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[Page 3]
Had I been able to have gone on here with that rapidity as I did at the Cape of Good Hope, (for I have many opinions by me which I cannot at the present remit for the want of paper for fear less I should be short for the plants here) I should have sent you as much in 6 months as I have done since I have been here; though my Spirits have not failed, yet I lament the loss of time. I have seen the day when I was no more than a Stable Boy, and could afford to spend as much time in Botany as what I have been able to do since I have been here. God knows what I should have done, provided I could not have worked; and yet again some people that never learned the like, are the best of, but I hope all this will shortly vanish, and at last to have a fair scope for my natural pursuit. I hope before you receive this, you will have sent me of some powder & shot, shirts, Fowling piece, & a small Barometer for ascertaining the height of Mountains with. I must now trouble you for a small pocket Thermometer, as I long ago had the misfortune to have mine broke. If you could send a couple of coarse blankets they would be very acceptable, for to carry into the woods for I cannot get any here; and the man that goes with me, I shall be obliged to furnish with several things, otherwise I shall not be able to do what I expect. I am very much in want of a good antiseptic for the bird's skins; indeed any thing that is useful for a travelling Naturalist would be highly acceptable to me.
I have not been able to send any thing yet to Cottrill and Watson, nor even to Mr Dickson, but I expect this ensuing summer was will enable me. Among the specimens of plants, you will meet with some duplicates, which if you have not any one for, I hope you will save them for me. I have here a collection of duplicates of the roses plants, which I keep in case you should not received them that I have already sent, in a good state, which were when I packed them up in good condition. In first laying them in the press, I imitated nature, together with neatness as much as time would permit, and have endeavoured to show the most descriptive marks at one view. As I shall now have farther to travel, I shall lose a deal of that opportunity of examining plants, yet, as far as I can, I shall commit to paper the essential generic and specific character. When I have nothing else to do I shall write out my voyage to Western Port, but had it been interesting I should have done it long ago. I conclude by subscribing myself,
with great affection,
your faithful, humble,
and most obedient sert
George Caley
Parramatta
New South Wales
Augt 25th 1801