The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-08-16 00:00:00

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AND 1111181110. OP tut WM.
lf te unite • love of mum wawa activity.
enemy of atiod. Ind • forum camaerrearAl.firittr
the paseaft of kri penefteer, be the besi rpealdies•
tam the a modern philosopher. we my safely
Omar flat oe individeal of the paella day maimed
tegaiiitee. in the maw!, to • "Ma as.
twit dm the ashiett at me. biography, whoa N.
owe Lass will be felt by all the elisaiiiio bat
meet especially by that lamed and petiatie beep
ever whieh he he. presided fit term& of NOV
lea% with. a reputation cheasheet Itsrarer
tfka seitteesk folly sopa is Wit Mach he has
ihaiiitaimithat lie, I. wise 4 the erpilities of
sess it bia esedjetere, the lealetidatee of 2=
ow peed's, *Attires of oso shot 011 k
teat for literates% sod * gesioirse lose et art, -was
sofiretuostely rather tharTheeskee than the Jessie!
4 his day.
• Ma even aterptinit the rent Swedish ritualist
leer may with justice be eiteerted, that Sir Joseph
' Maks was the most *Moo philosopher of modern
thaw For this he was peviliarly fitted by
stasee, not only in mistal olalitier. but i• hod_ sly
pow. Tall sad wep Aimed ie. pewees. be beds
defiance to retiree ; warty tad esimeihre am.
finance, he spoke madame Ile his tellifelbe.
enterprise ; 'Met his dignity sad bite! !sell
ready reimports to conciliation sad fr
later years, indeed. old age aid the rd, sesie.
measure. checked his personal exertions: bet Me.
mind we, ever active. es his puree was always spas,
fur the *muse of science.
Hie family is paid to have beers of noble Stesike
extraction; and the first. of whom we And te,
costa, was Simon Stoke. who. is the loge of
Edward 111. married the daughter esid kelreolial
-- Common. of Newton in Yorkshire. frees
him descended Robert Brakes, who, in the reigns
of Elizabeth sod James I. was an ethineut attorney
at Giggleewick ; a whose sins distinguished
themselves Oil the King's side, in the civil wan.
Since that period, Sir Joseph's ancestors hove in•
fermented with the families of Franklaud. Hae•
cock. Whichectie, and Hedgkinson. of which tat.
ter the fortune was possessed and the name borne
by his father. en estimable country Gentleman,
residing principally at his seat in Lineolnshire.
Revesby Abbey, about MI miles E.S.E of Lincoln,
moderated on high grounds amongst the fens, over
which it has • most extensive prospect. This house
is nearly on the site of* Cistertien monastery, which.
et the dissolution, was grouted to Charles Braudou,.
Duke of Suffolk, from whom it pissed to the
Borleiglis, afterwards to the Howarth of Berkshire.
and Irwin them it wee purchased by en ancestor of
the late possessor. There Sir Joseph, an duly son.
with one sister, was born on the 13th December,
17411.
tits school education passed rapidly ever. end
he was sent to Oxford at • vety early age, where
he soon formed a strong attachment foe natural
history, a love for which was then spreading over
Europe in consequence of the writings of Lin-
wens; and in that science he speedily displayed
a great proficiency, in addition to the general pure
suits of liberal knowledge. His ardent ambition to
distinguish himself as en active promoter of his fa-
motile pursuit. soon began to manifest itself ; and
his collegiate coarse bring completed at the early
age of twenty, he nobly resolved to forego the pa.
rade of mute, the glitter of fashion. and the plea-
sures of • town life. for the itivestigation of Nature
la her wildest haunts, and in her most iuclenteot

regions.
This WAS in 1763, when he left England on a
transatlantic voyage to investigate, during a sum-
mer trip, the coasts of -Newfoondland and Labra-
dor ; both of which, though frequented by fisher-
men, were then unknown. it may be said, to the
philosophic world. lit this pursuit he acquired. or
improved. those habits of iovestigotion excited by
the contemplation of rare and novel objects; and
he found difficulties and dangers fully corn.
pendated by numerous additions to his cabinet of
intend history; whilst those very difficulties, dan-
gers, said deprivations, served tit fit him fur fur-
ther exertions in the cause of science.
It were much to be wished that some Wavy
friend of the venerable President may yet furnish
to the world some account of this first expedition
from his papers. Even at the present moment La•
brador is very little known, except frotitentne slight
observations of the late Sir Roger Curtis, when a
Lieutenant in the Navy ; and more recently from
the pen of the late Captain Cartwright; but •who
',edit to have dedicated his time sakty to limiting,
err to the cisittmercial details of a tithing establish-
merit.
After his return he became acquainted with the
mectr.esteemed Dr. Sulander. a Swedsih Gentle..
•natin. the pupil of Liunsativ, who had recently rioted
Landoll' with strong letters of recommendation,
which, in addition to his philosophical merit. soon
procured him Su appointment in the British
Museum, then first established.
Thus • occupied in varona scientific pursuits
until the year 1767. having previously become
a member of the Royal Society. his desire for
further investigation of new worlds was again
excited by the plan proposed by that learned body.
for observing the expecte&trinsit of Venus on some
island of the South Sea grouper ; then lately in.
traduced to public notice by the recent voyages of
Wallis. aud Carteret : .part of a system of
'discovery and nautical research. Umlauted upon the
most liberal aud public-spiritea principles by our
late revered Sovereign. who was scarcely seated On
Lis throlie when be determined to avail himself of
the courage and abilities of British seamen. to set
at rest 'for ever ull the geographical doubts and
theories of the learned world.

No sooner did Mr. Bunks understand that the
Endeutmut, commaudeJ by Captain (then Lieu•
tenauty Cook, wow equipping for her voyage, and
intended to prosecute futtlivr discovrry alter.the
obserrstion of the traosit, thim he determined to
embark in the expedition, not only to satisfy a laud-
able curiosity, but also in the hope of enriching his
native laud with a tribute of knowledge from cone•
tries yet unknown, and on whose rude and uncut.
Lowed inhabitants he might bestow romathing that
would render life of more stelae, by en acquoititance,

s -

ttiailrle
both of them ffiettaisiebsal is the lawird world,
fee their extensive and aceemte knowledge of nett.
tad history. Throe gestirmen, reinsured by the
We of soignee, said by • desire to pursue their io•
fides in the emboss revises I wee preparing to
'wit, desired permission tirmalte the voyage with
me. The Adminshy readily complied with a te.
genet that promised such edirsotage to the world of
letters. Theyeecordiegly embarked with me, led
peetieipsted in ell the daggers end suffeesegt of one
tidies' end fatiguing uovirstiou."
Mr. Books, iode. entered upon hie peepers.
thins with a most poems§ spirit; providing himself
with two deaughtemes for lonshieepe mod hares,
sod for naturel history • (Messrs. Bodeen end
Perkiness), a sectetety, and four memos, together
with ell the accessory books, imateenamsts,
*NW sit ' the mese time every erioverlience mod
secommeistion were 'teddy tsid liberally afforded
by govevnmeist. The kosfeeornit soiled from Ply-
"meth Soria an the 18th of August. 1768;
and even betimes the Listed and Cape Finisterve.
out philosophers commenced their addittous to
extend Moog, not m.ly investigating soapy me.
rine assign's. previously imitation to ',moralism, bat
also disieveriog e bird, eirdescrifsed even by the
accurate Liniteee and evidently blown from the
laud. es it expired is Mr. Banks's hand, from ap.
permit exhaustion. This new species of wag.reit
Mr. Banks very appropriately called by the name
cif sembwille velykens. saying that none but sailors
would venture on board a ship that was going round
the world.
Os their snivel et Madeira. Mr. Banks hod the
satisfaction of receiving permission for himself and
Dr. &lender to search the island for natural cu-
riosities, and to employ persons to take Ash end
gather Shells, which time would not permit them
to collect fur themselves; a permission which the
ignorant jealousy of she Negligee, only granted
through the urgent solicitations of Mr. Cheap, the
British Consul.
Oar limits forbid us to trace all Mr. Banks's ob.
serrations ou this iutetesting island, but we cum*
emit the whimsical ignorance of the nuns of Sesta
Clara, who appear to have supposed that phileoe.
pipers mast be conjurors; inquiring of them, woes
to a visit to their grate. when it would theorist.
whether a spring of fresh water were to be Amu*
within the walls of their convent, and several ether
questiosts equally absurd and entree/sped • the
philosophical silence upon which did not teed OW
rinse our men of science high in their estimation.
Passing by Teneriffr, they proceeded howeelle
the Cape de Verd litsode, Mr. Banks taking livery
opportunity of adding to his stores of natural his.
tory, both aquatic and serial ; sod thence, cress.
ing the Atlantic towards die coast of Breed, taw
arrived at Rio Janeiro in November.
• Here Mr. Banks's hopes end expected's* "POs
completely frustrated by the ignorant
and obstinate political jealousy of the Portuguese
governor, who, understanding that there +cremes
of science on board, not only refused Shear;
minim' to reside oo shore, bat even to
from the ship. Even when they attempted to gis
on shore to ;lay a formal visit to the Viceroy. they
were prevented by the guard.bosts ; nor was Mr.
Banks's own memorial on the subject attended with
any better success.
In this dilemma, with a world of new creation be.
isms his eyes, and the eery 'Tantalus of philosophy,
his Bret resource was to send some of his streams on
owe. at break of day, who cisme off slier dark
is **evening with so many plants and insects, that
be and Dr. Solauder were induced to eyed" the
vigilance of the guard-boats, and go on shore thew
selves the ensuing day ; Dr. Solander getting ado
Samna, into the town in the character of surgeon
of theship, at the request of a sick friar, where he.
fousived many marks of civility ; «hint Mr. Banks
get so shore in the country, bait did not venture
towards the city, as his object. of pursuit were in
the fields and hedges, where he ihade considerable
esseiaLions.
It was understood, however. the next day, that
the officers of government were making a strict
'worth after some persons who had been on shore
without permissiuti. and accordingly our philoso-
phers determined to remain ou board, in prefer.
tote to • 'Brarilisa prison.
They sailed on the 7th of December ; and no -
sooner had the gusid-boat left them, than Mr.
Banks most impatiently seeded himself of the up.
peetunity of examining the Mandl. nt the entrance of
the bay, whew lie collected many specie. of rare
limits, sand • mOst brilliant variety of insects.
3 Proceeding looards the• south. nature began to
'*en open theni.lu, bee most gigantigigantic'Bed. of. sea-weed were:tact with, to which they
gave the name of Fuca, -Giganteus, upward. of nos.
loonderd feet in length of stalk ; and immense
somber. of insects were caught blown off from the
r; of Patagonia. Appetkoching Terra del Fuego
pesaed through Straits le.Maire. where Lieutel
Cook afforded Mr... Banks etery possible .oppertesil
, nity of snaking obeerVatiutsh sending him •iid hitt
attendants on shore, and Standing off and on with
the ship when lie could not anchor.
The Endeavour now put
.into Good Success
bay to wood sod water, when many curious ob•
serrations were snide on the rude inhabitants attest
wild district. Whilst lying there. Mr. Banks
and his companions had nearly perished, its au
excursion to the mountains in search of plants.
Miatakitig their route on their return. in •
sooty-storm. though then the middle of sum.
nier ill that hemisphere, they were first check-
ed in their progress by Mr. Buchan falling
into a fit. which forced them into a chain of cir-
cumstances that led.to their passiug the night 1111011
n woody mountain. exposed' to cold, hunger, and
fatigue, under which a seaman and a black servant
of Mr. Blinks expired ; and it was with the greatest
difficulty that Dr. St louder were &reed. During
the whole of this trying scene, the uctivity, spirit.
and presence of iniu4 of Mr. -Batiks, were most,
admirable; owing to which alone did the whole
party escape from perishing.
• Whilst passing -round Cape !lore, mid in their
route to the north...west, Mr. Banks made greet
additions to the science of ornithology, be having

.

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oltresem,f/
ige" liteitem
isloods, the reeestlyAreettera laud 14'0460N
was seen on the 10th of April. IMO the Weed Om
erhiCh they wevidireeted to proceed for the ulster.
venial of the transit which wee to take place is
the Id of the 'seeing June.
Daring his long residence sonoisget a Aterly-di,.
Peered people, beet!. held, sad at imakivillat-
ed. Mr. Brinks distemeeiehed himself meek by his
activity, good temper, and misseilietory neeonere,
which- tended much to the etrinfort and success
of the orepedition. He seem became •e greet for.
weights with the Chiefs, sod Weed with ell molts.
-es his bisque gave him more epperlonitiell of
cultiirettng their seqoaiatasee end friesdship then
Cook could posarWy spare freer hie prefessienel
avirestutos. He became, of course. the friend,
the mediator, end the empire epos all wantons
of doubt and dillealty, whith eeeld not fail •te
occur in a skinniest so towel. With rite 'edam
toe, he was a great Omega, f and e wltisriesl
scene ores occurred epee a visit ti see the
Odds, whim wife. Two* the moteeut thiy set
dews, did our philosophy, the homier to pi.e•
herself close by him, indeed *ee the mine mot.
Unfortunately the high•beed dame. like some of
her sisters in our world of fashion. was met is the
first bloom of her youth, nor did she exhibit
any trusts of ever having been a beauty : he there.
fore manifested no extraordinary gratitude foe
those public marks of dif:inetioa ; bet seeing
a very pretty girl in the crowd, sod sot advertiug
to the dignity of his noble compooion, beckoned
to her to cease and sit by Min. After a little
coquetry, the girl cemplied, whets, seated between
Isis rival queens, be eutertunstely paid all his at:
trinities* to the latter. loading her with heeds and
with 'eery showy tries that be thought wpuld gro-
tify her. This sows prodeeed evident marks of
disappointment its the coantenaoce of his more
elderly cadre omit, yet she persevered in her civi-
lities, assiduously supplying him with the milk of
the cocuewout. end each other dainties as were
within her reach, evidently with the design of taking
his heart or his trinkets, if not by storm at Nest by
sap. whets this most ludicrous scene was hastily
broken up by the iogenuity of the Barrieigton*
and Somme* of the island, who hod emptied the
pockets of some of the Gentlemen, as dexterously
as if they had been coming oat from the Opera.
This produced considerable confusion, but wee,
however, at length jot over by the judicious eon.
duct of Mr. Books, which led to the immediate
recovery of the stolen goods; So strong indeed
was his desire to avoid giving soy *Schee to the
natives, with whose customs they were then un-
acquainted, that whets one of his dreghtsineu, Mr,
Buchan, died. he declined bringing him nu shore.
and consented to his body being souk in the *Grog,
which was done with es much decency and solemnity
as circumstances and situation would admit of.
The nativeesoon begin to put such confidence in
Mr. Banks. that, as soon se his tent was setup in
the little fortification constructed on Point Venus.
one of the most powerful chiefs paid him a visit.
bringing with him not only his wife and family, but
the runt of a house. and materiels for fitting it up,
with furniture and implements of various kinds,
declanng his resolution to take up a residence
there; an instance of good-will and confidence
highly pleasing, which Mr. Banks used every
means in his power to strengthen rod improve.
Our philosophers were now busily employed in
collecting and preserving such spa cirtietis of natural
history, in various branches, as they could procure;
hut its this pursuit they were much annoyed by
flies and other insects, which ion only coerced the
paper ou which Mr. Parkinson, the natural Mewl
painter, was at work, but actually eat of the
colour as fist as he could lay it on.
The voyagers were soon gratified by a visit from
the well-knowso Queen °lima, who then lived
separate from her husband. end seemed deter-
mined to pay every personal attention to Mr.
Banks, who, 00 one °erosion. happeutd to catch her
Majesty its a little faux-pas; for. proceeding not
very early in the forenoon. to attend her drawing.
room in her canoe, he popped unexpectedly into
her bed-chamber under the awning ; and stepping
in to call her up. a lihertrwhich he thought he
might take without any danger of giving offence, lie
di•crieered there. to Ins greet astouislimeut, a hand.
emu' young fellow of five-stad.twerity. P.ropriety,
of course, induced him to ratreat with 60411 e
degree of halite and ronfusion, but the lOrds
of the bed-chamber and domes d'honneur icume.
diately informed hint, that inch occtirreuces uever
excited the. animadversions of tea-tables. pr gave
offence to the prudes. nor 'brought grist to Doe -
tors' Commons. but were as oniversllly knewn as
the moat stereo of the same kind its European_ cote-
ries. Indeed the lady herself Oa. so little affected
by the mid-adroit discovery, that she rose and drew.
ed with all expedition, and admitting Mr. Bank,
to her aressiisg-room, sue i mark of special. grace,
clothed him swath her own royal [mods iii a suit of
fine cloth, and proceeded with Min to the. teats,
where she was teethed with all due respect and
ceremony.
Mr. Banks became now the nniverisl friend of
all the natives of every rank. To him they applied
in every emergency and distress; sod ou his weir•
aniccs, on ull uremia's., they placed the most im.
Olen confidence. This wee of the highest conse-
quence to the expedition, when. a short time before
the expected transit, the nitro ttttttt quadrant,
which gas then curried ass shore for the first time,
was motets from the tents during the night.
loss of this instrument would have amounted nearly
to the total failure of the object its view, and Mr.
Battik% who. " upon such occesions declined nei-
ther labour nor tisk, and who had snore influence
over the Indians than any" of the officers,. de-
termined to go into the woods in search of it, ac-
companied only by • midshipman. sod Mr. Green,
the astronomer. After great fatigue and exertion.
and with considerable presence of mind, as detailed
in Hawkeswortles account of the voyage, the epos-.
dram was happily rcovereit, and Mr. Basle had the
satisfaction of dieplaying his zeal its favour. not
only of scisace in Kennel, but 4,f a branch to
which he ors vet eft:kited by spy penises'. pre•
dilection.

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