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July 12 1798
Sir Joseph
I have been lately informed that through not continuing at Kew I have very much displeased you, by which I understand I am not to go to Botany Bay I shall now endeavour to explain to you the subject at large, which I hope you will take into consideration. The wages that are given at Kew I could not maintain myself upon; this perhaps will seem strange to you, when so many others have and still can do it; they have been brought up gardeners and by being employed in such an eminent Garden, they are put to mind this situation of life afterwards; it is not through a thirst for Botany, though many of them learns the face of a great number of plants while they remain there, but, out of all that have ever been bred Gardeners, and worked in Botanic Gardens, how many have there been able to communicate their thoughts to the public at large? I am confident in my own mind, that whatever person that has a natural talent for Botany and follows it in an enthusiastic manner, however meanly he has been brought up, that is put to work in the same capacity that I was, he will soon fall into the same necessity I did. I do not say but what I could have maintained myself there, but, then I must have neglected the principle object that I went to gain, which would have been a mortification beyond desrciption. I can truly say that I have an inclination for Botany instilled by nature, and as I am young, I am fully determined to fulfill a copy I learned at school: "Make much of time".
As the persons that are employed in Botanic Gardens, intend to better themselves by getting acquainted with plants; but with me it is quite the reverse. I know that if I was to forsake Botany and to give my mind to the manufactory of cotton goods, it would be more advantageous to me, but the latter is forced work whereas the former is natural, and take it for granted, it is with the persons that I have mentioned.
If by not remaining at Kew, I am thought incapable of going to Botany Bay, I freely give any person whatever my consent, provided he or they, as well as myself, may undergo a thorough examination, and censured without any partiality; he that is proved the best, let him be entitled to the birth [berth]: by this you may plainly perceive, that I do not wish to injure others, or to be injured myself. It is not in my power to boast of a learned education, nor in politeness of manners, when took from those that I have been familiar acquainted with nor in any great knowledge of knowing plants.
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July 15 - 16.