The life of Sir Joseph Banks - 1911 Author:Edward Smith Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III VISIT TO ICELAND. COOK'S SECOND AND THIRD VOYAGES preparations which Banks had made for a second voyage to the South Seas were not destined to... more » be entirely in vain. A Swedish clergyman was in England on a travelling tour, Uno von Troil by name. He was interested in Scandinavian antiquities, and later came into some eminence as Archbishop of Upsala. Having made acquaintance with Banks, it was proposed that they visit Iceland in company. The project was immediately adopted. Measures were taken for its organization in that profuse style in which Banks thought proper to undertake a scientific excursion. A ship was chartered, at a cost of £100 per month, and set sail on July 12, 1772, with a company of forty persons. Banks's guests included the inseparable Solander ; Dr. von Troil; James Lind, a rising young physician of Edinburgh, who was, besides, an astronomer; J. F. Miller, artist and engraver; and Lieutenant Gore, who had been with him in the Endeavour. The party landed for two days in the Isle of Wight (which von Troil calls a little paradise), proceeded to Plymouth, and then made for the Western Islands of Scotland. They were lying in the Sound of Mull early one morning, near the seat of a Mr. Maclean, of Drumnen, who, upon the accidental acquaintance, invited Mr. Banks and his friends to breakfast. There was another English gentleman, a Mr. Leach, present at the table, who mentioned in course of conversation that there was anisland out in the open, nine leagues away, which he believed had scarcely ever been visited. The long-boat was forthwith prepared, and a small tent and two days' provisions were placed on board. The ship remained near Tobermory, while her boat made its way to Staffa with Banks and his friends. Thus was Staffa discovered, and became a no...« less