96 RETIREMENT FROM PLANTING. 



cultivate the tea plant. In this scheme he was engaged 

 some years, with a prospect of considerable ultimate suc- 

 cess, under, I believe, the advice of mj brother (now a 

 resident in Calcutta for upwards of thirty years), until a 

 rebellion broke out among the natives, which was attended 

 with the loss of all his property embarked, because the 

 East India Company have refused to replace their autho- 

 rity over that district, or even to give Mr. Bonynge com- 

 pensation. 



Under these circumstances, Mr. Bonynge, with a view 

 to introduce the cultivation of the tea plant into America, 

 and under advice and letter from the American Minister, 

 Mr. Abbott Lawrence, with whom he has been some time 

 in correspondence, has undertaken to visit your Southern 

 States ; and, in the event of that failing to prove success- 

 ful, I have suggested to Mr. Bonynge to employ his time 

 in America in the acquirement of a full knowledge of the 

 culture of cotton and tobacco, and their entire manage- 

 ment. With the view of promoting this object, I have 

 therefore to request you will kindly afford to him any 

 advice which it may be in your power to give, should he 

 request it ; also, to supply him with letters to any parties 

 who you think may be able to promote his objects, and 

 disposed to advise him as to the best mode of doing so. 



Any assistance which, in this way, you may render will 

 be gratefully felt by the bearer, who, although unfortu- 

 nate and ill-used in his career, is, I have every reason to 

 believe, a most deserving person ; and, in consideration, 

 I need hardly assure you, that it will ever afford me 

 sincere pleasure to reciprocate your good offices in this 



quarter. 



I am, dear Sir, very truly yours, 



DANIEL WILLIS. 



