Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/84

 Ixxiv AN INTROD UCTOE Y Mr. Lance said that as I had so few sketches of New Holland, there could be no necessity for my returning immediately to England ; that I had now an opportunity of going to India which I ought by no means to lose ; and if I did go he said he would undertake (as he was very intimate) to make my excuses to you. I cannot enough acknowledge the attention that gentleman has shown me since my arrival in China (which increases my obligations to you, for I believe Mr. Lance has been attentive to me merely because I was by you appointed). What I have seen of the country about Canton I am entirely indebted to him for ; he has given me letters from Mr. Drummond and the Committee to the Governors of Ceylon, Penang, Madriz, and Bombay ; and in short it is entirely by his advice and direction that I did not immediately return with the sketches, which, before I had seen him, I had fully determined. These, sir, are the principal reasons that have determined me to remain some time longer from England ; knowing that it will be very much more to my advantage (though against my inclination, for I would rather return) going to Ceylon and the countries that the East India Company have lately acquired, than to return with subjects which, when executed, can neither afford pleasure from exhibiting the face of a beautiful country, nor curiosity from their singularity : New Holland in its general appearance differing little from the northern parts of England. I have now, sir, nothing more to add except that, if I thought you would be displeased that I do not return with the drawings that are remaining, I would most certainly relinquish my design of going to India, as I am bound by duty as well as inclination to ful£l in every respect my engagements with yourself and the Lords of the Admiralty. I am, sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, Wm. Wkstall. Banks's face, wben he read that letter, would have made quite a nice study for Sir Joshua. The idea of an artist, specially selected for the purpose, devoting three years to the work of illustrating New Holland, and then declaring that he had seen nothing to illustrate, seems excessively comic in the present day; but Banks did not see anything funny about it. We may fancy him reading Westall's letter over and over again, in the vaia effort to understand what it meant. Was it possible that, ia the whole extent of his voyage, from Eang Greorge*s Sound to Digitized by Google