Letter received by Banks from George Caley, 6 August 1803 (Series 18.046) - No. 0001

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Sir

I sent you on the Glatton among some other papers one of a nature that when I left England I never thought of aiming at, viz, political, or a statement of the affairs of the colony.  In that account I have been impartial, but upon the present I shall not bind myself so strictly to such principles, though at the same time I will not exceed the bounds of truth.

By entering into such details, may probably not be so pleasing to you as  what I might be led to imagine, yet I trust you listen to what I have to say upon the occasion.  When I was in England political affairs were the general topic of conversation, and yet though so warmly debated, I never was enraptured by either party any farther than the general welfare of the nation,  Since I have been here I have experienced a different change.  Nay, in short I think that every Englishman that has arrived in this Colony within these three last years, who had not violated the laws of his country (provided he was in a state of dependence, may be truly said to have lost his liberty.  In England they say out loudly about the