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Parramatta August 7th 1803
Sir
I am not able to send you any thing by the Porpoise. I have a few things by me, which I have collected since the Glatton left here but they are too few to think of transmitting. I am sorry to inform you that I have failed in going to Derwent river. I was three weeks on board the Porpoise, and we were at sea 17 days; meeting with foul winds and very high gales, we were obliged at last to bear away for Port Jackson. My chief intention of going there, was to seek for the Porcupine ant eater, which I think is pretty common on some parts of Van Dieman's Land. Though this voyage was but short, yet it has lost me a deal of time; but it happened at such a season, as I could but collect little or nothing at home. I shall decline going again at present, as I have to go to the Blue Mountains very shortly, for the plants that are chiefly to be met with there are early flowering ones; and I am in great expectation of meeting with the Porcupine there. I shall try very hard to collect the different skins of the different sorts of kangaroos. The duck billed male has been often caught, and taken to Sydney for to be sold, but through my not living there, has prevented me from trying to procure them from others. I believe an exorbitant price is asked for them; and this is generally the case with all other curiosities. If a person was to satisfy their demands in money, it would be by far greater than what they would