THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



long since abjur'd them and was wholly given up to 

 philosophical experiments. . . . My idea was that his 

 plan was a fair and open trial at real investigation ; 

 and that by proving once for all whether pneumatic 

 Chemistry was, or was not applicable to medicine, he 

 would either open up a new branch to general utility, 

 or for ever prevent any trial that might be hurtful. . . . 

 I think your protection of such consequence to any under- 

 taking that I shall feel inclined to advise Dr. B. to give 

 up any public trial without it." 



Sir Joseph Banks to the Duchess of Devonshire. 



" December 2, 1794. Sir Joseph Banks presents his 

 respectful compliments to the Duchess of Devonshire. 

 He once more entreats Her Grace to believe him, when 

 he assures her that he has felt more uneasiness than he 

 can express from the misfortune of differing in opinion 

 from Her Grace relative to the probable event of Dr. 

 Beddoes's experiments ; and would have instantly sacri- 

 ficed his reason to his respect for Her Grace, had he not 

 found it necessary to be very careful in preventing his 

 name from appearing as an encourager of projects he 

 does not think likely to prove beneficial to Society. . . . 



"... he will readily change his opinion the moment 

 he is enabled to do so by a conviction of his having before 

 been in the wrong. He cannot suppose his name a matter 

 of material consequence to Dr. Beddoes, being in no 

 degree connected with the study of medicine. . . . He 

 feels confident that the signature of Sir L[ucas] Pfepys] 

 or any other of the fashionable physicians would do the 

 Doctor a hundred times more service than a dissertation 

 from him, in favour of pneumatic medicine. 



" Sir Joseph would not have been a moment after he 

 heard of the Duchess's arrival in London, without pre- 

 senting himself at Devonshire House, had it not been 



