Letter received by Banks from George Caley, 5 January 1798(Series 18.004) - No. 0001

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Jan 5   1798

Sir

     I am sorry to trouble you with another letter, but I hope you will not blame me for stating my reasons whether you approve of them or not.  Mr. Dickson told me, that I might go to Kew whenever I pleased.  I thought it would not be amiss for to go & see Mr. Aiton first, & learn in what situation he meant to place me in; "he told me that I should go into the Botanic Gardens at the first." With that I thanked him for the [indecipherable] that he shewd me.  I then asked him, if I might them be permitted to see the Gardens "he told me I might."  When I came to see such an extensive collection, I found that I was unaquainted with a great number of them.

     If the subject which you have in agitation takes place, my time will be too short for to gain such knowledge that I ought to have No Doubt, but what I might gain a knowledge of the Botany Bay plants; but it is not unlikely, but what there may be plants that are natives of Botany Bay, introduced into Kew Gardens from other parts.  When I came seriously to consider, I found it would be a difficult matter for to maintain myself upon 9 shillings a week, & to apply my mind to Botany;  to be sure I might make a living upon it, but at the same time I am debarred from cultivating my mind.  Where I now remain, my weekly wages are better than 4 shillings more, & I am certain, that I cannot long maintain myself in this capacity, & carry my ideas, to that extent that I first began with;  it is not like being in the vicinity of Manchester, (before commerce was stagnated) where employment is carried on, at what is called piece work;  but this is not the only difficulty that I should meet with, for at the present the days are so short, that I should have no leisure time by day light, except Sunday.  What plants I have become acquainted with since I have been in this country, have been chiefly obtain'd at leisure hours.  If I was to acquaint my kindred of my present capacity, I know I could receive a maintenance from them for a few months, but as they