SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 345 



the earth divided by the sine of that very small angle. 

 The distances from the sun of the other planets are 

 easily found, because we know their relative distances; 

 and the real diameters of the sun and of these bodies are 

 likewise deducible from the same angles. The whole struc- 

 ture of the planetary or solar system thus depended upon 

 ascertaining the angle of parallax ; and nothing, therefore, 

 could be more becoming the rulers of two such kingdoms 

 as France and England, than to promote by every means 

 the success of these observations. While one expedition 

 was sent to the Pacific, Otaheite being the place chosen 

 for the experiment, Messrs. Dymond and Wales repaired 

 to Hudson's Bay, Mr. Call to Madras, and the Abbe de la 

 Chappe was sent to California. The Danish Government 

 sent Father Hills to Wardhus, near the North Cape ; the 

 King of Sweden dispatched Plausow to Finland ; and the 

 Empress of Russia sent several observers to different 

 parts of Siberia, with the same views. Four of the 

 observers those at Otaheite, California, Hudson's Bay, 

 and Wardhus were completely successful. The expedi- 

 tion to the Pacific had for its principal, but not its only 

 object, the observation by Mr. Green of the transit. 

 Everything that regarded the natural history of the 

 island fell within its scope; and the accurate survey 

 of the coasts already known, as well as the exploring of 

 new lands, was an important part of the wise and 

 enlightened scheme. 



As soon as Mr. Banks found that the voyage to the 

 South Seas was resolved upon, he applied to his friend 

 Lord Sandwich, then at the head of the Admiralty, for 

 leave to join the expedition with a suite of scientific men, 

 and this was immediately granted. He made his prepa- 



