Letter from Dr John Douglas to Sir Joseph Banks, through unnamed correspondent

MLMSS 10932

fonds

6 October 1782

9650469

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder) - manuscript

The official account of James Cook’s third voyage appeared in 1784 in three volumes, edited by Dr John Douglas who was a member of an Advisory Committee which included Lord Sandwich, Sir Joseph Banks, Captain James King, and John Webber.

Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) was a naturalist and patron of science who sailed with Cook on his first Pacific voyage. He supported the settlement of New South Wales and became the acknowledged authority on the colony. He served as President of the Royal Society for 41 years.

John Douglas (July 14, 1721–May 18, 1807) was a Scottish scholar and bishop. As chaplain to the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, he was at the Battle of Fontenoy, 1745. He then returned to Balliol as a Snell exhibitioner; became Vicar of High Ercall, Shropshire in 1750; Canon of Windsor in 1762; Bishop of Carlisle in 1787 (and also Dean of Windsor in 1788); and Bishop of Salisbury in 1791. In 1781, at the request of Lord Sandwich, he prepared for publication Captain Cooke’s third and last voyage; to which he supplied the introduction and notes. John Douglas died on the 18th of May, 1807. He was buried in one of the vaults of St George’s chapel in Windsor Castle.

Reference:
Library correspondence file
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

From the Enys Collection of Autograph Manuscripts; possibly part of the Banks Papers

Letter on a single page written from Windsor Castle. Douglas writes to advise Banks, through an unnamed third party, the current situation regarding the engravings for the official publication of Cook's third voyage. He assures the reader that he will provide Sir Joseph with slips containing the proposed inscriptions for each of the plates. Douglas goes on to express his regret that he is unable to call on Captain King for his help as he is presently overseas. Instead, he will ask John Webber for his advice. The letter concludes with an assurance that the impressions of the plates and the inscriptions will be left for Sir Banks at his house in Soho Square, waiting there for his return from the country.

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Written at top of letter in pencil in a later hand: To Sir Joseph Banks; and '207' in ink.

Printed typescript slip attached to bottom of letter reads: J. Douglas, Bishop of Carlisle