( » 7 * )
TO SIR. JOSEPH BANKS , BARONET.
Dear Sir,
I THINK inyfelf fo much indebted to you, for making me the vehicle for convey*,ing to the public the rich difcovery of your Iaft voyage, that I cannot difpenfe with thisaddrefs, the ufual tribute on fuch occaficns. You took from me all temptation of en-vying your fuperior good fortune, by the liberal declaration you made that the Hebrides were my ground, and yourfelf, as you pleafantly expreffed it, but an interloper. MayI meet with fuch, in all my adventures !
Without leffening your merit, let me fay that no one has lefs reafon to be fparing ofhis ftores of knowledge. Few poffefs fo large a (hare : you enjoy it without oftenta-tiorv, and with a facility of communication, the refult of natural endowments joined withan immenfity of obfervation, colledted in parts of the world, before, either of doubtfulexiftence, or totally unknown. You have enriched yourfelf with the treafures of theglobe, by a circumnavigation, founded on the moft liberal and fcientific principles.
The lixteenth century received lullre from the numbers of generous volunteers ofrank and fortune, who, diftinguifhing themfelves by the contempt of riches, eafe, andluxury, made the moft hazardous voyages, like yourfelf, animated by the love of trueglory.
In reward, the name of Banks will ever exift with thofe of Clifford, Raleigh andWilloughby, on the rolls of fame, celebrated inftances of great and enterprizing fpirits 5and the arctic Solander mult remain a fine proof that no climate can prevent the feedsof knowledge from vegetating in the bread of innate ability.
You have had juftly a full triumph decreed to you by your country. May yourlaurels for ever remain unblighted! and if Ihe has deigned to twine for me a civicwreath, return to me the fame good wifh.
I am, with every due acknowlegement,
Dear Sir, your obliged, and moft obedient humble Servant,
Downing.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THIS journey was undertaken in the fummer of 1772, in order to render moreComplete my preceding tour $ and to allay that fpecies of reftlefsnefs that infects manyminds, on leaving any attempt unfinilhed. Confcious of my deficiency in feveral re-fpefis, I prevailed on two gentlemen to favour me with their company, and to fupplyby their knowledge what I found wanting in myfelf.
To the Rev. Mr. John Lightfoot, lecturer of Uxbridge, I am obliged for all the bo-tanical remarks fcattered over the following pages. But it gives me great pleafure tolay that he means to extend his favours, by foon giving to the public a Flora Scotica,an ample enumeration and hiftory of the plants, obferved by him in the feveral placeswe vifited. To Mr. Lightfoot , I muft join in my acknowledgements, the Rev. Mr.•John Stuart of Killin, for a variety of hints, relating to cuftoms of the natives the
z 2 Highlands,