Lot 185
Banks, Sir Joseph (1743-1820), botanist and naturalist
Rare Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: 10 January 2007 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Three page A.L.S., "My Dear Dr.
Like other persons who fancy they have much to do, as the Fly on the wheel fancies that it raises a great dust, I have not been able to Finish my letters for China & India till you had Finished all your preparations & Lord Cornwallis put in order all his Lordship's immense concerns, I am indeed ashamed of myself.
With this you will receive the papers I mentioned to you, the two are copies of proceedings in the P. Council for Trade you will not therefore allow any improper use to be made of them, I mean in publication. Nothing in them has any view to secrecy indeed both were sent to the E. India Company & have most likely been forwarded to the Governor General for the time being.
I cannot help hoping that the mention made of my countrymen the Hemp growers has procured them employment if not I commit their care to you & to old Ld. Cornwallis's friendship & Shall be under no small Obligations if you are So good as to put them into the way of becoming usefull to themselves & to their employers.
I have Troubled you with some letters too late for the Post. Excuse the liberty allow me to wish you & your noble Patrons all success that the sea and the Lord can afford you & I can not hope for your having more good fortune than the interesting & amiable undertaking which has ordered my old schoolfellow at this time of life to Abandon again his Family & his Comforts Clearly deserves of all things however I beseech Both of you to think of nothing with so much pleasure during the whole time of your Absence as the Return to your country & Friends who be Assured will look forward with a pleasing hope to that not far distant event.
Believe me my dear sir with sincere esteem & regard you most faithful Hble Servt, J. Banks", Soho Square, 13 April 1805
Footnote
Note:Although the evidence is not absolutely conclusive, the correspondent is possibly William Roxburgh, or someone associated with him and his work at the Calcutta Botanic Gardens. Apparently not published.
We acknowledge the assistance of Neil Chambers, Research Curator and Executive Director, The Joseph Banks Archive Project, c/o The Natural History Museum in cataloguing this lot.