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[Page 2]
put into Botany Bay, where I left the Brig; but previous to this, Lieut Grant read the Governor's orders, which specified that every person on board, that had collected curiosities, or kept journals, were to deliver them to him sealed, and then they were to be given to the Gov. These measures put a stop to the people being so eager to collect anything. In this case a little liquor will gain more than restraints. His Excellency (soon after we had arrived in the Colony) told me I must get him a duplicate collection of specimens of plants, to this I objected, and he never afterwards asked me for the like. But when I went to him to get an order to be received on board the Lady Nelson, he told me you only wanted specimens of plants and seeds, and that all other things I collected belonged to him, however I did not tell him whether I would give him anything or not. When I left the Lady Nelson in Botany Bay, I made the best of my way to Parramatta, and shortly after received your letter (which came to the Gov. while I was at sea) and my chest and articles from the Lady Nelson, without the Governor's enquiry after a single article, which I allude to his having read your letter, and noticing your caution to me concerning the production of the Southern Isle. I hope he will now trouble me no more about the like, which I never shall grant, unless you so require. I do not suppose you will be told this tale by any other person but myself. I cannot contrive what he wants such articles for, unless they are designed as presents, whereby his name may be recorded in the annals of Natural History, or for the public benefit. But he has plenty of people at his call to do this without troubling me. Here is a person by the name of Lewin, whom the Gov. has had collecting for him, but I believe they now disagree, as he has not been able to collect him so much as he expected. Here is also a person by the name of Gordon, (who I knew when he worked in Chelsea Garden) who is employed by a Col. Woodford, as a Botanical collector; the Gov. has also applied to him to collect for him, but he at once refused.
Since I have returned, I have been able to collect but little, as the Colony is upon short allowance, which has forced me to fence in the Garden which I have oftentimes been promised should be done for me, in order to get something more to live upon; for unless I was to have some other support than my ration, it would scarce be a subsistence; for what is 6 lb of wheat, 4 lb of Maize, and 2 lb 10 oz. of pork, for to support a working man for a week? And in this scanty there is often a deal of waste. I never saw a place worse of for vegetables than here, which might in a manner be the best; and agriculture in general wears a gloomy aspect. We have had a long and cold winter, even in this month we have had some severe frosty nights; and the summer was altogether unfortunate for me by being so wet. As soon as I have got something more to live upon, and able to keep some dogs, I will endeavour to procure you all the kinds of Kangaroos that I can meet with. I know already of 5 or 6 different species. The Gov. has now allowed me a man to look after my Garden, and I mean to cultivate all the bulbs I can collect, and then take them up in a proper season to send home, which is a thing almost impossible to do when in their native place. In the course of a month, I expect to be again in the woods, and hope hereafter so to continue. I have not yet been any great distance into the country, for I consider such steps as useless, until I had gained a tolerable knowledge of the produce at home. In Oct. I shall go: a distant tour, but in going far from home I require a horse to carry luggage, and I mean to ask the Gov. for one. Horses here sell for about £100 each, and are no better than a good