EEV. W. WOOLLS, PH.D.^ F.L.S., ON AUSTRALIAN FLORA. 107 



the first to commimicate any knowledge of sncli plants to 

 the scientific world. His herbarium is still preserved at 

 Oxford and contains forty specimens, eighteen of which 

 are figured in his Voyage (vol, HI., ed. 1709), though few of 

 them with the exception of Colutea Nov<je Hollandia' (now 

 Cliantims Dampieri), can be identified. The distinguished 

 navigator CoOK, was the next to render service to the cause 

 of Australian botany, for although the original intention of 

 his first expedition (1770) was to promote geographical and 

 astronomical research, Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks 

 had sufficient influence Avitli tlie Government of the day to 

 connect the voyage with the pursuit of natural history. For 

 this purpose he determined to share the glory of the expedi- 

 tion and to furnish at his own expense the means of prose- 

 cuting his favourite study. He provided, therefore, the 

 apparatus conducive to that object, and engaged Dr. 

 Solander fa Swede by birth and a distinguished pupil of 

 Linna3us) to accompany him, as well as two artists — one to 

 delineate views and figures, and the other to paint subjects 

 of natural history — with a secretary and foui* servants. " No 

 pains," says Baron Cuvier, " were spared by the naturalist to 

 enrich his collection or to gratify his curiosity. BANKS dis- 

 played an astonishing activity ; fatigue did not depress him, 

 nor did danger deter him. He was always in advance, and in- 

 variably referred to in time of difficulty." BANKS and SOLAN- 

 DER collected specimens at Botany Bay, Endeavour River, and 

 other parts of the Australian coast, and added 1,000 species 

 to the few already known. On this subject. Sir Joseph's 

 biographer remarks, '* It was long hoped that Banks and 

 Solander would give an account of their labours and of the 

 immense collections made during the expedition. Solander, 

 having devoted ten years to his part <jf the u)idertaking, 

 died in 1782." In addition to their common journal, their 

 notes and all the designs made under their direction still 

 exist in the Banksian Library, now in the British Museum. 

 A series of engravings, Avliich it was intended to increase to 

 2,000, had been commenced ; but from some cause or other 

 not very well explained, nothing was published under the 

 auspices of the authors. Their labours, however, were not 

 lost to the scientific world (botanists being permitted to 

 consult the specimens which had been collected), and in 

 the course of a few years they received due recognition 

 from the greatest botanist of the age, Robert Brown. ]\Ien- 

 zies, in Vancouver's expedition of 1791, and Labillardiere 



