Copy of a letter received by William Bligh from Banks, 13 May 1809 (Series 40.134) - No. 0001

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Soho Square
May 13. 1809

My dear Sir

 As I am compelld by the Gout which has for some time past made my Right hand utterly useless to me to use the pen of another, I can say but little in this letter nor is there occasion that I should say much as it will not be long before we meet.

I have made however diligent enquiry by every means that were open to me into the charges of Maladministration alledgd against you by the persons who Seized your person & your Government & it gives me Sincere pleasure to Say that there is not any part of them which your conduct is not in my opinion Meritorious & Such as I expected of you. The conduct of your enemies on the other hand bears evident marks of the Revolutionary procedings of the French which I know not how to distinguish from Treason of the deepest dye.  They accuse you indeed of cowardice but as that is wh  [with] your disposition impossible I have determined entirely to disbelieve it & thus to set aside at once the only accusation against you which in my opinion wd [would] amount to a fault if provd

 I sincerely regret the determination of Government to recall you but as I always wish to extract from Evil all the good that can be afforded by it I look forward wh [with] pleasure to the time which will Shew you to Me as the defender of your character here which has so often Suffered under unfounded imputations