CHAPTER XXI 

 THE END 



IN his seventy-fourth year, Banks had one more 

 carriage accident ; this time having a rather bene- 

 ficial result than otherwise, for in the course of a 

 restless night after, he voided a large stone and 

 was consequently relieved from one source of pain. 



Sir Joseph Banks to Sir E. Home. 



" SPRING GROVE, August 27, 1818. 



" MY DEAR SIR EVERARD, I was overturned two days 

 ago by a drunken coachman, but received no hurt. Lady 

 Banks and my sister and I were driving home from dining 

 with Sir A. Macdonald. We are all three rather heavy, 

 and I, as you know, quite helpless. We were obliged to 

 lie very uneasily at the bottom of the coach for half an 

 hour before assistance could be got to lift us out. We 

 all bore our misfortune without any repining or any 

 demonstration of the follies of fear ; and we are all now 

 quite recovered from the effects of our accident, except 

 my sister, who has a cut on her head filled with lint and 

 doing very well. But both the ladies have gone every- 

 where since, without an hour's confinement." 



This accident was doubtless of more consequence than 

 at first appeared. Mistress Banks died on September 27, 

 after a " slight indisposition," which had not prevented 

 her calling, a few days previously, upon the Princesses at 



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