Letter received by Banks from John Hunter, 21 December 1795 (Series 38.02) - No. 0001

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Sydney New South Wales

21st Decr. 1795

Dear Sir

Having done myself the honor of writing you very lately by a ship bound from hence for China, I had some intention of letting the present opportunity pass without troubling you so very soon again, but recollecting that I had in my last letter mentiond the discovery of our long lost Cattle, & my intention of endeavouring to see them myself in order that I might with more certainty relate this discovery to the Secretary of State; I have by this opportunity written fully to the Duke of Portland upon it - and I will now trespass a little upon your time in mentioning a few particulars, -

After the Sailing of the last Store Ship I determind (having a little more time on my hands) to make a small party & travel towards that part of the Country where our Lost Cows were said to have been discoverd. Accordingly on the 17th Novr. we set off from Parramatta at Day Light in the Morning, the day being Cloudy the Journey was not unpleasent, I shoud have observd that we led with us two Horses who carried our provisions Tent &c. This day we walkd about twenty Miles, thro a Country some part of which was certainly very good and others but indifferent, but finely diversified with Hills & Valleys Woods & Lawns - in the Evening we came to the bank of a Narrow River but determind not to Cross it till next Morning here we found it fordable, about fourful deep, bottom a quick Sand, Stream rapid and by its

Sir Joseph Banks Bart.

Jan [indecipherable] 97.