202 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



Privy Council. I assure you, Sir William loves you 

 dearly, and has felt happy on hearing of any addition to 

 your honour and comfort. Think, then, as I am inclined 

 to love all his friends, how rejoiced I am at your happiness 

 and welfare ; for indeed I do not consider you as one of 

 his common friends, and therefore love and esteem you 

 more than you think I do. I have not shewn to you 

 much that I have ever thought on you, for I have never 

 wrote you a line, God knows how long ; but you do not 

 imagine how my time has been taken up, and what I have 

 had, and have now, on my hands. Nor indeed, I never 

 could have thought, nor do I feel myself worthy of the 

 happiness and honours I have enjoyed for the last few 

 years. 



" We are now at the Queen's garden, resting, and 

 getting Sir William's health against the return of the 

 Royal Family from [? Foggia], for we shall have hot work 

 at the marriage. 1 The Queen has been with us two days, 

 and has made me very happy by giving me a sum for 

 Graefer to go on with the garden. So we are all very busy 

 to get on before the princess arrives, as I hear she is fond 

 of Botany. She must have the garden, she must introduce 

 Agriculture, she must shew the Neapolitans what Graefer 

 is ; and your name with his must go down to the Nea- 

 politan posterity. For, by sending him here, you have 

 given them Taste. God knows, at present they have 

 none ; not one except my dear adorable Queen. You 

 should know her. She is worthy to be known to you and 

 a few others of your character. Do you know Sir Gilbert 

 Elliot ? Ask him what she is : everything that's great 

 and sublime. I hope one day to present you to her. 

 I have told her so, for she admires you from hearsay ; 

 and some day, when I have time, you shall know two or 

 three traits of her excellent character. And, do not 



1 Archduchess Clementina to the Hereditary Prince of the Two 

 Sicilies. 



