226 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



you out. Suppose I was to agree to this opinion of yours, 

 and a competent salary was to be allotted to you, pray 

 tell me what you would propose to do for your employers 

 in return. . . . Let me know your opinion on this head, 

 and I shall be better able to judge what my conduct to 

 you in future ought to be." Other passages in this letter 

 show that Banks was exercising considerable forbearance 

 toward him. There was probably no further immediate 

 communication between them. But, in the ensuing 

 November, Sir Joseph wrote to tell Caley an unexpected 

 opportunity had arisen for him. Governor King was 

 going back in the Porpoise, and offered to take him if he 

 chose to go. Banks was willing to allow fifteen shillings 

 a week, and would not exact further terms but to be sup- 

 plied with specimens of new and curious plants. He 

 enclosed a five-pound note to come up to London with, 

 and promised to advance something toward an outfit. 

 After long delay, Caley reached New South Wales. 

 He proved a capable botanist, and an indefatigable col- 

 lector. He soon sent home substantial proofs of his 

 industry. As time went on he became a prosperous 

 settler, with a farm and garden on the Paramatta ; and 

 took some share in public affairs. He warmly supported 

 Governor Bligh, and tried to sway local opinion in his 

 favour. According to Caley, Bligh was well-meaning, 

 but tactless ; unable to control the evil passions certain 

 to exist in a young colony. His ability was great in every- 

 thing except to combat open rebellion. 



Caley's long letters are full of material for the early 

 history of the settlement. Many of them are printed by 

 the Sydney Government in their Historical Records. The 

 botanical portions are the work of a thorough enthusiast 

 in the science. Some of his consignments are prodigious, 

 as in August, 1804 : sixty skins of birds, two of kangaroo, 

 forty papers of seeds, and two hundred and twelve pages 

 of description ; in April, 1805, forty-one species of seeds, 



