Letters written by Sir Joseph Banks to various people, 1789-1818, together with biographical extract, 1857

SAFE/A 300 (Safe 1/460)

fonds

1789-1818, 1857

845901

0.01 metres of textual material (1 volume)

Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) was appointed adviser to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew some time after his return from the Pacific. In his capacity as President of the Royal Society, Banks was also involved in the activities of the Board of Longitude and the Greenwich Royal Observatory.

Banks acquired his main London residence at 32 Soho Square in 1776. It was established as his London home and scientific base. His natural history collections were housed there and made freely available to bona fide scientists and researchers. Until his death, this house was a centre for the wider scientific community. He did not discriminate between British and foreign scientists. He was, in fact, influential in maintaining scientific relations with France, for example, during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

The letters are bound in a volume and paginated in the following order:

[Pages 1-3] Letter written by Sir Joseph Banks of Soho Square to B. G. E. La Cepede of Paris, dated 29 March 1803. Banks remarks on the difficulty of obtaining accurate descriptions or drawings of Cetaceans; sends, on loan, drawings from his own collection; directs attention to a diagram and some remarks on the Spermaceti whale in Colnett's 'Voyage to the South Atlantic', printed in London in 1790.

[Page 4] Fragment of a letter signed by Sir Joseph Banks, undated. Annotated "This Autograph of Sir Joseph Banks was given me by John Aiton Esqr, second son of W. Aiton who under H.M. George the third was employed in creating the Botanical Garden at Kew and who was an intimate friend of Sir Joseph."

[Pages 5-7] Draft letter written by Sir Joseph Banks of Soho Square to an unnamed correspondent, dated 13 February 1811. Banks refers to steps taken by him concerning the appointment of a new Astronomer Royal in place of the late Dr Maskelyne; gives names of candidates and offers assistance, if required; has instructed Taylor, the Assistant at the Observatory, to continue his duties with diligence.

[Pages 8-11] Letter written by Sir Joseph Banks of Soho Square to C. L. L'Heritier of Paris, dated 25 December 1789. Banks acknowledges receipt of the books sent by L'Heritier; refers to his intention to publish regularly diagrams of new plants acquired at Kew Gardens; mentions that he has sent a specimen for L'Heritier's herbarium; discusses payment for the books sent from Continental dealers.

[Pages 12-13] Draft letter written by Sir Joseph Banks of Soho Square to an unnamed lady, dated 8 July 1810. Banks requests her assistance in delivering letters and messages to French scientists and promises assistance to her should she visit England again at any future time.

[Pages 14-17] Letter written by Sir Joseph Banks of Soho Square to Professor J. F. Blumenbach of Goettingen, dated 11 August 1798. Banks thanks him for books received; has sent an essay on the Geography of Africa; sends messages to Professor Tychsen and other scientists, to one of whom he has despatched the Diploma as Fellow of the Royal Society.

[Pages 18-21] Letter written by Sir Joseph Banks of Soho Square to Dr N. Wallich of Calcutta, dated 26 August 1818, received 19 March 1819. Banks conveys his own and Mr Aiton's thanks for valuable contributions of seeds and plants sent to Kew Gardens.

[Pages 22-24] Biographical extract concerning Sir Joseph Banks (manuscript, in French), copied from French publications entitled Conversations - Lexicon and Nouvelle Biographie generale, November 1857.

English, French

Microfilm copy available at CY 2977