232 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



appointment I will certainly recommend you. ... I will 

 not mention any other person till I have heard from you ; 

 and hope that you will be the messenger of your answer." 

 He obtained leave of absence, and gladly accepted the 

 new commission. Captain Flinders sailed from Spithead 

 on July 18, 1801. The ship called at Madeira, and reached 

 the Cape of Good Hope in October. From this place 

 Flinders wrote that Mr. Crosley's health was breaking 

 and he had decided to quit the Expedition and return to 

 England. Captain Flinders replies, in advance, to the 

 question whether another astronomer should be sent to 

 him, by promising that he and his brother (a Lieutenant) 

 could perform the whole business of the Observatory ; 

 and the latter would leave it to the Board of Longitude 

 to decide as to his remuneration. 



The next letters from the Investigator are dated from 

 Port Jackson, in May, 1802. The naturalists were 

 already active. Mr. Brown sent home some seeds, and 

 reported that seven hundred and fifty new plants had been 

 observed. Mr. Bauer had made many drawings of plants 

 and of animals, and was indefatigable in studying the 

 fructification of plants. Mr. Good was a " most valuable 

 assistant." Brown mentions the want of a garden on 

 board ship, and it would most likely be prepared. Beside 

 this long letter to Sir Joseph, he also writes to Dr. 

 Dryander, and to that ardent horticulturist, Mr. Charles 

 Greville. 



A letter from Peter Good, dated July 20, 1802, states 

 that the ship is in harbour in Port Jackson. Good tells 

 of his excursions, sometimes with Mr. Brown and party, 

 and sometimes by himself. He has added above five 

 hundred species of seeds to the former collections. He 

 has taken lodgings on shore for the convenience of dry- 

 ing specimens, and has spared no labour nor expense in 

 the performance of his duties. " We sail from here to- 

 morrow on a long cruise with the Lady Nelson in company. 



