228 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



entrusted to your care by Mr. Brown, when Governor 

 King came home ... his return was a good opportunity, 

 for many of the plants he brought home came safe and in 

 good condition. . . . 



" I have grown of late years very infirm ; my eyes 

 fail me very much ; and I have not, of course, the pleasure 

 I used to have in the pursuits of Natural History. I have 

 not, therefore, any longer occasion for your services in 

 the extensive manner in which you have employed your- 

 self of collecting great quantities of articles. You de- 

 serve, however, some reward from me for your diligence 

 and activity. 



" You have, I understand, the lease of a farm from 

 Governor King. If you wish to employ yourself in the 

 cultivation of it, or if you wish to return home, I am 

 willing to settle 50 a year upon you for your life, and 

 to release you from all services to me beyond what you 

 voluntarily wish to perform. You would probably 

 choose, if anything new should fall in your way, to send 

 it to me. But as I mean your annuity as a recompense 

 for past services, I shall not bind you to any future ones 

 till I hear from you on this subject ; and, till the whole 

 can be arranged and settled, everything to go on as it has 

 hitherto done. 



" Mr. Brown and Mr. Bauer are well. They are busily 

 employed in arranging and making drawings of the im- 

 mense collections they have brought home. . . . Your 

 specimens and descriptions are carefully preserved for 

 you." 



Caley came back to England in 1811. Three years 

 later he went out as superintendent of the garden at 

 St. Vincent's. He was not a social success, and did not 

 get on with his neighbours. Finding that seeds, etc., 

 were stolen from the garden by Sunday visitors, he with- 

 drew permission for the public to enter on that day. 



