45 



London, 31st March, 1 795. 



HoNBLE. Gentlemen 



It is with singular pleasure I have heard that there are many of 

 the breadfruit trees, now in fruit, and many more in blossom in 

 our island. As we owe the blessing of this introduction entirely 

 to the King, I arti sure you will think as I do that he has a peculiar 

 right to the primities, the fruits first produced from those trees. 

 I know nothing that would give his Majesty greater pleasure, and 

 if it was accompanied with a proper compliment from the Legis- 

 lative body, it would make the present still more acceptable. 



The manner I would wish it to be sent in, if you think proper, 

 is this, to send ten or twelve in number of the fruit, in a large jarr, 

 covered with strong rum, well corked, bound with leather and 

 pitch and resin melted upon the cork. And I would wish it to be 

 directed to the Chairman of the Custom House, with a letter to 

 him by the same ship (tho' I will signify to him that he may 

 expect such a present), setting forth the reason of sending 

 it to him, in order that it may not be overhaled by the 

 searchers, who will be sure to do it some injury or 

 other : and if you will give orders for it to be delivered to 

 me, I will take care to get a capital flint glass vase for it, properly 

 inscribed and to put some proof spirits instead of the rum and 

 present it myself. His Majesty knows me, and has been pleased 

 to express great satisfaction at the method I took two or three 

 years ago to enrich his garden at Kew with a great number of Ja- 

 maica plants more than had been introduced there in twenty years 

 before. I will consult Sir Joseph Banks upon it, and we will en- 

 deavour to make it an agreeable present, equally honourable to the 

 maker and the receiver. I have been many years in persuit of 

 this object, even since Captain Cooke's returned from his first 

 voyage to Otaheite ; old Beeston Long and myself being the two 

 first persons that subscribed our names to a paper drawn by my- 

 self promising a reward to the first person that should bring the 

 Breadfruit tree to the Island of Jamaica ; but all our endeavours 

 proved abortive, till His Majesty most nobly undertook it, 

 strenously persevered in it after one failure, and at last accom- 

 plished it. His Majesty is a true friend to the colonies. I am of 

 opinion we owe more to him than is generally known in regard to 

 the defeat of the absurd attempt of abolishing the slave trade, 

 which I think we shall hear no more of, even in the H. of Com- 

 mons after the next general election. Till then, you will. I hope 

 to live to see a considerable increase of negroes in our Island, and 

 every one of them with two or three breadfruit trees in his own 

 garden. They will then see who are their friends. 



I have the honour to be, Honble. Gentlemen, 



Your most obliged and obedient servant, 



Stephen Fuller. 

 The Honble. 



The Committee of Correspondence. 



