THE FOUNDING OF AUSTRALIA 225 



gardens, and some of them persons of property. They 

 receive about ten shillings a week, upon which they can 

 maintain themselves ; and if they behave they have 

 great opportunities, not only of studying the culture of 

 plants but also Exotic Botany. 



" If you resolve to take this step, I will undertake to 

 recommend you to some good garden here ; and if you 

 continue diligent and make a proper progress I will, from 

 time to time, give you such assistance as will make your 

 station less disagreeable than otherwise it would be. 



" The Drosera you sent is the real longifolia of Linnaeus, 

 Hudson, and Withering. . . . The Moss you have sent 

 appears to me a new one, and the finding it does you 

 great credit. It is, however, so young that it is impossible 

 to determine with certainty to what genus it belongs. 

 I shall be obliged to you if you will gather some more of 

 it and send it to me by the mail coach in a little parcel 

 wrapped up in wet moss." 



Such was the beginning of an acquaintance which 

 lasted during Banks 's life. Caley came up to London, 

 and was presently employed at Kew, at the Brompton 

 Botanic Garden, and elsewhere. He had his difficulties, 

 arising mostly from an irregular temper, and an ill- 

 mannered way of looking at disappointment or misunder- 

 standing. Banks was very generous in occasional help, 

 but was forced to speak sharply to him sometimes in reply 

 to what was downright impertinence. When the New 

 Holland Exploration scheme was proposed, Caley lost 

 the opportunity of an appointment, through having re- 

 cently left Kew in a fit of discontent at his " poor pay and 

 bad prospects " ; and he was almost offensive with his 

 veiled reproaches. It is surprising how Banks endured 

 it all. He wrote (August 27, 1798) : " You seem to have 

 so good an opinion of the value of your own abilities as 

 to think that I ought to demand of Government to send 

 Q 



