Transcript

(Page 1) 7 June 1800 Extract of a Letter from Mr. Scott, Master of the Porpoise armed vessel to the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Navy, dated Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope. 17 June 1800.

Enclosed I send you a copy of the state of the Plants and Shrubs, contained in the Garden Cabin, as delivered to me by Mr. George Suttor, the Botanist, and I beg leave to inform you, His Excellency Sir George Yonge is arranging a mode of supplying Plants from this colony to fill the space in the Garden Cabin, which those did,

(Page 2) that are now dead. The Botanist is at this time in Cape Town, agreeably to His Excellency’s wish consulting him on this subject.

I embrace this opportunity of giving this information by a Danish Frigate bound from hence to Copenhagen with several Danish India ships.

(Page 3 & 4) Summary of the attached tables documenting the condition of plants on board HMS Porpoise on June 6, 1800, as signed by George Suttor.

Plant Type - Number Living - Number Dead

• Hop Plants 2, 6

• Walnuts 4, -

• Filberts 2, 2

• Olives 2, -

• Carobs 3, -

• Black Mulberries 2, -

• White Mulberries -, 2

• Orient Plums -, 2

• Spanish Chestnuts -, 2

• Willows -, 3

• Plum 1, -

• Oaks 2, -

• Ash 1, -

• Cocque Apple 1, 2

• Quince 3 (as "do"), 1 (as "do") + 2

• Mencham Crabs 3, 1 (as "do")

• Addles St. Gennai 1, -

• Winter Bonchretien 2, -

• Celmer 1, -

• Newington Nectarines 2, -

• Nectarines -, 2

• Peaches 3, 1

• Sweet Boy 1, -

• Laurel 1, -

• Sever Elbowed Pear -, 1

• Easter Bergamot -, 1

• Camphor Plant -, 1

• Black Currant -, 1 (vine)

• Black Raisen 2 (vines), 2 (vines)

• White Raisen 3 (vines), 1 (vines)

• Black Frontiniac 1 (vine), 1 (vine)

• Royal Muscadine 1 (vine), 1 (vine)

• Grisly Frontiniac 1 (vine), 1 (vine)

• White Frontiniac/Muscat 2 (vines), -

• White Muscat of Alexandria 1 (vine), 2 (vines)

• Red Muscat of Alexandria 1 (vine), -

• Constantia 2 (vines), -

• Muscadell 1 (vine), 1 (vine)

• Quarhendols 1 (vine), 1 (vine)

• White Tokay 2 (vines), 3 (vines)

• Black Portugal 1 (vine), 1 (vine)

• Claret -, 2 (vines)

Closing Note:

"The cause of these Plants being dead is in my opinion the great length of time they have been on board, as every thing has been done to preserve them. (Signed) G. Suttor."