Letter received by Banks from Philip Gidley King, 10 March 1799 (Series 39.039) - No. 0001

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77 St. Georges Sqr Portsea

March 10th. 1799

Dear Sir

I should have written to you before now but have been waiting the Porpoise getting into Dock, which did not take place till last Friday.

Every thing was taken out of the 'tween decks, & she has gone in with all her stores etc in-The plan of alteration is that of adding apiece to the Sternpost, Rudder & after part of the Keel, doubling her to 5 [indecipherable] - & removing the top works. Tomorrow I shall go on board & plan the garden with the Builder below, till when the old garden remains. But must confes that had I the entire direction of the business I should be for making the entire alteration as stated above - but retain the garden on the Quarter deck, fit up a place for the reception of the plants below & place them in it until the ship is got to the Southward of Madeira then remove them again upon deck in the garden, where they might remain until after she has got the Southward of 30 degrees Sº then replace them below again, by this means many advantages would

[in margin] March 11