THE BAXKSIAE BOTAXIST-LIBEARIAXS. 
On which Britten com- 
ments : — 
The very numerous MSS. left 
by Solander, and the fact that the 
descriptions, with the exception 
of the Australian plants, had 
been transcribed by him for the 
press, seem to qualif 3 ' Smith’s 
implied censure, and suggest that 
the position and numerous occu- 
pations of Banks were mainly 
responsible for the delay which 
resulted in the non-production 
of the work. 
Britten being familiar with 
the quantity and quahty of 
the MSS. is a competent 
judge, but it is a fair question 
to ask if this is an adequate 
eleven years’ work. 
I have abundantly shown 
that Solander was habitually 
neglectful in his correspon- 
dence with his mother, and 
with Linnaeus and other 
scientific men. Smith had 
exceptional opportunities for 
forming an estimate of the 
character of Solander and 
his judgment is probably 
correct. We have too many 
instances of the incompati- 
bility of a life of “ good 
company” with the pursuit 
of science. Solander was a 
jovial soul, and his corres- 
pondence and his work ahke 
fell into arrear in con- 
sequence. 
Sir J. E. Smith, who 
knew Solander, who was the 
intimate friend of Banks, 
and an eminent botanist 
himself, after deploring 
Solander’s laziness and lux- 
urious habits, sums up 
No, 35.— SeE(UMEN OF iSoi.anduk’s iiandwiptino, 
