388 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



to appeal to Europe, if in his case the justice is refused which 

 was formerly granted by us to De Condamine, and by his 

 countrymen to Cook; and I fear Europe, if such an appeal is 

 made, is more likely to take part with the complainant than 

 with a nation which for the first time refuses a reasonable 

 indulgence to science in alleviation of the necessary horrors 

 attendant on a state of warfare. 



"As I possibly may have occasion to correspond with 

 your Lordship on another subject similar in principle to that 

 now under consideration, I take the liberty to state as fol- 

 lows : 



"The French either have, or will soon solicit from His 

 Majesty's Ministers, a passport for a ship intended to be 

 sent to Trinidad for the purpose of bringing away a collection 

 of living plants deposited there for fear of capture. I hope, 

 my Lord, that this request will be readily granted. The 

 credit Europe has given to the English for having brought 

 useful plants from the South Seas to their colonies in the 

 west, has fully shown that all good men respect the exten- 

 sive benevolence of increasing the food of mankind, by 

 removing useful plants to countries where Nature has not 

 provided them ; and our amiable Monarch has set the example 

 of sending useful plants from his Botanic Gardens to the 

 East, to the West Indies, and to Africa. 



" Besides, my Lord, the very application virtually offers, 

 during the horrors of a war unprecedented in the mutual 

 implacability of the parties engaged, an unconditional armis- 

 tice to science ; surely, my Lord, such an offer should not 

 be neglected ; the ready acceptance of it may be the signal of 

 the return of the dawnings of good will towards men, and 

 produce consequences, in the present position of Europe, 

 valuable beyond appreciation to all the nations who in- 

 habit it. 



" I have the honour to be, my Lord, with due respect 

 and unfeigned esteem, 



" Your Lordship's obedient, 



humble servant, 



"Jos. BANKS." 



