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Isle of France July 5 1805
Since I sent you, Sir Joseph, the paper upon the variation of the compass about twelve months since, I have reconsidered the subject and written the paper over afresh. If you have not presented that paper to your Society, and I am fully sensible it was unworthy of that honour, I am desirous that this may supersede it, if you think it worth the attention of so learned a body : I beg to submit it entirely to your judgment.
Should the Admiralty intend to publish the memoir sent home with the charts, the chapter upon the variation would be improved by a collation with the inclosed letter; for since the memoir was sent home, some additions have been made.
My last letter to you was dated May 16 and sent by Mr Aken, the master of the Investigator, who, having obtained his leave to depart, took his route by the way of America. He had not been gone many days before an English squadron of four ships appeared off this island, and they are now cruizing round it; and about a fortnight since, two cartels arrived here with French prisoners from Calcutta and Ceylon. In return for these, all the prisoners of war in this island are to be sent back; and I, only, am to be excepted. It seems, that notwithstanding my imprisonment has continued near nineteen months, the French governor has not received orders from his government as to
The Rt. Hon. Sir Jos. Banks Bt - K.B. &c &c &c
[in different hand] decr: 27 1805