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Soho Square Aug. 25. 1808.
Mr. Caley
I have been a long time prevented from writing to you by increasing age & infirmities, principally by having the Gout upon me with severity at the times when opportunity of Letters offerd you have in general been an active a diligent & an usefull assistant to me in your present situation & I have found you on many occasions to posess a strong understanding. I cannot however agree with you in the propriety of your having refused to deliver up the Plants entrusted to your care by Mr. Brown when Governor King came home. The Plants were given to you in trust that they might be sent home when a good opportunity offerd & Governor King's return was a good opportunity, for many of the Plants he brought came home safe & in good condition.
Nor can I agree with you in your reasoning respecting the dispute you had with Mr. Marsden concerning your Dog and his Rabbits, Mischievous Animals as Dogs are always to be restrained from damaging the quiet Animals of their Neighbors by their Owners, was it otherwise, how could our tame Animals be kept in England, our Sheep Pastures & warrens have no Fences to keep Dogs out of them, The Keepers of Dogs are by Law required either to keep such only as are not mischievous, or if they have mischievous ones to restrain them from injuring their Neighbors property be it of what nature it may be.
I have grown of late years very infirm, my eyes fail me much, & I have not of course the pleasure I usd to have in the pursuits of Natural History, I have not therefore any longer occasion for your Services in the extensive manner in which you have employd yourself of Collecting great Quantities of