, 1783.) " SIR, The description you give me of 

 Views you are desirous of publishing is so slight, that I am 

 not able to determine what you mean. Of course I cannot 

 inform you where they are to be met with. For my own 

 part, I do not know that any Drawing, the property of 

 the Admiralty, is lodged in my hands, except such either 

 have been or are to be engraved in the intended publica- 

 tion of Captain Cook's Voyage. But whatever there may 

 be, I cannot think it would be proper for me to deliver 

 them to any one without an order for so doing from the 

 Board to which they belong. 



" Your claim of assistance as a man to whom the 

 public is under obligations, as far as it relates to the 

 Admiralty, they must discuss. For my own part, I can 

 easily settle my opinion upon it. At least, in the present 

 instance, I am not mistaken in saying it does not entitle 

 you to expect from me the use of another's property till 

 you have obtained the consent of the owner. 



" You say that your Preface must not be suppressed : 

 words to me unintelligible, unless they mean a threat. 

 Indeed, I know not how to interpret the word ' must ' 

 into any other sense. If that should be the case, I can 

 only say that I consider myself not incapable of defensive 

 measures if attacked. If otherwise, the whole sentence 

 must be consigned to oblivion ; as I do not think the 

 public likely to patronize any symptoms of pugnacity 

 which I may exhibit, unless I had ample reason given 

 me for submitting it to their tribunal. I am/' etc. 



Another occasion upon which Sir Joseph asserted 

 himself is best described by leaving the correspondence 

 which follows to speak for itself. Mrs. North, it should be 

 stated, was wife of the Bishop of Winchester. 



