ADAM SMITH, 505 



or describe yourself, as may be most agreeable. I know not 

 what plates Mr. Forster may have got engraved of natural 

 history that will come into my books; nor do I know of any 

 that will be of use to it, but the spruce tree and tea plant 

 and scurvy grass ; and I know not if this last is engraved. 

 The flax plant is engraved; but whether the publishing of 

 this in my Journal will be of any use to seamen I shall not 

 determine. In short, whatever plates of this kind falls to my 

 share, I shall hope for your kind assistance in giving some 

 short account of them. On my arrival here I gave Omai 

 three guineas, which sent him on shore in high spirits: indeed 

 he could hardly be otherwise, for he is very much caressed 

 here by every person of note ; and, upon the whole, I think 

 he rejoices at the prospect of going home. 



" I now only wait for a wind to put to sea ; unless Capt. 

 Clarke makes good haste down, he will have to follow me. 

 Sir John Pringle writes me that the Council of the Royal 

 Society have decreed me the Prize Medal of this year. I am 

 obliged to you and my other good friends for this unmerited 

 honour. 



" Omai joins his best respects to you and Dr. Solander 



with, 



"Dear Sir, 



"Your most obedient and very humble servant, 



"JAMES COOK." 



These letters are given out of their place, not having come 

 into my possession until after the Life of Sir J. Banks was 

 printed. They appeared sufficiently interesting to be here 

 inserted. The same reason must justify the inserting, also 

 out of its place, the following extract from a letter of Dr. Black 

 to Mr. Smith, on his ' Wealth of Nations/ The rest of the 

 letter regards Mr. Hume's health. It was written apparently 

 in August, 1776. Nothing can be more interesting than to 

 mark the sentiments of a great and original genius respecting 

 the exertions of another and congenial spirit in a different 

 walk of science. 



