appellation of citizens, with which the president's letter is commenced and concluded, nor the esteem which he professes in it to have entertained for the French nation, even during the most frightful convulsions of her most terrible revolution," were phrases likely to be peculiarly gratifying. His old inveterate opponent, bishop Horsley, gladly availed himself of what might fairly be considered an excess of gratitude, to address, under the signature Miso-Gallus, to the new associate of the institute, a letter, at any rate, not remarkable for its mildness, as in it he accused him of servility, disloyalty, irreligion, and falsehood; and characterised the institute, into which he was so proud of being admitted, as an embryo exotic academy of robbers and revolutionary philosophers. The ferment, however, soon subsided, and sir Joseph Banks continued, without further interruption, to the period his death, his liberal patronage of every plan for the promotion of science, and the improvement of his countrymen.

Of the board of agriculture he was a zealous member and so attentive was he to the objects for which that board was framed, and so well skilled in them, that his late majesty intrusted him with the chief management of his favourite breed of Merino sheep. By the drainage of the fens in Lincolnshire, which he very warmly promoted, he doubled the value of his estates in that county; and he was so much of a practical agriculturist, as to be enabled, soon after the great scarcity of 1801, to write a very sensible pamphlet on the cause and prevention of blight in wheat, to which that scarcity was mainly attributed. In 1804, he was very active in forming the Horticultural Society, to whose transactions he was a contributor of several papers, explanatory of his mode of cultivating several scarce but useful productions, particularly the American cranberry, the paper upon which, in the first volume of their Memoirs, gives an interesting description of the garden and orchard at his sub-urban villa of Spring Grove, on Smallberry Green, a country residence which he took on lease about the time of his marriage, as a convenient retreat, now that unremitting attention to the duties of his station would not permit his spending much time at his distant seat in Lincolnshire. He proposed, also, to conduct at this place his horticultural experiments, with more convenience to himself and advantage to the public. For thirty years, he also employed, at his own expense, a draughtsman, whose sole business it was to make sketches and finished drawings of all new plants that perfected their flowers and fruits in the royal gardens at Kew; and this artist he continued in this employment, on a salary, left

as a legacy in his will, of £300. per annum. To the Caledonian Horticultural Society he was also a valuable contributor, by his purse, his influence, and his pen.

During the latter years of a life thus assiduously devoted to the service of science, the subject of this memoir suffered severely from the gout, whose paroxysms were for a while relieved by a recourse to the celebrated Eau Medicinale, but which soon failed in its effects. Ginger, in large quantities, had previously been resorted to for some years, until, to use his own phrase, he "had fairly exhausted all its virtues." His life was now speedily exhausting, though he continued to exist for some time, with a body nearly bent to the ground, and so tortured by disease, that he could take no exercise at home but in a Bath-chair, and was carried to his coach on a cushion suspended by strings, supported by two footmen. From this undesirable state of existence, he was released by death, at his house in Soho Square, on the 9th of May, 1820, having attained the eighty-first year of his age.

By his will, he has left his library and valuable collections in natural history to the British Museum, after the death of his present librarian, Robert Brown, Esq., to whom he gave the use of them for life, together with an annuity of £200., subject to the conditions of his making the library his chief place of study; assisting in the superintendance of the royal botanical gardens at Kew; making London his principal residence; and undertaking no new charge that might otherwise employ his time. Dying without issue, he willed his estates, after the death of lady Banks, to the hon. James Hamilton Stanhope; sir Henry Hawley, and sir Edward Knatchbull, Baronets, distant relatives of his own, or of his wife. His personal property was sworn to be under £40,000. in value.

In his earlier days, sir Joseph Banks exhibited a manly form; he was tall and well built, with a countenance expressive of dignity and intelligence, and an eye that beamed with kindness. His manners were courteous, frank, engaging, unaffected; his conversation was replete with instruction, without levity, yet sufficiently vivacious. His information was extensive, and he knew how to use it to advantage. In private life his character was highly respectable; his charity was diffusive, and his condescension great. We fear, however, that he was too much linked in with the disciples of the new school of philosophy, to have known as much as we could wish him to have known of vital Christianity.

A large subscription has lately been set on foot to erect a statue to his memory in the British Museum.

379

AMERICAN LITERATURE AND

INTELLIGENCE.

IN pursuance of the promise contained in our last, we now resume the Rev. Ward Stafford's interesting address, at that portion of it which must be peculiarly interesting to Englishmen, inasmuch as it relates to seamen, for whose spiritual and moral improvement, we rejoice to know, that so much has lately been done, and is still doing, amongst us :

"But there is another class of the destitute, whom it is more difficult to supply. I refer particularly to our seamen, who, in consequence of their character and circumstances, have been regarded as almost beyond the reach of hope. The principal difficulty arises from their having no permanent place of residence. Should any particular number of them unite together, and establish a school, or erect a church, or should this be done for them by their friends, who live on shore, they could not enjoy the benefit. Their employment obliges them soon to be at the distance of hundreds, and, perhaps, thousands of miles. They are constantly moving in different directions, constantly changing associates. While at sea they are in such small companies, that they cannot ordinarily either supply themselves with a preached Gospel, or be supplied by their employers. Even in the Millennium we cannot suppose that the Gospel will, to any great extent, be preached on This renders it indispensable, that the principal attention should be paid to them while in port. God has kindly adapted the dispensations of his grace to the condition of his creatures. At sea they do not need the same attention. They are then removed from many of those temptations to which they are exposed while on shore. Considering, therefore, their character and circumstances, it is evident, that the means of grace with which they are supplied must, in a sense, be common property, to which all seamen shall have an equal claim. In order to their improvement and salvation, it is proposed

the ocean.

"First, That in every sea-port there should be a marine school, by which seamen may be instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, navigation, and other branches of learning. Strange as it may seem, a large number of them are unable to read. This is not, however, generally the case in respect of those who come from parts of the country, and of the world, where particular attention is paid to the education of the rising generation. But seamen are from all parts of the country, and from all parts of the world. Though their stay in a single port, at one time, is but short; yet all the time which they spend, in all the ports they enter, is very considerable. It is estimated, that they are in port VOL. III.-No. 6.

D D

one-fourth part of the year, or three months out of twelve. During a considerable part of this time they are wholly unemployed. Were schools established, and proper efforts made to interest them in the subject, we believe they would gladly embrace the opportunity. Those who needed it would soon learn to read, while the more enterprising would wish to attend to other branches, particularly to navigation, if for no other reason, that they might be promoted to higher stations. Were they thus instructed on the land, they might, by the aid of books, and their more knowing companions, pursue their studies while at sea. Observations on the manner in which a school of this description should be conducted, must be omitted. A library also should be connected with the school. Most seamen are destitute, not only of the Bible, but of all other books. Many who have carried books to sea with them have lost them, by shipwreck, or in some other way. Were a library established, to which seamen, under proper restrictions, could have access, numbers would employ, at least, a part of their time in reading. If by these, and other means, they can be furnished with employment while in port, much towards their reformation will be accomplished; for we are confident, that the want of employment is one great reason why so many of them resort to haunts of vice.

Secondly, As another means of benefiting our seamen, Bible societies should be established, of which they shall be the active members. Every person acquainted with their moral state knows, that most of them are destitute of the Bible; and that those who are not destitute, are supplied in a manner by no means the best. Human nature is such, that it is almost impossible, that a seaman should take the same interest in the Bible where he has it in common with a whole crew, compared with what he would, provided he had a copy of his own, obtained by his own industry, and from his own society. By means of such a society, a record also may be kept, and testimonials may be given, which will gain them employment in preference to the profligate. As the Bible is almost the only means of instruction with which they can be supplied when out of port, we trust that they will not be permitted to leave our shores without this compass, this pole star, to direct them to the haven of eternal rest*. If it be important, that their minds should be enlightened by human knowledge, and that the Bible should be put into their hands, it is still more important, that the Gospel should be preached to them. In what manner can it be done? In answer to this inquiry, which has occasioned great and tender solicitude in the minds of some, who have thought of seamen, who have wept over them, and prayed for them, it is proposed,

Since this report was read, a marine Bible society has been organized, and the subject discussed more at large in the addresses to merchants and masters of vessels, and to seamen, which are before the public.

"Thirdly, That in large sea-ports churches be erected expressly for their accommodation. This, it is conceived, is the only way in which they can extensively enjoy a preached Gospel. It is said, that they may be accommodated in other churches, and in them may hear the Gospel. In answer to this, it may be observed, in the first place, that there is no provision for them. The few seats which are not occupied by private families, are occupied by the poor, whom we always have with us. No provision whatever has been made for seamen, as a class of men by themselves. They have been forgotten, or entirely neglected. But, in the second place, were provision made for them in our churches, it would not remove the difficulty. They regard themselves, and they are regarded by others, as an entirely separate class of the community. They do not mingle with other people. Their very mode of life excludes them from all society, except that of their companions. With them they necessarily and exclusively associate while at sea. When in port they have no other acquaintance, and have but little occasion or inducement to form any, except it be that which, though very limited in its duration, is extremely pernicious in its consequences. They have no places of resort, except those which frequently become the grave of their property, their morals, their happiness, and their souls. They are most of the time strangers in a strange place. they have generally become vicious in consequence of being neglected, and as no distinction is made between the sober and the profligate, they are strangers whom all feel at liberty to despise. Those of them who are respectable, and such there are, notwithstanding all the disadvantages under which they labour, have a high sense of propriety, and will not be guilty of intrusion: hence they have a natural aversion to enter our churches. Another barrier is their dress. Their dress is almost universally different from that of other people. When they enter a church, they are known and marked as sailors; they attract the notice of no small part of the congregation; and most of them would sooner face the cannon's mouth than that thoughtless, supercilious gaze, which betrays equally a want of civility to the stranger, and of reverence in the house of God. Many have told me, with strong emotions, that they supposed people thought they went to church to mock at religion, or from some other improper motive. There is another reason why they do not more frequently go to church. It is a fact, and one at the recital of which the persons concerned ought to blush, that they have been turned out of our churches when they have entered! They have received no invitation to take seats the pews have been closed against them—and they, in some cases,

*

As

This we can easily conceive to be the case in our English churches; but, we believe, that the latter part of the sentence can have no applica tion on this side the Atlantic.-EDIT.