Letter received by Banks from William Dawson, 2 July 1788 (Series 76.05) - No. 0001

[Page 1]

Sir
    I am to hope you'll be good enough to pardon my presumption in taking the liberty of addressing so great a Character, indeed nothing would have induced me but the real want of a friend and my having had the honor of sailing with you Sir in the Endeavour; after which I went the second Voyage with my late and most worthy - friend Captain Cook, who proved so much my friend / after serving him upwards of seven Years / as to obtain my being made a Purser and which office I have held (under a most unblemished character) near thirteen years, but from the unfortunate circumstances of being Shipwrecked in the one I was made into,
and