"A FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN" T 3 o 9 



Young. A bulky collection of letters 1 testifies to the 

 intimacy of their intercourse, and to the zeal with which 

 Banks could escape from the multiplicity of other in- 

 terests, to thoughts about Wool and Sheep. At this 

 time (1786-7) legislation on the exportation of wool was 

 impending. But for several years past there had been 

 much experiment and inquiry on the improvement of 

 breeds of sheep, in which Banks had taken some part, 

 and he had become a capable authority. Hence, the 

 President of the Royal Society had one more responsi- 

 bility thrown upon his shoulders ; and it appears, from 

 every quarter, that he came to have a very well-deserved 

 reputation for a practical judgment on rural affairs. 



In the course of his tours in England and Ireland, 

 Arthur Young visited all the best estates ; and, in process 

 of time, gave to the public an ample record of his ex- 

 periences. Of the County Surveys, which were prepared 

 under his superintendence, that for Lincolnshire is fortu- 

 nately by his own hand, 2 since we are enabled to get into 

 actual touch with Sir Joseph's own estate. 



Those were, indeed, palmy days for Agriculture. It 

 was estimated that about half of Banks's property in 

 Lincolnshire brought in rentals amounting to 5721, from 

 268 tenants. In the manor of Revesby there were 62 

 farms for the rental of 1397, upon 3401 acres. " This 

 vast division of farms arises from a determination in Sir 

 Joseph Banks not to distress the people by throwing them 

 together, by which he loses much in rental, and sees a 

 property ill-cultivated ; and which must be the case till 

 by deaths he can gradually but very slowly improve it. 

 . . . Sir Joseph has no objection to granting leases, but 

 he is never asked for them. Seeing a tenant improving his 



1 Addl. MSS., 35126-31. 



2 The [British Museum copy (988, g. 9) was formerly in Banks's 

 library ; presented by the author with his " respectful gratitude for so 

 much valuable information relative to Lincolnshire as contributed very 

 materially to the facts contained in this work." 



