Letter received by Banks from Philip Gidley King, 9-10 May 1803(Series 39.078) - No. 0008

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has I fear done away the general Idea they had of the nature of the attentions they received here - In short, the most infamous false assertion was made that the French officers were selling spirits for money - the intention was to compel me to allow of a Ship that arrived here with Spirits selling it - The Captain of the New South Wales Corps that took much pains to substantiate the Report, was compelled to ask pardon of the French officers as a body - Retribution to me as Governor, as to the English name in this business was refused by Coll Paterson: who I cannot conceal saying has acted with much duplicity & want of Candour - by which he has greatly injured the public service of this Colony - altho I have taken sufficient care, that no consequences can result from the unsupported state I am in, as I shall most religiously persevere in the strait line of Duty I have adopted at what will happen -

Whilst the French Ships lay here, I was on the most friendly footing with Monr Baudin & all his officers - what idea he had of my attention to him & his, you will observe by the enclosure which I request you will make what use of you please, as he gave me twelve copies at parting - Entre nous he showed me & left with me his Journals, in which were contained all his orders from the first Idea of his voyage taking place, & also the whole of the drawings made in the voyage - This object was (by his orders) the collection of objects of Natural history from this Country at large, & the Geography of Vandiemen's land, the South & South West Coast, as well as the NW & North Coast were his particular objects it does not appear by his orders that he was