EUROPEAN FAME 207 



Literary productions of the Members of the Imtitut 

 National, and other scientific persons, some of which are 

 highly interesting to the Royal Society ; and for sending 

 in return the 'Philosophical Transactions/ the 'Green- 

 wich Observations/ etc. This has been omitted for 

 some years past. Sir Joseph has an opportunity of 

 doing this now by the means of Mr. Charretie", Com- 

 missary here for the exchange of prisoners. ..." 



Sir Joseph Banks to M. Charretie. 



" SOHO SQUARE, March 18, 1797. 



" SIR, I lose not a moment in returning to you my 

 best thanks for the zealous and effectual steps you have 

 taken to open an intercourse between the Institut National 

 and the Royal Society. Such communication cannot 

 but be of material use to the progress of Science ; and 

 may also lay the foundation of a better understanding 

 between the two countries in future than, unfortunately 

 for both, has of late years taken place. . . /' 



These two notes illustrate one phase of the disagreeable 

 position in which scientific, and, indeed, many private 

 persons, were placed during time of war. It was the 

 happy lot of Banks to have so much personal influence in 

 Europe, that he was enabled to alleviate many of the 

 undeserved troubles of the time. 1 He was always ready 

 to exert himself in restoring men of science to liberty, as 

 in the case of Dolomieu ; and in recovering valuable 

 collections from the grasp of British cruisers. According 

 to Brougham, no less than ten restorations of property 

 to the Jardin des Plantes were made at his instance, 

 " which had fallen a prey to our naval superiority. 

 As time went on, and war was renewed after the Peace of 



1 Lord Auckland spoke of him as " His Majesty's Ministre des 

 Affaires Philosophiques," 



