Series 10.02: Letter received by Banks from James Cook, 10 July 1776 - No. 0001

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Plymouth Sound July 10th 1776

Dear Sir

As you was so obliging as to say you would give a description of the New Zealand spruce tree, or any other plant, the drawing of which might accompany my Journal, I desired Mr Strahan and Mr Stuart, who have the Charge of the Publication, to give you extracts out of the Manuscript of such descriptions as I had given (if any) for you to correct or describe yourself, as may be most agreeable. I know not what Plates Mr Forster may have got engraved of Natural History that will come into my Book nor do I know of any that will be of use to it but the Spruce Tree Tea plum and Scurvey [also spelt Scurvy] grass and I know not if this last is engraved. The Flax plant is engraved but whether the publishing of this in my Journal will be of any use to seamen I shall not determine.  In short whatever plates of this kind fall