KEW GARDENS GEORGE III 103 



and should wish the commission could be extended to 

 twenty Ewes and ten Rams ; as, from the judicious 

 remark of Sir Joseph Banks that Spain may soon find the 

 evil of granting such Exportations, it may not be possible 

 long to continue acquiring those useful animals. 



" The King trusts this number from Bilbao will not 

 stop the attempts of getting some through France, as well 

 as others through Portugal. 



" The extract of the letter from Madrid is not returned ; 

 as it is supposed Sir Joseph Banks does not want it." 



The King to Sir Joseph Banks. 



" QUEEN'S HOUSE, November 29, 1787. 



" The King is sorry to hear Sir Joseph Banks is still 

 confined ; and though it is the common mode to con- 

 gratulate persons on the first fit of the gout, he cannot 

 join in so cruel an etiquette. 



" He is glad to find that a small flock of sheep are 

 near arriving, as he thinks it may be a means of im- 

 proving the wool of this country, which he thinks a most 

 national object. The hope that, through Portugal, 

 Spanish Sheep will also be obtained, seems now to have a 

 good appearance." 



There must have been some activity at this time in 

 the importation of Spanish sheep. This is not the 

 consignment from Bilbao, recently mentioned (August 10); 

 but a flock of some size which had doubtless been con- 

 ducted by road from Spain through France, and trans- 

 ferred across from Calais. Mr. Walcot, agent for His 

 Majesty's packet-boats at Dover, is in communication 

 with Banks (December 26) on the matter of their em- 

 barkation. "... Captain Sutton of the Union packet- 

 boat is particularly charged with this commission. I can 

 venture to assure you, Sir, that a more attentive and 



