196 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



were returned to him when captured by an English vessel, 

 in order that he might be enabled to publish his observa- 

 tions for the advancement of knowledge as Ulloa had done. 

 For, the enquiry was made, in the course of which it 

 appeared that the late King of France took particular 

 interest in the outfit of this Expedition in which M. de La 

 Billardiere sailed ; and that the mistake of His Majesty's 

 having done so probably originated in the fact of his 

 having done so in the voyage of the unfortunate M. de La 

 Perouse : who, it is confidently said, was honoured with 

 private instructions in the King's own handwriting. 



" Under this view of the business, His Majesty's 

 Ministers have thought it necessary, for the honour of the 

 British Nation and for the advancement of Science, 

 that the right of captors to the Collection should on this 

 occasion be waived ; and that the whole should be 

 returned to M. de La Billardiere, in order that he may be 

 enabled to publish his observations on Natural History 

 in a complete manner. . . . By this Her Majesty will 

 lose an acquisition to her Herbarium which I very much 

 wish'd to see deposited there ; but the national character 

 of Great Britain will certainly gain much credit for 

 holding a conduct toward Science and scientific men 

 liberal in the highest degree. 



" Have the goodness, my dear Sir, to state these 

 matters to the Queen on the first convenient opportunity, 

 and do me the further favour of acquainting me as soon 

 as you can with Her Majesty's pleasure on the subject. 

 Add, if you please, that it is in my power, I verily believe, 

 to make an addition to Her Majesty's Collection as 

 valuable at least as the one in question. That I shall 

 feel myself honoured in the extreme if I have permission 

 to do so ; and that in case I am so fortunate I will, the 

 moment I return from my annual journey to Lincolnshire, 

 undertake the business of preparing and arranging the 

 plants in such manner as I think the most likely to 



