8o 
SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
Solander to Ellis. “ Endeavour,” off the Bay of Funchal, September 18, 1768. 
We just now, at going out of Madeira, met with an opportunity of sending a 
letter, but must write in a hurry, as the ship we are to send it with is imder sail. 
We have seen a great many fine Mollusca ; got drawings and descriptions of 
them, but as no ship this year is e.xpected to sail from Madeira to England, we 
resolved to send what we have by Lisbon. 
Pray be so good as to send the inclosed to Mr. Lindegren, with my compUments, 
and beg him to forward it. You shall have a large packet bj' way of Lisbon. 
Jlr. Banks desires his compliments to you ; mine to all friends, particularly 
to Mr. and Mrs. Webb, Miss Wilson, all at the Museum, &c., &c., &c.* * * § 
Ellis to Linnceus. London, November 1, 1768. 
I received your very kind letter of the 12th of September, and now can inform 
you that I have received a letter from our good friend Dr. Solander from Madeira, 
dated the 18th. of September; he was then saiUng out of harbour of Funchal 
upon their vovage to the South Seas. He sa 3 ’s they have met with a great many 
curious Mollusca, of which tliej' have made drawings and descriptions; he adds 
thev will seiul what thej' have got home by way of Lisbon, and promises me a 
large packet bj" that wa\% as no more ships are expected this year to sail for 
England from ilatleira. He has sent me a letter inclosed for his mother, with 
orders to ileliver it to Mr. Lindegren to be forwarded to her; he begs his kind 
respects to j’ou and all his friends. | 
The voyagers were now out of communication tvith the outside 
world for nearh’ three years. 
Ellis to Linnceus. Gray's Inn, London, May 10, 1771. 
It is with pleasure I inform vou that we have certain accounts from the East 
Indies, that our worthy friend Dr. Solander, and ilr. Banks, with the astronomers, 
were safe arrived at Batavia the 10th of October, 1770, and that they proposed 
to sail for England in a month’s time; so that we have great hopes of seeing them 
here next month. This news gives universal joy to the learned and curious in 
England ; but it must give the highest satisfaction to j'ou, who esteem him so 
deservedly ; and to all his countrymen 
I hear that Dr. Solander will, as soon as he arrives, be introduced to the Royal 
Family. He has been kept from the knowledge of our King b\* the interposition 
of some great men, who favour quacksj ; but I hear his Majestv is determined 
to see him when he arrives, and probabU’ then will reward his merits.f 
Linnmus to Peter Cusson, M.D.. of Montpellier (date ?). 
M_v pupil Solander, who has just been round the world with an Englishman 
of the name of Banks, thought he had collected a thousand new plants, chiefly 
from the new-discovered countries ; but the\* will never amount to o00.|| He 
has promised me specimens of the whole, before he "oes out on another voj'age.*" 
• I'orrcsp. : Linnaeus, ii, 12. 
t Ib„ i. 236. 
J Doubtless a reference to the Earl of Bute, late Prime Minister, sometimes styled " The Maecenas 
of Botany,” who favoured Dr. John Hill, a bumptious person, who obtained through Lord 
Bute’s intluence the appointment of first Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, Kew, although 
there is some doubt about Ids having ever occupied this position. Obtaining a foreign order, he 
called himself " Sir ” John Hiil. Kidght of the Polar Star. He died in 1775. An appreciation 
of the Earl of Bute will be found in Keic Bulletin, 1891, p. 290. For particulars of Dr. Hill 
see Ib., p. 294. 
§ Corresp. : Linnaeus, i, 259, 260. 
Ii This was of course a mere guess, and is somewhat depreciatory. If this reached Solander’s 
ears, it might have contributed to Ids coolness to Linnaeus. 
y Corresp. : Linnaeus, ii, 571. 
