Letter received by Banks from Philip Gidley King, 16 February 1799 (Series 39.038) - No. 0001

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77  St.Georg Square, Portsea
Feb. 16th. 1799

Sir

As Gearish is going to Town on some business of his own, I have desired him to call on you, & to inform you of the State of the Plants – A letter came down to the yard yesterday, from the Navy Board – directing the Garden & Barricading both to be both to be removed if the Commander thought proper – as no answer has been yet received to the private letter I wrote respecting the Ships being lengthened I shall be silent to any other representation – It appears rather extraordinary, that no directions, should have been sent respecting Moving the Ships, that are in the situation which the Garden  must be placed in between decks - as yet no such orders are sent, & until they are nothing can be done, but removing the Barricading is the [quarters?], which the yard  [indecipherable] about next week. If you think proper, Gearish can bring down Cayley's microscope etc – I am very respectfully,
Sir
I amYour
Most obliged Hble Servt.
Philip Gidley King

Feb 21.