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[Page 2]
When I first went out, I in a manner fancyed myself in the Cape house at Kew, but at the same time saw many plants that I could not recognise, whether this preceeded from a failure of memory, or they being totally new to me or not, I am not able to point out, but I have to lament, that few of them were in a state of fructification. I have been at a loss to know whether Mr Masson collected specimens as well as seeds, if he did, I have only been collecting duplicates. You will find that I have sent common Gnaphalium's, my reasons for it, were, that I never knew them distinctly in England, and that native specimens are considered to be preferable to cultivated ones. Many of the seeds I collected from dead stems, which caused me not to be able to judge what they might be, but the greater part of them are grasses. Mr. Dickson wished me for to pay attention to the Cryps. This I did but am sorry to say that I saw but few, and those not in fructification, except a few Lichens, which I was not able to get for the want of a chissel. Several specimens I have been obliged to take with me, for to finish drying them on shipboard, if possible of doing such a thing.
I have to lament the case of paper being left behind, in order to come in another ship, as Gov King said it would not be