Copy of a letter received by George Caley from Banks, 8 January1798 (Series 18.005) - No. 0001

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Mr Caley

If you will read my letter by which you was induced to leave Manchester & come to London you will find whether or not I have kept my word with you since you have been here, if I have not tell me in what I have been deficient & I will conform strictly to all I have promised.

I always know that Gardening in the Botanic way was not carried on in this Neighbourhood by Taskwork & you must have learnd that as soon as you enterd yourself at Chelsea; but I know also that altho there did not appear to be much time for the cultivation of the Mind in the school in which I placd you, it is the very school in which the elder Aiton Lee M. Dickson & several other respectable Botanists have laid the foundations of their knowledge & acquird a far greater degree of Botanic knowledge than Mr. Boulton appears by his writings to posess. 

If you are dissatisfied here & chuse to go back to Manchester I can have no objection: you are in all respects a free Agent; but if there is any thing which you think I ought to have done for you that I have left undone I beg you will mention it to me & I will do it if I think it right. I always wish those with whom I have any connection to speak their minds at large.