Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/65

 SKETCH. Iv for Cook's second expedition, the '' share of glory " obtained by Banks and Solander seems to have excited the ambition of many others — among them being Johnson himself ; — BoswELL : " Had not you some desire to go upon this expeUition, sir ?" JoHXSON : " Why, yes ; but I soon laid it aside. Sir, there is very little of intellectual, in the course. Besides, I see but at a small dis- tance. So it was not worth my while to go to see birds fly, which I should not have seen fly ; and fishes swim, which I should not have si&Qn swim.'*' There was a third party, it seems, who was entitled to a ^' share of glory *' from the great expedition, and whose claims were frankly admitted by the Dr. — as appears from a letter he wrote to Banks on the subject -. — To Joseph Banks, Esq., Johnson's Court, Fleet-street, Feb. 27, 1772. Perpetua ambita bis terra praemia lactis Haec habet altrici Capra secunda Jovis,* Sir, — I return thanks to you and to Dr. Solander, for the pleasure which I received in yesterday's conversation. T could not recollect a motto for your goat, but have given her one. You, sir, may perhaps have an epic poem from some happier pen than, sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson. In fame scarce second to the nurse of Jove, This goat, ^rho twice the world had traversed round, Deserving both her master's care and love, £ase and perpetual pasture now has found. — lb., vol. i. p. 533. Digitized by Google
 * Thus translated by a friend : —