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Dear Sir Portsea May 26th 1799
The plants you were so kind to send down by Cayley were all planted the day after they came down & are now in very good order - every new plant looks extremely well - we are anxiously expecting some good news respecting the Fleets which cause our detention, I hope every few days will bring us some accounts & these of favourable nature, we are rather alarmed here on acct of Admiral Whitsheds detachment -
I am afraid Cayley will not be able to accomplish the business of the longitude for want of qualified assistants in his journey, The latitude he will easily & soon be master of which can be as our friend by a Hadleys Quad[rant] use us by the Septr which he will put so much out of order if given to him, as to be soon useless - a very good 10 inch Hadleys Quad sent can be got here for Two guineas & half, which I think will soon be familiar to him as to make it a more desirable instrument than the sextant you sent for him, which still remains in my possession; which may hereafter be serviceable to him or some other person, or if you please will return it again - I think we shall be able to manage every thing also very well - I have heard nothing more about the Lady Nelson Rt Honable Sir J. Banks K.B.