Letter received by Banks from Matthew Flinders, 17 March 1801 (Series 65.11) - No. 0002

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touch at Guernsey for our private convenience.

I asked concerning the appointments of the draughtsman and naturalist, and also of the passports; and whether it was still intended to appoint a third lieutenant to the ship.

As Mr Crossley proposes to join in a few days, I thought it necessary to remind Mr Nepean, that it would be requisite for me to have an order to bear supernumeraries; and took the liberty of adding, that "I know it was the wish of Sir Joseph, that the men of science and their servants should be borne for wages also, that they might be eased of the expense of servants wages."

I intended also, but forgot to mention concerning the officers journals being sent home. At present, a certain part of their pay cannot be received without two journals being delivered or sent home; but as I apprehend it is intended, that no journals or accounts whatever should be sent home publicly, either by myself or officers, the order that directs this should be accompanied by another to dispense with the journals of the commander and officers of the Investigator in passing their accounts. If this is done previously to our leaving England, it will be in time; and I should have mentioned it to Mr. Nepean as a memorandum only.