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you. The design may seem to have been to get out the valuable part of the stone without injuring the surface. If you take in the provisional Newspapers, you will have seen two accts. of this discovery in the last week's Stamford or Lincoln Paper.
I am with entire respect & best complts. to Lady & Miss B.
Dear Sr. Joseph, yr. obliged Servt.
J. Gordon
My Dear Sr. Joseph Banks
Lincoln, Feb. 3, 1789
I take this opportunity to express my best thanks for the Print of the young Missionary to the intended Settlement in new Wales, & for your still more valuable communications accompanying it, which I received by favor of Mr. Vanneil on Sunday Sennight.
The Gentleman's religious tenets, you say, you have not heard much about. His scruples however on the subject of Matrimony shew, that he is not without some principle, & that he is not ambitious of forming canons for his own use. And, as his Disciples, it is probable, as you observe, have not taken any very decided turn in favor of this or that particular system; he will have no prejudices of that sort to impede his labors. As to the Religion of the Establishment, I suspect, it is less calculated for the purposes de propaganda fide amongst the untutored part of mankind than for an advanced & refined state of manners; where men can find religion enough for practice, & can spare a little for disputation too!
I have not certainly a good memory; but I do not easily forget any of those peices of information which I