Letter received by Banks from John Smith, 13 February 1772 (Series 06.186) - No. 0001

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Sir/

     I wrote to Dr. Solander sometime ago, since then have wrote to You, but not knowing how to direct properly to either of You, and receiving no Answer to neither of my Letters I am pretty certain they both fail, - as I most earnestly Solicited the favour of an Answer - upon this Supposition (that my former Letters faild) I take the Liberty of troubling You with a short recital of my Situation and Circumstances.

"I have a Wife and three Children, and one Sister that is willing to go with us - I find we are going to make a Settlement at Falklands Island - & that You are a principal are to go with You - which is the reason of my taking this Liberty in offering myself & Family to to there on the same terms with the rest of my Countrymen

I have been possesd with a tolerable good Fortune but have been unfortunate enough to loose the whole - - my Character may be sufficiently known by applying to "Mr: Humphries an eminent Attorney at Law in Tewkesbury - Gloucestershire, - if we are really going to make such Settlement & there are Families going, shall be glad to add mine to the Number - I hope Sir You will not think it so much trouble to favour me with an immediate Answer, & You will greatly Oblige Sir Your most Obedient Humble Serv.t
John Smith

Newport feb: 13th 1772.

P.S.
please to direct to me to be left at the Green Dragon Newport Isle. of Wight