Letter received by Banks from William Kent, 29 November 1801 (Series 30.12) - No. 0001

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Buffalo Portsmouth Harbour November 29th 1801

Dear Sir

I have the pleasure of informing you the Emues were safely landed the day before Yesterday and set off immediately for Town, where I have no doubt of their arriving safe:  we had much trouble with the Custom House People.  Your account of the death of the last of the Black Swans, has given me more uneasiness than ought to belong to such a trife, but when I consider the history of those Birds, I cannot help it.  I do not think it possible to procure the Black Swan in New South Wales, but in the manner those were got; a Settler of the Banks of the Hawkesbury, being some considerable distance in the Woods, had the good fortune to find two Swans Eggs, which he brought home and placed under Goose then setting, who brought them out.  He reared them in his Hut, they eat out of his Hand, and lived among his Children;  he became on this account greatly attached to them;  I made several attempts to get