Letter received by Banks from an unknown correspondent inTobago, 23 June 1810 (Series 20.78) - No. 0001

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Tobago
at Mount William
June 23 1810

Dear Sir Joseph

The arrival of our packets has of late been very irregular, and for the months since I received your letter, together with a Box of Teak seed, I have had no opportunity of writing; - I am now hourly expectant of two Packets here, and write this letter in preparation, lest a flow of business on delivery of my dispatches, should then prevent my writing fully, as I wish, - I shall plant an avenue of Teak at Mount William and my friend the President Balfours Lady, whom I deem to be our best Gardener in the Colony, has engaged for care of another at Orange Hill.  I am told that the Teak seed remains a year in the Ground before it shows itself; - I shall have care to observe the period of its first shoot in this Island; - the general vegetation is uncommonly rapid and strong, - orange twigs of a foot from the Ground, planted within the three years I have been at Mount William, are now trees of twelve feet high. -

Augt 20 1810