Company. look for protection to Banks. 80 SIB JOSEPH BANKS. 1787-1810 years previously he had sailed to New South Wales, and had visited the island of Otaheite on three occasions : — By these voyages I have learnt that both the islanders there, and the colonists of New South Wales, justly look up to you as the patron and promoter of their prosperity. And in a memorial which Wilson enclosed, praying for East India relief against the arbitrary action of fhe East India Com- pany in seizing a ship and cargo of seal skins and oil from the colony, he said : — The colony of New South Wales and its dependencies, daily rising in importance to the mother country, the inhabitants, many oi whom have never forfeited one priviledge of British subjects, look homeward with anxiety for encouragement to the industry Colonists which is excited among them. In their remote situation, solici- tude for a conservator of their rights and a promoter of their wel- fare naturally directs their attention to you, honourable sir, who from the circumstance of your assent to the settlement being made, it is hoped will, by a continuance of support, not only be instrumental in rendering the colonists comfortable in a great degree among themselves, but even be the means of carrying civil- isation and sdl the blessings connected with it to the thousands of islanders in their neighbourhood. In many letters written by Matthew Flinders in 1801 Matthew qu board H.M.S. Investigator at Sheemess, before his de- parture on the voyage which made him famous, the writer poured out his thanks to Sir Joseph for all that he had already done on his behalf. Flinders seems to have consulted him on every point connected with his expedition, especially when it was necessary to stir up the Navy and Victualling Boards, or to approach the Lords of the Admiralty for some Indebted to special conccBsion. And when mentioning that he had at commission, last received his commission, he added that he felt himself entirely indebted to Sir Joseph's influence and kindness for it. In other letters, written from the Isle of France in 1804-5-6-7, when poor Flinders was kept inclose confinement as a State prisoner by the French Grovemor de Caen, he appealed to '^ my patron,^' Sir Joseph, for assistance in his calamity. Digitized by Google
