Copy of a letter received by Banks from James Wiles and Christopher Smith, 17 December 1792. (Series 52.10) - No. 0002

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1 Citron, 3 Oaks, 1 Myrtle, 2 Aloes, 3 Banksia, 3 Metrocedera, a creeping umbelliferous Plant we call'd Adventure Bay Parsley, between 200 and 300 Seedling Orange, Lemon and Citron Plants, a great number of young Palma Christi and seedling Firs, besides Indian Corn and Kitchen Garden Plants -- July 18th. we left Otaheite with the following Collection of Vessels and Plants on board, all in the most healthy condition --

exclusive of 32 other Plants for the Botanic Garden of Kew -- Before our arrival at Timor our Loss amounted to 220 Vessels of Breadfruit (and near double that number of Plants) and 4 Pots of Plantains -- Near the whole of this Loss was sustained in the Green house below, which we attribute to the unwholesomeness of Sea Air to Vegetables, and the want of a free circulation of it, for notwithstanding the Ports, Windows, and Scuttles are generally open all Day, and the Sky-lights constantly off, yet at Night we are necessitated to have them all shut up (the Sky-lights excepted) by which means the confined Air becomes in a great degree stagnated and destructive -- The Living Plants, however, wore a very flatering aspect and several of them had made Shoots 6 Inches long -- We left Timor Octr. 10th having collected 90 Pots of different Plants, chiefly Fruits, such as Mango, Jamboo, Jamblang, Bimbing, Carembola, Chermailah, Long and Black Pepper etc. but were not able to procure either the Mangostan or Durian, which are not Natives of this Island -- As we had plenty of excelent Water on board and the Plants continued healthy we represented to Capn. Bligh the necessity of making all possible despatch, and accordingly he determin'd not to touch at Madagascar but stand on for this Place -- Soon after leaving the Tropic we had lost 471 Vessels of Bread-fruit and 750 Plants, but still the Collection on Deck continued remarkable healthy -- the Total loss of the extra Plants was only 3 Pots of Ayyahs 2 of Rattahs, 2 Avees and 3 Plantains -- The Timor Plants were even then growing luxeurently nothwithstanding they had no time to establish themselves on shore -- The Breadfruit Plant of Timor growes much freer and appears a hardier sort than those of Otaheite, we procured from thence