198 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



1783, and took an active part in the proceedings of the 

 Royal Society : doubtless he was one of the stalwarts 

 at the service of the President during that winter. 

 Hamilton was proud of his membership of the Royal 

 Society, and he certainly contributed something toward 

 its glories. We owe to him much practical knowledge 

 of volcanoes, furnished at a period when the topic was 

 matter for elementary speculation. 



Soon after Sir William had returned to his post in South 

 Italy, he was seized with the idea of forming an English 

 garden, adjacent to the country palace of Caserta ; and 

 suggested to the Queen the great improvement it would 

 make to the estate. Banks was already a familiar name 

 to the Royal couple, and several petty compliments were 

 exchanged. Sir William having pointed out the ad- 

 vantages of Banks 's advice and assistance, the Queen was 

 readily induced to consent to the project. She promised 

 to allot 100 sterling per month toward the expense, and 

 urged the choice of a British gardener and nurseryman. 



Sir William writes to Banks : "I told her that you 

 had been so good as to promise to assist me. ... A 

 man of sense and judgment, and high in his profession, 

 must certainly be tempted, to quit his country and 

 establish himself in a distant foreign one. He should 

 therefore be liberally paid. . . . All this is to be done 

 without the King's interference; and she rejoices in the 

 thought of surprising him some day with a plate of fruit 

 out of her garden much superior to his. And, indeed, that 

 may very easily be done ; for, notwithstanding the great 

 advantage of climate, we have in England (except grapes 

 and figs) every fruit of a superior quality to that of 

 Naples. ..." 



" My collection of visiting-tickets for Miss Banks 

 increases daily ; and indeed some are very curious. I 

 will send what I have by the first safe hand. They are 

 too precious to be trusted by sea." 



