Letter received by Banks from Matthew Flinders, 10 May 1801 (Series 65.17) - No. 0001

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H.M.S Investigator Little Nore May 10 . 1801

Your friendly letter, Sir Joseph, of May 1st I received, containing information of the East India Company having ordered us £1200 for table money, they have, however, given me no information upon the subject, either of the sum, the manner in which we are to obtain it, or when. It would be pleasanter to me, would they determine upon the manner in which it should be distributed applied; but if it is left to me, I should think with you, Sir Joseph, that the only rule to go by, would be the proportions observed by Kings ships in the East Indies for myself and the officers; and that with respect to the scientific gentlemen I should propose, that each individual received the same proportion as each individual of the gunroom mess, and that the gardiner and miner received £20 per year as far as the sum went. I should also propose, that every person concerned received his proportion individually, and applied it as he thought proper. All the instruments from Troughton are received on board; and the charts from the Admiralty have been sent down by Mr Marsden and received; but the Admiralty have given me no answer whatever to my application