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Sydney 20th May 1792
My Dear Sir
My letter to you by the Pitt mentioned Burton as well discussing the good character he had brought with him; he was then employed in marking out grounds for settlers, a few days would have finished that business, and he was to have had apart of those convicts who are employed in agriculture under his direction, but he unfortunately went out to shoot ducks, and when standing on the trunk of a tree with the butt of his piece on the ground, and his hand on the muzzle, the piece went off, and the whole charge was forced up the arm as high as the elbow. The inflamation which took place before those who went with him could get him into Parramatta, prevented any operation being performed, & amortification taking place, he died the thirteenth day of April, six days after the accident happened.
When I saw him (the evening before he died), he was very collected, and on my asking him what relations he had his answer was "If I die Sir Joseph Banks knows my family and my intentions towards them, I have Brothers and a Father and Mother, I wish