V'J 
ACCOUNT OF THE 
From this period Park was honoured with the patronage, 
and indeed with the constant friendship, of Sir Joseph 
Banks, from which he derived many important advan- 
tages, and which had a material influence on the subsequent 
events of his life. For this highly valuable friendship he 
was originally indebted to a connection which had sub- 
sisted for many years between Sir Joseph and Mr. Dickson : 
and it may not therefore be improper, to describe shortly 
the origin and nature of this connection ; which, besides 
its immediate influence on Park's fortunes, was attended 
with several characteristic circumstances highly honour- 
able to the parties concerned, and in themselves not unin- 
teresting. 
Mr. Dickson was born of humble parents, and came 
early in life, from Scotland, his native country, to London. 
For some time he worked as a gardener in the grounds of 
a considerable nurseryman at Hammersmith, where he 
was occasionally seen by Sir Joseph Banks, who took 
notice of him as an intelligent young man. Quitting this 
situation he lived for some years as gardener in several 
considerable families : after which he established himself 
in London as a seedsman ; and has ever since followed 
that business with unremitting diligence and success. 
Having an ardent passion for botany, which he had always 
cultivated according to the best of his means and oppor- 
tunities ; he lost no time in presenting himself to Sir 
Joseph Banks, who received him with great kindness, 
encouraged him in his pursuits, and gave him access to 
his valuable library. He thus obtained the free use of one 
of the most complete collections on Botany and Natural 
