Transcript

(Page 1) [Some extracts] New South Wales 21st of April 1803

Sir,

Permit me to inform you that I Received your Letter dated the 10 of August last by the late J. Walton, give me leave to return you my most grateful thanks acknowledging much for your many Humaneness and for Drawing on my account the Present the Treasury were pleased to make me — it is for one of the happiest events of my life that my conduct has hitherto merited your Approbation — it shall invariably be my endeavour to deserve your good opinion.

I am sorry I have not yet been able to make out the list and send it by theilation but his being to much sooner than I expected has prevented me sending it to her for I have not yet been able to go to the different settlements which I intend to in order to make out a correct list.

(Page 2) on shewing your letter to the Governor King His Excellency told me he had employed a Person to make out a list of every thing Cultivated in the Colony, to be sent Home — but agreeable to your order they will accordingly make out and transmit you one as soon as possible — with Respect to the late Insects I am of Opinion that the late Sorts of Pears and Apples will best suit our Climate but we have many Sorts both of Pears and Apples in the Colony which have not yet bore Fruit — of course a Judgement cannot yet be formed of these yet. I am inclined to think some of the best Sorts of Cider Apples from England would be an acquisition to the Colony. Of Peaches we have a great variety of Sorts but I believe they have been all produced from three Sorts first introduced from England — they all bear abundantly through all Seasons nor do I know which to give the preference to the Early or Late but the Early is most Sought after, but that comes from its being most plentiful in the Country. The Early

(Page 3) Nowerington is the Peach in [the Colony] — I speak of there is also another Early Peach introduced by Colonel Patterson — the Late Peach is an October one in England — ripens here about the Month of March —

of Corn and Pulse I am not yet able to speak at full — the only Sorts of Wheat I have yet seen is the Red and Spring Wheat — the Red suits our Climate and Soil best though they are both Sown and that often Maize — African Corn or Maize may be said to be the chief grain that supports the Colony — The Capsicum is in all Parts of the Colony though I have not yet seen it Cultivated with any care — at Sydney it grows for 2 or 3 years and bears abundantly but up the Country the [Frosts?] in the Winter — [will?] we are subject to [frost?] to the [settlers?] in the year — The Bore I believe is not in the Colony — The Love Apple is now growing wild about the Country —

with Respect to Hedges I am of Opinion we have a native Plant that might well be Tried for this purpose — the Ithea Spinosa — it would I think be advisable to try the Seeds either to send the Plants

(Page 4) or Plants or Both — I am happy to say I have Raised in my own Garden a number of Plants of the Locust Tree from some Seeds Governor King gave me — I make no doubt but they will in time prove valuable to the Country — I remember having the Plants on Board the Porpoise by the name of Carob but I left it at the Cape — the Hop Plant is now in the Country in the possession of several Persons — Colonel Patterson has some good thriving Plants and I have from him the promise of some to Cultivate — they were Raised from Seed — of Timber Trees it would be I think an advantage to the Country to have all the Sorts Cultivated in England sent out viz Buckthorn, Pine and English Poplar as light wood is much wanted and Timber in time must become scarce unless Planted — indeed I do not but many things that do not at present will succeed when the Colony gets more Maturity — I am happy to inform you Sir that my prospects begin to

(Page 5) have a better appearance than when I wrote last Thursday and Perseverance will I hope Surmount all my Difficulties — I Depend upon Gov. King for the five Pounds because at the time I Received it, it could to advantage in the Colony — and indeed it has proved a great assistance to me — I have been living for some time upon my own Farm and have made all the Progress I could expect having at this time 25 acres of Land in Cultivation —

My Wife joins me in hoping that you and Lady Banks, Miss Banks and Miss [?] also Mr Aupiere enjoy good Health — She Returns them her most grateful thanks for their good wishes —

I am Sir with Respect your ever grateful and Obedient Servant

Geo. Suttor

(Page 6 — Verso/Wrapper)

The Right Honorable Sir Jos. Banks Bart Geo. Suttor Soho Square London

(Page 7 — Two Receipts)

New South Wales 16 of March 1803

Received of His Excellency Gov. King the Sum of Five Pound for on account of Sir Jos. Banks Geo. Suttor

New South Wales 16 of March 1803

Received of His Excellency Gov. King the Sum of Five Pound for on account of Sir Jos. Banks Geo. Suttor