Letter received by Banks from Philip Gidley King, 6 February 1799 (Series 39.032) - No. 0002

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much to your Bounty & well directed Efforts to which I fear will be frustrated in the present instance unless you think the plants can have a Chance by being placed between decks, It is true they will be greatly excluded from the Benefit of the Air & except what will come down the Mn. Hatch way in fine weather & be subject to the leaking of the Deck, but this may be obviated by a painted Canvas fixed over the Garden - the covering of that now appropriated for the Garden on the Quarter deck - Capt Phillip who is now standing by me says that he has no doubt if the Atlantic had been able to furnish a tarred or painted Canvas to Cover the plants. but that the most part of these he brought from NSW would have arrivd here The precautions they took & these he would have taken if he had the means, he has communicated to me & I shall be happy to give my assistance in making that alteration - The Master informs me that Souter has been extremely ill on the passage, but that [indecipherable] had attended the Garden and that most of the plants appeared Dead, which I suppose is only occasioned by the [indecipherable] the plant is at - I hear nothing of the Convoy; but shall go onboard as soon as the Weather Moderates to look at the Garden &ce when I shall write to you again, by which time I imagine