3io THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



land by hollow draining, he gave him a lease of twenty-one 

 years, as a reward and an encouragement." 1 



During the year 1787-8, there was a lively intercourse 

 between Banks and Young ; arising from proposed legis- 

 lation on the subject of Wool. The manufacturers were 

 making a vigorous attack on the growers of wool. A 

 Bill was brought into Parliament, prohibiting its export 

 and placing unwelcome restrictions on its sale with a 

 view to hinder its being smuggled into France. The 

 great proprietors were naturally up in arms at this 

 appearance of an attack on the landed interest. A repre- 

 sentative Committee was formed to oppose the Bill, by 

 deputation from the counties. Lincoln sent up Sir 

 Joseph Banks, and Suffolk Mr. Arthur Young. By a 

 good deal of energy and plain-speaking this committee 

 secured some modification of the features of the Bill. But 

 it passed into law (May, 1788). 



Sir Joseph Banks to Arthur Young. 



" SOHO SQUARE, May 13, 1788. 



". . . I give you joy sincerely at the glory of being 

 burned in effigy. Nothing is so conclusive a proof of 

 your possessing the best of the argument. No one was 

 ever burned if he was in the wrong . . . when argument 

 is precluded firebrands are ready substitutes." 



At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were 

 more sheep, and better sheep, in Lincolnshire than in any 

 county in England. The breed was reckoned to produce 

 the very best wool, a circumstance due to the introduction 

 of merinos. In point of fact, the whole countryside was 

 raised in value by the experiments and improvements of 

 recent years, to which Sir Joseph Banks had given his 



1 Young : Agriculture of Lincolnshire (London, 1799). 



