The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29

A book which will be welcomed by all lovers
OF natural history In Sir JOSEPH ID. HooKER's
a~bridgment OF the hitherto unpublished Jour
nal OF the Right Honorable Sir Joseph Banks
During Captain Cooks First Vovd1e to Terra del
Ftteoo, Otdhttc. NeU Zealand, Australia, and the
Dutch East indies Macmillans). Although
the list OF his published writings ia ex-
ceedinRly short, It is we'll known that
Sir Joseph Banks was prominent among
the many distinguished scientific men who
adorned tho long reign of George III. Tho
hold which he has always had on popular esti-
nation has been due less. perhaps, to his high
position In the royal favor or to his long tenancy
OF the Presidential chair of the Royal Society
than to the important part he took in
tho VOYAGE OF the ship Endeavor under
Lieut. Cook, and his contributions TO
Hawkesworth's account OF It. The considera-
bio clippings from his journal which Hawkes.
worth inserted In his story of Cooks first voy-
age wero not always accredited to the author,
and the value of his work has not been hitherto
appreciated. because. strange to say, Sir Jo-
seph's journal has remained unpublished until
the present year, when Sir Joseph d. Hooker,
who was permitted to make a transcript Of the
only surviving copy in tho British Museum, de-
termined to bring out an abridged edition. The
volume before us represents about one-half of
the matter In tho original diary. The omitted
portions are chiefly observations on the wind
and weather, extracts from tho ships log, no.
tices OF birds and marine animals that
were OF constant recurrence, and lists
of plants and animals. tho manuscript
names Of which have been since superseded.
The book makes plain tho Importance of tho
services which It's author rendered to tho ex-
petition. 1t was Banks who rapidly mastered
the language of the otahitans and became the
infAFpFatAF nf fha nortv a-I u -. - -
was tho Investigator of the customs and habits
Of these savages rs we'll as of the natives Of
Now zealand. 1t was owing to his forethought
that an Otahitan man and boy were taken on
board. through whom Banks directed when In
New Zealand tho inquiries into the usages of
its Inhabitants, which form tho foundation OF
our knowledge of that interesting people.
When 1t is considered that the informa-
ton procured by him was gained at
comparatively few points. and those on
the coast only. the fulness and accuracy
of his description Of the Now Zealanders. even
as viewed In the light of modern knowledge. arc
remarkable. Altogether this abridged edition
of Banks's Journal constitutes an indispensable
supplement to the history of q voyage which
for the extent and value Of It's geographic and
photographic results was unique, and which.
moreover. led directly to tho enlargement OF the
British empire: It was owing to tho reports of
Cook and Banks, and especially to the latter's
representation concerning tho advantages Of
Botany Bay as q site for q penal settlement, that
Australia was first colonized. In tho present
notice We can only offer some random Glimpses
of the chapters. covering upward Of 200 pages,
which deal with Otaheite and Now Zealand. We
begin with an outline Of tho principal Incl
dents in the authors life. no adequate biog-
raphy of whom has yet appeared.