Letter received by Banks from Philip Gidley King, 18 June 1799 (Series 39.049) - No. 0001

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Dear Sir,

Porpoise Spithead June 18th 1799 -

Three convoys in a [indecipherable] for Lisbon & the East & West India Convoys [saild?] & are sailing today, we are unfortunately doomed to remain which will be subjecting us to another years bad passage between the Cape of Good Hope & New Holland, I fear we have been forgot at the Admiralty - Mr Walker goes with the East India Convoy which sails to day - I should have informed you of my receiving your last letter with the enclosure for Cayley, I showed the drawing of the Animal to Capt Phillip & Patterson as well as several others who are here all of whom agree that no such creature was ever seen that Cayley will keep a good lookout for it - As this is the Twentieth week since I came down here in a fierce storm, & have ever since been living at a Portsmouth [Expence?] under the daily expectation of sailing, & finding myself four Hundred