Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/62

Ki AN INTRODUCTORY to the world of science ; his realm was the Royal Society, over which he ruled like an absolute monarch; but practically his influence extended far beyond its boundaries. He took no active part in politics ; and yet how clearly his political power shows itself in a few lines written by him on a loose sheet of paper, which still lies among his manuscripts : — I could not take office and do my duty to the colony, my successor would naturally oppose my wishes ; I prefer therefore to be friendly with both sides. Feb., 1789. Whether these lines formed portion of a private letter, or were written in reply to some offer of Ministerial office, it is impossible to say. Lord Hawkesbury was appointed President of the Council of Trade and Plantations in 1786, and the office may have been offered to Banks on account of his peculiar qualifications for it. The reason he gives for his refusal is very suggestive ; he '^ could not do his duty to the colony " if he were to take office — ^in other words, he looked upon his duty to it as a father looks upon his responsibility for a child. If he took office in one administration, he would not be able to exercise any influence when another came into power ; and as the laws of party government required that each new Minister should oppose the wishes of his pre- decessor, he felt bound to keep out of any political complications that threatened to restrict his means of doing good at Botany Bay. So completely have these passages in his life been forgotten that they reveal themselves now, to one who reads his unpublished correspondence, like the meaning of an ancient manuscript. Among the many illustrations that might be given for the same purpose, we may content ourselves for the present with a letter to his friend Captain Bligh, in which he offers him the govern- ment of the colony. It was written on March 15, 1805 : — My dear sir, — An opportunity has occurred this day which seems to me to lay open an opportunity of being of service to you and as I hope I never omit any chance of being usefuU to a friend whom I esteem as I do you I lose not a minute in apprising you of it. I have always since the first institution of the new colony at New South Wales taken a deep interest in its success and have been con- Digitized by Google