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(Page 1) His Majesty's Ship Porpoise Cape of Good Hope Aug 29. 1800

Sir,

agreeable to your Request I do myself the honor of writing to you from the Cape of Good Hope at which place we arrived on the 2nd of June after a Passage of eleven weeks in which we experienced much bad weather — it is with the most painful concern I mention that the greatest part of the Plants on Board have perished, one of the chief causes whereof is the considerable time they have been on Board for though they in general looked well when we were off Madeira & I had good hopes of them yet I have Reason to believe that they were decaying at Root and that in passing through the hot Climates the Earth became quite sour — these were evils for which I had no remedy — another great disadvantage was the Smallness of the Ship which being very deeply laden exposed the garden to the continual washings of the Sea whenever we had any bad weather — I was in consequence obliged to keep them Close Battened down at times for Several days together — believe me Sir I Sincerely lament the loss but rest assured professions are needless to convince your Just and generous mind that every exertion in my power was made to preserve them — at the same time it gives me great Satisfaction to inform you that the greater part of those that are perished can be Replaced here — Hop plants are here also a number of Sorts of grape Vines with which I am well supplied — Gov. King

(Page 2) had left a letter with Sir George Yonge in which letter I was ordered to wait on His Excellency and consult with him about taking Plants from this place — it was His advice that I should leave such plants as I conceived would not live to the end of the voyage — accordingly I left with His Excellency 1 Olive, 1 Carob, 1 Filbert, 1 English Date, 1 Ash — these are Plants they had not in this Colony — I have moreover also 2 Winter Bonchretien Pears, 1 biter Bergamot, 1 Coleman, 2 Quinces, 2 Peaches, 2 Quince Apples, 1 Olive, 1 Carob, several Vines, 2 Walnuts, 2 Black Mulberrys, some Chily Strawberrys — I shall take from this place Tokay Vines, Black and White Frontinian do., Raisin do., Muscat do., Constantia do., Black and White Mulberrys, Willows, Tea Plants, Chestnuts, Dates, Pines, Orange, Citrons, Limes, Lemons, Pomgranets, Sage, Mint & Blue — the Hop though it has been but some years they have more attended to the Cultivation of it — I have been creditably informed it has now flowered with them — I have two plants on Board which I have obtained here but they are such bad ones that I am doubtful of carrying them to New South Wales — indeed I brought two alive to this place but they died after we were here a week —

I am sorry very sorry to intrude upon your private feelings but your goodness to me induces me to hope you will be pleased to pardon the liberty I take in acquainting you, that during the Passage from England hither I experienced very Severe hardships indeed which it gave me pain to behold — my Wife & Child — my Cabin had nearly all the Passage from one to four Inches of Water in it — indeed I often despaired of ever seeing the end of the voyage and though we were so uncomfortably Situated all our troubles were aggravated a thousand fold by the unfeeling behaviour of Mr Scott the Commander

(Page 3) who shewed no concern for us or did any thing to Remove the inconveniences — indeed his general behaviour was such as to increase our distress by rendering us as uncomfortable as it was in his power — but it pleased God that we should survive & we are now in good Health — I most Sincerely hope Sir Jos. and Lady Banks also Miss Banks & Mr & Mrs Aupiere are in good Health and may long enjoy that invaluable Blessing —

I am Sir with the greatest Respect your ever grateful Obedient Servant Geo. Suttor

August 29. 1800