Letter received by Banks from Philip Gidley King, 21 July 1805 (Series 39.099) - No. 0012

[Page 12]

On a scrap of paper I send you the quantity of tame stock we now posses.  The great supply of Breeding stock at Port Dalrymple & the Derwent will in a few years place these settlements beyond the want of animal food - and certainly no country in the world posseses greater natural advantages for that object than this.

Respecting Cayley after a five year acquaintance, I must say the goodness of his heart towards a distressed Family who he most disinterestedly protects, without the least neglect of the Rectitude & attention with which he serves gives more than counter balances any of his ponderable eccentricities which fortunately is confined to myself, as I suffer no one to interfere with his quiet convenience & pursuits.  There is one part of your paragraph respecting him that neither he or I understand, I will transcribe it "I observe that I have paid a very little money on Caley's account to your Agent, I wish you would favour me with a request to pay [blank] I should be thankful as I do not like to be in debt in money matters to a man to whom I owe so much for literary assistance". The two words that are wrote in the blank we cannot understand, unless it is for Cayley to be allowed more money.  I should have no objection so to understand it, & to pay in ready obedience to your wish; But as you increased his wages from 15/ to a guinea about some time ago, therefore your further intentions on that subject might be deferred