“Poor Flinders, you know, I suppose, put into the Isle de France for water, and was detained as a prisoner and treated as a spy.  Our Government have no communication with the French; but I have some with their literary men, and have written, with the permission of the Government, to solicit his release, and have sent in my letter a copy of the very handsome one M. Baudin left with you.  If this should effect Flinders’ liberation, which I think it will, we shall both rejoice.”

In June, 1805, Banks wrote to Flinders from London, detailing what had been done:—­

“From the moment that I heard of your detention, I have used every effort in my power towards effecting your release.  As the enmity between the Governments of France and England is carried to such a height that no exchange has on any pretence been effected, they could do nothing for you.  I therefore obtained permission in August last to address the National Institute of France requesting their interference to obtain your release as a literary man, a mode by which I have obtained the release of five persons from the gracious condescension of the Emperor, the only five, I believe, that have been regularly discharged from their parole.

“My letters were unfortunately detained in Holland some months, and, in fact, did not arrive at Paris till April.  I received, however, an immediate and favourable answer, which proves that the literary men in Paris will do all in their power to obtain your liberty; but, unfortunately, the Emperor of the French was in Italy, where he still remains, when my letter arrived.

“I confess, however, I entertain sanguine hopes of a favourable answer, when he shall return to Paris, from the marked and laudable attention His Imperial Majesty has always shown to scientific men.  As far as I know, your friends here are well.  Mrs. Flinders I heard of very lately, as full of anxiety for your return.  I have heard many times from her on the subject, and always done my utmost to quiet her mind and soothe her apprehensions.

“All your letters to me and to the Admiralty have, I believe, been safely received.  Your last, containing the last sheet of your chart, I forwarded to the Hydrographical Office at the Admiralty, as you desired.

“We have had a succession of First Lords of the Admiralty since Lord Spencer, no one of them favourable to the pursuit of discovery, and none less than the present Lord Barham, late Sir Charles Middleton.  As he, however, is eighty-four years old, either his mind or his body must soon become incapable of any exertion whatever.  I have no news to tell you relative to discovery.  M. Baudin’s voyage has not yet been published.  I do not hear that his countrymen are well satisfied with his proceedings.  Captain Bligh has lately been nominated governor of New South Wales.”

Meanwhile prizes taken by the French were coming into