XI 
INTRODUCTORY. 
Banks has been called “ the Father of Australia.” This is an 
affectionate title, and I will endeavour to show that he is worthy of 
it. 
His services have not been adequately recognised either by Britain 
or by Australia. This neglect is a reflection on Australians who, 
however, have the excuse that they err in very good company. He 
was happy to efface himself. His journal of the Australian voyage 
(Cook’s First Voyage) he made over to Hawkesworth, who so arranged 
his narrative that Banks did not receive due credit, the compiler of 
the records of others receiving the major part of the kudos and the 
whole of the remuneration for the publication. 
He likewise handed his journal of the Iceland trip to Dr. Troil, who 
incoi-porated it in his work, not giving deserved credit, so it is stated, 
to Banks. 
He superintended the drawings of the plants collected in Cook’s 
First Voyage, and bestowed great pains on the descriptive matter ; 
but, after Solander’s death, he allowed the duties of President of the 
Royal Society to wean him largely from botanical work, and so this 
fruit of his labours was not published until eighty years after his 
death. 
Sir Joseph Banks was a patron of early Australian exploration and 
colonization. In the political changes which took place in England, 
Banks’ particular friends were not, of course, continuously in power, 
and hence he was not always fully consulted by Ministers ; but, as a 
very general rule, his advice was sought by Ministers without reference 
to his political bent, it being reahsed that he endeavoured to dissociate 
himself from the strife of parties, and was the impartial friend of all 
in seeking the welfare of Australia. 
