THE FOUNDING OF AUSTRALIA 217 



which he called Sydney Cove, after the then chief of the 

 Colonial Department. Thus it was maintained after- 

 ward, that Captain Phillip had forestalled a possible 

 French occupation by only six days. 



How the new colonists fared under Governor Phillip : 

 in settling and planting ; in travels of discovery ; 

 in troubles with the convicts ; in periods of scarcity of 

 food : are matters of high romance which belong to the 

 early history of Australia. Unaccountably, the historians 

 of England have left these stirring occurrences severely 

 alone. 1 



In all these things it would appear that Sir Joseph 

 Banks had a consultative share. Indeed, there is reason 

 to believe that he actually refused high office, on the 

 ground that his services would be of more value to 

 the Colony if he kept aloof from ministerial responsi- 

 bilities. 



A memorandum in his handwriting runs thus : "I 

 could not take office and do my duty to the Colony. My 

 successor would naturally oppose my wishes. I prefer, 

 therefore, to be friendly with both sides." 2 



But there were other matters within his entire personal 

 control. A new energy in exploration was aroused. A 

 long period set in, during which Banks was watching the 

 products of the country and sending out naturalists at 

 his own expense. The first botanical results came into his 

 hands before the close of the year 1789. The second and 

 following fleets took out selections of seeds for the use of 

 the colonists, and bore new instructions for the careful 

 handling of plants destined for Kew. Moreover, he had 

 an estate of his own ; a memorandum of 1790 gives in- 

 structions as to the supply of each family with ten con- 

 vict servants ; victuals for three years ; cows, swine, 



1 Except Mr. Lecky, who dismisses it all in a few lines. 



2 v. Hist. Records of N.S. Wales, vol. I, pt. 2, p. 229. 



