Letter received by Banks from Philip Gidley King, 25 October 1791 (Series 39.002) - No. 0001

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Sydney.  New South Wales
October 25th 1791

Dear Sir

As I leave this place to morrow Morning, & it being certain that the Supply will sail for England, before the return of any Vessell from Norfolk Island, I should be sorry not to avail myself of that Opportunity in offering my sincere wishes for your health & your family's -

Our Voyage from the Cape of Good Hope can by no means be called a bad one, Many Gales of Wind happned, & the Seas were in General high, but in a Ship like the Gorgon, these inconveniences are not much felt, I was if not, for the Extreme cold (The Thermometer being on an average below 40º) & the Wet state of the Ship, which made us unfortunately loose a part of the Stock, the Voyage altho' in the depth of Winter, & running 5700 Miles in the parrellel of 43 & 44o, might be called a very good one.

The General run of all the Transports & the Gorgon from the Cape to this port was eight Weeks -

Out of 25 Cows, 3 Bulls, 62 Ewes, 4 Rams, & 11 Swine taken onboard at the Cape We lost 8 Cows, 3 Bulls, 8 Ewes, 3 Rams, but to make up, in part, for these losses, a very fine