Letter received by Banks from Doctor Campbell, 3 February,2 March 1804 (Series 72.014) - No. 0002

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it will not be in my power to send it by the Carmarthen for tedious illness which has intervened adds to the difficulty, but I will  not neglect the first succeeding opportunity.

We have naturalized the Nutmeg & Clove to this island.  I received the first plants in 96. They were planted at Amboyne in boxes in March that year & within the period of 5 years & 9 months they perfected their fruit.  When they arrived here & were placed under my care none of them were above 3 inches high. This is an instance of great precosity [precocity] - no unusual means were used to force them.  They were but once transplanted (from the boxes to the soil] & cultivated with tolerable ease.  Some which I placed close to the mountains did not find such congenial influences.  They are now in flower but have not fruited. This detail of these operations I have communicated to Mr Marsden & requested him to lay the letter before you if he thinks it worthy your wasting half an hour on the perusal of it.  I will endeavour to transmit to you Specimens both of these nutmegs & cloves.  I trust this success will open the eyes of the board of Directors to the real value of their possessions on this island & interest the nation at large.  The opinion of