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Augt 25 . 1801
Sir,
I received your letter dated Aug 5th 1800, which was broke open, but with an apology that as it came in a packet of Gov. King's it was done by mistake, before it was observed to whom directed. As Gov. King has given you so much information about me from the Cape, I must certainly vindicate myself, and what I have state is a real fact, and Truth and Honesty I consider as the primary characters of human life. I attended to his advice in settling myself when at the Cape of Good Hope, and also to Mr Barrow but the matter was, that time would not allow me to visit all the places he pointed out. Neither did I expect to be so long on shore as what I was, as the ship was soon ready for sea again, and was appointed to sail before she did. The Capt. complained very much by remaining there so long (13 days). I can say, that Gov. King venting his passion at me was not agreeable, and I was strongly persuaded not to proceed with him to New South Wales, and had proffers made to me to remain at the Cape that appeared lucrative, but from what I undertake I never mean to swerve, however to conclude this, I shall speak of what has transacted here, which again will not be of a pleasing nature.
I shall now make no doubt but what you have received much more information about me from one person or another, which I might consider as not worthy of notice, but perhaps this might be deemed contrarywise of me, but I may say, where is there a human character perfect and without failings. It is the world at large that must give the decision of censure of an individual. For the passion I have for Natural History, I have put up with many things that would have given great offence to others, but I am well aware that such obstacles will happen. Since I have been in this country, I have not been able to apply above one half of my time to the pursuit you expect, as there are such dilatory proceedings in getting the few articles and necessaries that I want. I declare, I never worked harder for a living when in England, than I have done since I have been here. Soon after I arrived, I found I could not do without a Garden, I accordingly put a small part of the ground I had allotted me into cultivation, but this was destroyed by a flood in the height of the season. Shortly after I went a voyage to Bass's Straits in the Lady Nelson, but I found scarcely any thing different from what I had seen before. But had I met with many things, I could not have procured them, as I had not convenience and the weather was altogether bad. Here I met with what I never shall agree to. Because I would not give the Capt every thing I had collected, which he had not got, he was affronted, and one day, because I would not give him a bird's skin, he told me he would have all what I had collected, for he had got orders from the Gov. to seize every thing. I was well aware that he wanted them to give to the Gov. On our return, meeting with foul winds, we were obliged to
April 10