SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 359 



was pitched upon, and he is allowed to have performed 

 his task with reasonable ability and with perfect fidelity. 

 Mr. Parkinson, brother of one of Sir Joseph Banks's at- 

 tendants, indeed his draughtsman, broke through the rule, 

 and published a tract with drawings ; but the book was 

 speedily bought up by his liberal and spirited employer, 

 and the irregular publication proceeded no further. 



The results of the voyage were highly important. 

 The observations necessary for ascertaining the solar 

 parallax had been made with perfect success. The man- 

 ners of the natives in the Society Islands had been exa- 

 mined, and the singular state of their society ascer- 

 tained. Their products, vegetable, mineral, and animal, as 

 well as those of New Holland, New Zealand, and New 

 Guinea, had been fully explored, chiefly by Mr. Banks 

 and his learned companion. The coast of New Hol- 

 land had been thoroughly surveyed as well as the whole 

 of New Zealand. These two islands had been shown 

 not to form a portion of any southern continent ; and 

 the existence of such a continent as far as the 47th 

 degree of south latitude had been disproved. All now 

 joined in rendering due praise to the leaders of the expe- 

 dition; and its illustrious commander was immediately 

 raised a step in the naval profession. But it is fit that 

 we here pause to reflect on the large share which Mr. 

 Banks had in the conduct of the expedition, that is, in 

 the collection of the vast and important information 

 which was its result information not confined to natural 

 history, but extending to the manners, the habits, and 

 the condition of the natives. It was from the record 

 duly and faithfully kept of his observations that the 

 history of the voyage was subsequently compiled ; and Dr. 



