1775 — 80 .]
THE ROYAL SOCIETY.
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to Greek and Latin : but the latter is my father’scommand, and it is my duty to obey him : I will,however, make myself acquainted with all thesedifferent plants for my own pleasure and gratifica-tion.”
He began forthwith to teach himself botany, andfrequently referred to some old women, who gained aliving by culling simples for apothecaries, and to whomhe gave sixpence for every material piece of informa-tion. On his return home for the holidays, he wasgreatly delighted at finding a book in his mother’sdressing-room, in which all the plants he had met withwere not only described, but engraved. This, whichproved to be an imperfect copy of Gerard’s Herbal , hecarried with him to school. There he continued col-lecting plants, and he also made a collection of insects.In 1760, he was entered a gentleman-commoner atChrist-Church, Oxford . Increased leisure gave him,in his new position, additional means of studying hisfavourite science. His zeal for the acquirement ofbotanical knowledge was so great, that finding nolectures were given on that science in the University ,he applied to Dr. Sibthorpe, the botanical professor,for permission to procure a qualified lecturer, andhaving obtained his consent, he went to Cambridge,and engaged Mr. Lyons of that University , to lectureat Oxford 21 . Banks ’ studies soon acquired him thereputation of being learned in natural history, and it isstated, that when his fellow-students were desirous of