i88 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



that his circumstances put him above the acceptance of 

 my offer. For the matter of his talents as an Artist, I 

 must plainly confess that I do not rate him so high as 

 by your note now before me it appears you do. If any 

 of my friends who may rest their opinion on my judgment 

 in botanical matters had been misled into a belief that 

 I ever conceived an idea that Science would receive 

 benefit from his pencil, which in my estimation is better 

 adapted to trace patterns for the Loom or the Needle than 

 to copy the intricate though apparently simple forms 

 which nature assumes in the vegetable world. 1 



" Excuse, madam, I request, the plainness of this 

 declaration ; which the intention you signify of returning 

 the money I have subscribed makes necessary. Believe 

 me, with due respect/' etc. 



Dr. Beddoes 2 was a distinguished physician and 

 chemist. He was one of the first to suspect that the re- 

 cent discoveries in chemistry could be well applied to 

 the study of medicine. He supported his views with 

 much eloquence and lucidity, and had a numerous 

 following. 



In 1790 he was reader of Chemistry at Oxford ; but 

 the freedom of his opinions on political topics, especially 

 favourable to the French Revolution, made his position 

 there untenable. He resigned in 1792, being then about 

 thirty-two years of age. Soon after this period his 

 thoughts were turned to what he called Pneumatic 

 Medicine, i.e. the driving out disease by the inhalation of 

 a medicated atmosphere. Proposals were made for 

 raising a hospital at Bristol for systematically carrying 



1 Incomplete (from a draft). 



2 Thomas Beddoes, M.D. (b. 1760). His abilities at Oxford University 

 were early recognized. He was a good linguist, botanist, and chemist, 

 and became known as an enthusiastic philosopher, with vigorous and 

 independent mind. He married a daughter of R. L. Edgeworth, and 

 became the father of Thomas Lovell Beddoes the poet. 



