Being a good deal flurried with the dispute, and finding nothing could be then determined on, I took no farther notice of them, at that time, than just to observe that the manuscripts were my brother’s hand-writing.
I observed however to Joseph Banks, that Dr. Solander had informed me, that, when my brother was taken ill, he called him aside, and told him he was appre-hensive he should die; in which case he said he hoped he had done everything to Joseph Banks’s satisfaction, and doubted not but Joseph Banks would do the just thing by him; at the same time desiring that James Lee might have the perusal of his manuscripts. Joseph Banks denied his knowledge of any such circumstance; on which his attorney present asked if he had any written voucher that the papers were bequeathed to James Lee, and was answered in the negative; Joseph Banks then saying that if Dr. Solander should say that James Lee was to have the perusal only of those writings, he would give up the point. At this instant the doctor came into the room, when I put the question to him, and he confirmed, without hesi-tation, what I had asserted. When Dr. Solander left the room, nevertheless, Joseph Banks snatched up the papers, and locked them up in his bureau; telling me to go and administer to my brother’s will, and he would acquaint me when it would be convenient to him for me to wait on him to make an end of the affair. And thus our interview concluded.