Of these curiosities, the shells alone Dr. Fothergill had valued at two hundred pounds: yet neither the shells, nor any thing else, hath Joseph Banks to this day returned me. The reasons he gives for the detention are, that I have used him ill; that he hath given a valuable consideration for them , and, in short, that he will keep them. Of this pretended valuable consideration I am now to speak. On the readiness I shewed to oblige Joseph Banks with such of the shells as he might not have in his collection. Dr. Fothergill informed me, that Joseph Banks, in great good humour and apparent generosity, told him, he had much reason to be satisfied with the services of Sydney Parkinson, and the chearfulness with which he executed other drawings than those of his own department; supplying, in fact, the loss of Joseph Banks’s other draughtsman, who died in the beginning of the voyage. Or this account, Joseph Banks was pleased to say, it had been his constant intention to make Sydney Parkinson a very handsome present, had he lived to return to Eng-land. His intention was now to take place, therefore, towards his brother and sister; to whom he would make the like present, in consideration of such extra-service, or, as Joseph Banks himself expressed it, a douceur to the family for the loss they sustained in the death of so valuable a relation. There being due to the deceased upwards of a hundred and sifty pounds salary, the sole property of my fit-ter Britannia, and Joseph Banks chusing to keep some of the effects bequeathed to me, as beforementioned, it was agreed, between Dr. Fothergill and Joseph Banks: that the latter should make up the sum five hundred pounds, to be paid into the hands of me and my sister.

Matters being thus settled, a meeting of all parties was agreed on; which took place on the 31st of January, 1772, when I waited on Joseph Banks with my sister Britannia, meeting there Dr. Fothergill according to appointment.* After a short introduction, Joseph Banks, instead of enquiring about my letters of administration, as I expected, produced, for us to sign, a receipt, written on stamped paper, and couched in the strongest terms of a general release, in which he himself was stiled executor, or administrator, to the last will of my brother; and, as I understood it, importing a renunciation of my right of administration in favour of Joseph Banks. This surprizing me, I immediately took out of my pocket the letters of administration, which I had myself procured by Joseph Banks’s advice and direction, upon which he seemed highly displeased, flew into a great passion, and said the whole affair was then overturned: but, on the interposition of Dr. Fothergill, and my representing to him that what I had done was by his own order, he having before told me it was necessary, and that till I had administered he could not settle with me, he became somewhat pacified, and agreed to pay the five hundred pounds, on receiving a common receipt, deferring the execution of a general release to another opportunity, This receipt was dictated, to the best of my remembrance, by Dr. Fothergill, and was signed by me and my sister Britannia; I leaving with Joseph Banks my letters of administration, for the purpose of having a more proper and formal release drawn up. Before the signing of the above receipt, however, I desired Joseph Banks to deliver me that bundle of my brother’s manuscripts, which he had before shewn me: On which Dr. Fothergill interfered; and, saying they should be returned him, and no improper use made of them, Joseph Banks delivered them.

* It may not be improper to observe here, that I proposed to Dr. Fothergill the taking my attorney with me on the occasion: but this the doctor opposed; saying, " No, by no means, Joseph Banks "Will be offended."

Voyaging Accounts