Letter received by Banks from John Hunter, 1 August 1797 (Series 38.06) - No. 0004

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Situation from which he says he had no hope  of being reliev'd, for ill is a part of the Coast near which no ship woud venture, He saw it is an intire Archipelago with innumerable Shoals; that he endeavourd to get to the Main land in his 4 Oard boat, but found, what he took for the Main was another Island, And that the tides were Shory, running sometimes 4 Knots, its direction nearly East & West, this account seems to indicate what I have long Suspected, "that there is a Strait thro this part of the Coast & that Vandeimans land is an Island.

I earnestly Wish Government woud send a Maratime Surveyor here with fit Vessels & have this Coast Examined; I am much inclind to think many useful discoverys woud be made: We have much Ore in the land beside Iron at least I think so this woud be good amusement for a Mineoroligist but we are such an Abandond set, that My time is wholly taken up in looking after the Public Concerns & in endeavouring to establish some decency & order; I have not a Moment to bestow on many things which I delight in, & which might well deserve my attention 

I am Concernd to say that deckd longboat which accompanied