The Indian and Pacific Correspondence of Sir Joseph Banks, 1768–1820, Volume 2

Neil Chambers

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781851968367
• eBook ISBN: 9781315476032
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Historia militar y marítima

Following his participation in James Cook's circumnavigation in HMS Endeavour (1768-71), Joseph Banks developed an extensive global network of scientists and explorers. His correspondence shows how he developed effective working links with the British Admiralty and with the generation of naval officers who sailed after Cook. Volume 2 1768–1820.

Notes by George Nicol

[1]

[Strand]

[1783]¹

1. The original of this document is undated. However, Banks specified the type and quantity of paper that would be required for the plates for the official account of James Cook’s (1728–79) final voyage in a letter to Charles-Joseph Panckoucke (1736–98), 7 February 1783, this volume, letter 6.
Banks managed the publication process of the third Pacific voyage of James Cook under four successive first lords of the Admiralty, starting with his old patron, Lord Sandwich (1718–92). Banks suggested that James King (bap. 1750–84) should complete the voyage account following the death of Cook in Hawaii. Rev. John Douglas (1721–1807) was editor, having previously overseen the text for the second voyage account.
Banks also advised on the engraving of illustrations, by whom and at what cost; on the paper to be used for the plates, which was imported from France; on the French translation of the official account, who would undertake this and when it should appear; on the supervision of those responsible for charts and illustrations, in particular John Webber (1751–93), the mission artist, Alexander Dalrymple (1737–1808), the eminent hydrographer, and Henry Roberts (1757–96), who sailed as master’s mate on HMS Resolution; and on how the proceeds from the publication should be distributed.
See A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean: Undertaken for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere: Performed under the Direction of Captains Cook, Clarke, and Gore, in H.M.S. the Resolution and Discovery, 3 vols (London: W. & G. Strahan for G. Nicol and T. Cadell, 1784). See also the letters to and from individuals mentioned in this note that have been printed in this volume: listed in the Calendar of Correspondence. For details of the engravings for the official voyage account, who completed them and at what cost, what the titles of the engravings were to be, and who was listed to receive presentation copies of the final work, see NLA MS 9/1/28–28e and NLA MS 9/1/27–27e.

French Paper for the plates to the Voyage

There are about 30 of the plates that will require ½ Sheets And there are about 35 of them that may be printed on ¼ Sheets

___________

The paper Necessary for printing 2,000 impressions on the best Colombier paper, according to this plan, will be 95 Reams – but for fear the Sizes of the plates shoud not have been ascertaind with precision – it woud be better to order 100 Reams – if this plan is adopted. –

___________

There is however another plan, which seems to be very much the Wish of M^r. Webber & the other Artists – & that is, to print all the 65 plates on ½ Sheets – This plan woud undoubtedly make the plates look more beautifull, & uniform – particularly to those who will do them up seperate from their book – The Argument against it is – that it will make upwards of £200 difference in the expence – For by this method 130 Reams of Colombier paper will be necessary –

___________

The following Statement will give some Idea of the difference

It is conjectur’d that the paper with Duty, Freight, and all expences will come to something about £7. p Ream

That price — for — 130 Reams is	£910	–
And ———— for — 100 Reams is	700
	£210.	difference

___________

It seems universally allowd that English paper is the best for printing the Charts –

___________

With regard to the purchase of the paper there seems to be some difficulty – The Artists say that there is no good paper in London to send over as a Specimen – That nobody imports French paper but Boydell, & that he never imports the best – concerning the last fact, it is likely enough to be true – concerning the first, they are certainly mistaken – D^r. Hunter imported his own paper, & it is supposed M^r. Strange & others do. – With regard to this however, further enquiry shall be made –

The Artists all agree in saying that the French themselves seldom use their best paper, & seldom or ever in Books – The person said to be the most curious in the choice of his paper in Paris is Mons^r. Wille, graveur du Roi – And his Printer Mons^r. Beauvais is said to be the best Judge in France – If these two coud be consulted by the Agent, who shall be employed to purchase the paper – it might be of considerable use –

The best Colombier paper is said to be that made by Thomâs Dupuis –

[Banks Endorsement.]

M^r. Nicols

Calculation of Quantity of

Paper wanted

From John Keyse Sherwin

[2]

28 S^t James’s Street

[1783]

Sir

In the portfolio are the following Impressions

Otahaite Dance /In/ Impressions besides

The Progress of the Plate Which are Sent 18 or 19 one was sent to P. Stevens, Esqr. Admir[al]ty.

Three Dancing Figures the progress of this Plate I burnt except what I Send

Five of the Head with the Feather Helmet

two of the Female head with the hair upright one without y^e name in a frame

The Impressions which I have given to any one I will get back that the Whole I know of may be sent to you and Stamped with your Sign – as soon as tis possible

I should have sent these sooner but wished to have Sent every One Which I will get as soon as I see the persons and another thing hindered my sending for them as I hoped an Order for Prints for M^r Bassan to take with him to France this week – so that I have Scarce had time to get it done

I hope you will be so Good to believe that I am sorry not to have been Able to Get the impressions together before now and that I will as Quickly as possible. I am Sir With Great respect Your Much Obliged and Obedient serv^t

John Keyse Sherwin

[Banks Endorsement.]

M^r. Sherwin’s

declaration that

he has no impressions of his

Plates but those allowd him.

[Addressed: Sir Joseph Banks.]

From Joseph Billings

[3]

King’s Bench Prison

8 January 1783

Sir,

Encouraged by your friendship for Captain King, my worthy patron, and by your well-known liberality of disposition, I take the liberty of laying my Case before you.

I was appointed Master’s mate on Board the Resistance, & coming to London in order to pass, I was arrested for £23. 0s. 0d. but being desirous to extricate myself without troubling the Captain, I remained in Custody ’till I lost the opportunity of joining the Ship, which saild for the W Indies with my Chest & bedding aboard. – If, sir, your friendship for Captain King should induce you to assist me in getting to his Ship, I make no doubt but he’ll refund the Money. I removed myself by habeas Corpus to the King’s bench prison after making every proposal in my power to Satisfy the plaintiff, & I have no detainor against Me – It will be necessary to observe, Sir, that I have frequently had the honor of seeing you when I attended Captain King with Charts at your house, & that I /would/ made with him the Voyage to the Southern Hemisphere.

I have the honour to be

Sir,

Your most obedient hble Se[rvant]

Joseph Billings.

[Banks Endorsement.]

M^r. Billings

Jan 9 – 83

[Addressed: Soho Square.]

To Philip Stephens

[4]

Soho Square

27 January 1783

Sir

as you are well acquainted that the Progress of the publication of the Late Cap^t. Cookes Voyage has been for some months delayd by my ignorance whether M^r. Nicol whoom I recommended to their Lordships as a proper Person to do the Bookselling business for that work had met with the approbation of the Board I take the liberty to request you to Lay this before their Lordships praying their Favorable answer which will Enable me instantly to resume an active [part] in that business in which I expect much assistance from the Assiduity & Ability of the Said M^r. Nicol

I venture also to request of their Lordships that they will give orders that I am furnishd with Some document signifying their assent to a proposition made likewise by me some months ago & to which I then had their Lordships verbal Assent viz that the Board of Admiralty would advance money to enable me to Purchase the French Paper necessary for printing the numerous Copper Plates engravd at their Lordships Expence on Condition that the Said Money be repayd out of the first profits arising from the Sale of the Said publication

Yours &c &c.

[A note by Banks follows.]

Letter to the Board

Jan 27 – 83

From Johann Friedrich Blumenbach

[5]

Göttingen

30 January 1783

Monsieur

j’ai l’honneur de Vous envoyer içi les notices pour les differentes experiences faites pour la congélation du mercure que Vous avez démandé à M^r le chevalier Murray.¹

1. Johan Anders Murray (1740–91): physician; botanist. A pupil of Carl Linnaeus (1707–78), Murray was professor of medicine and botany, and director of the botanical garden at the University of Göttingen, where Blumenbach was also a professor of medicine and curator of the natural history collection.

Celle de M^r Briker n’est tirée que d’une gazette politique & sans doute pas bien exacte.

Celle de M^r d Etterlein est extraite d’une Lettre qu’il a ecrite à feu M^r Guildenstadt academician de S^t Petersbourg.

j’ai copié l’une et l’autre en allemand comme je les ai recu pour ne pas en attirer le sens en les traduisant.

pour la mienne, voila la feuille de la gazette litteraire de Göttingen ou elle est annoncée.

Je profite de cette occasion Monsieur pour vous faire parvenir quelques bagatelles de mes observations concernants la physiologie des plantes.

L’un de ces desseins répresente l’écorce des feuilles du poirier. Vous savez combien M^r Janssoire a Geneve a fait des recherches sur cette partie des plantes, communement mais familierement appelleé Cuticule ou Epiderme. j’ai ramassé un grand nombre de ces écorces de differentes plantes, & rien surpasse la varieté & beauté qu’ils offrent vus au microscope.

La differente texture des diverses Conferves dessinees sur l’autre feuille me paroit bien remarquable, sur tout celle de la Conferva rivularis qui est d’une beauté inexprimable & qui surpasse infinement ce dessin grossier.

La propagation singuliere de la Conferva fontinalis m’a frappé par son extreme simplicité. J’ai vu au printems, quand je fis apporter chez moi cette conferve dans des poudriers pleins d’eau, que la surface de cette pélisse verde (fig 1.) devenoit prosemée comme d’un poudre verdatre (fig 1 *) & que c’etoit la façon de la propager de cette jolie plante. L’extremité superieure de ch...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Editorial Principles
• Abbreviations and Sources
• Timeline 1783–1789
• Letters 1783–1789
• Calendar of Correspondence
• Index