Letter received by Banks from Samuel Enderby, 21 July 1809 (Series 23.21) - No. 0001

[Page 1]

Sir

Having upon all occasions experienced your attention to me on the subject of the Whale Fishery, and for which I shall always feel grateful, and knowing the Interest which you have taken in all National or Commercial Enterprizes which have tended to increase our knowledge of the unfrequented parts of the Ocean, induces me to trouble you with two Discoveries made by two of our Whaling Ships -- one of which is an Island to the Southward of New Zealand, and the other of the existence of Cape Circumcision as an Island.

Abraham Bristow, Master of our Whaling Ship Ocean on her passage home from the Derwent in Sept 1806 discovered an Island, on which he did not land, but supposd Seals to abound there. On the Ship's return we immediately fitted out a large vessel to go to the Island in the expectation of finding Seals there and getting a Cargo of Skins before we made the Discovery public: we thought we were fully entitled to the exclusive advantage of our Discovery for one Voyage, and I trust this may serve as an apology for not disclosing it sooner. We have been disappointed in our expectation of finding Seals there and our Ship is now Whaling