I 



Notice of the late Mr, George Caletj, 229 



in trade : then I returned to the stable again. There being 

 many foreign plants to be found in gardens, which I knew 

 nothing of, caused me to purchase the Genera Plantdrum and 

 Systema Vegetahiliimi, Then I was at a loss about the Latin 

 terms, for I had forgot most of what I had learned at school ; 

 but they being technical, and chiefly nouns, I soon recovered 

 that loss. Now, the idea of visiting foreign parts began to 

 enter my mind : I thought of going to sea ; but not having had 

 a nautical education, and could not confine my mind to it, I 

 considered it would be rashness. It was not long before it 

 entered my head to write to Sir Joseph Banks. At length he 

 sent me an answer : the result was, that he knew of no other 

 method than to be employed in a good botanic garden ; and, 

 if I made a proper progress, he would give me farther assist- 

 ance. I did not much like the thoughts of working in a 

 garden, for that would be out of my element ; and being tied 

 to regular hours was not like working piece-work, knowing 

 what I had to do, and then giving over. However, I stood it 

 as well as might be expected, till I went to Kew ; which place, 

 I do sincerely acknowledge, I could not weather : not through 

 the hardship of work, but from being debarred of cultivating 

 my mind according to its natural inclination. Having a little 

 idea of manufacturing goods is of great utility to me, for it 

 will cause me to pay attention to plants that are worthy of 

 being applied to such purposes. Those persons who have 

 been sent into foreign parts to collect plants, have not favoured 

 agriculture, commerce, and the materia medica, so much as 

 an inquisitive mind would expect ; for they are chiefly such as 

 have worked in some botanic garden. 



" If I was to mention all the difficulties and fatigues that I 

 laboured under in pursuing my natural inclination, I should 

 never expect to be credited ; but I will drop this subject, for 

 I am afraid I shall weary your patience. As to learning to 

 draw, I assure you that I have not a good opportunity at the 

 present; but, on shipboard, I intend to try at it. With 

 regard to Latin, I may very easily improve in that ; for, at 

 the present, I understand the declensions of nouns as well as 

 I did when I went to school ; and pretty well of the conjuga- 

 tion of verbs ; and also of the agreements of concords, parti- 

 cularly that between the substantive and adjective ; or, to speak 

 in short, in what the Getiera Plantdrum chiefly requires. I 

 think it is not very difficult to learn to read the French, but 

 difficult to pronounce. Whatever elementary books you 

 would favour me with, I could wish to be directed to Strange- 

 ways, near Manchester. I am, with the highest regard and 

 esteem, your truly obedient and humble servant, 



^' June 15, 1798. George Caley." 



