FRANCIS MASSON. 119 
given in Banks’ Memorandum. His West Indian collections, as 
represented in Herb. Mus. Brit., are ciiparsesty small—a fact 
which is explained ve Banks’ reference to their destruction i the 
hurricane of Oct. 14, 1780. 
Permission having been granted for his visit to Portugal, 
Masson went there in 1788. He soon found opportunities of 
indulging his hove tay for work and travel. During this year he 
Portugal, i including Gibraltar, St. Roque , Algarbis, 3 d Cadiz ; 
list of these is in the British Museum Berber eragiorwr also the 
specimens are preserved. Another list, also nevomnpanied by speci- 
oO 
oO 
Africa, sending to Banks plants from Sallee and Tangier 
returned to Portugal, and went thence to Madeira, returning home 
in 1785.* At the end of this year he again set out for the 
Cape, which he reached on the 10th of January, 1786. On his 
arrival, however, he found difficulties in the way of proceeding on 
his travels into the saieeet and at once wrote to Banks the 
following letter :— 
Cape a — Hope, 
y. 21, 1786. 
T have the pleasure - et eae you of my arrival at this place on 
the tenth inst., atte a passage of twelve weeks. Next day I waited on the 
Governor, and delivered the lette hg be the Du pe Embassador; he treated me 
the most friendly hospitable sense, but was at a loss how to act respecting 
have liberty to explore un , the le ssador 
and the small distance from t ap tioned in my instructions, after layin 
it before the Council, he ert: poe ee warranted to grant the request, which 
€ did in the genteelest t, friendly manner, advising me at the same time how to 
conduct myself as not to excite sss: jealousy of the inhabitants, which was raised 
to a great degree on account of Mr. Patterson. Mr. Brant came up from False 
Bay, and exerted his influence. Colonel Gordon is in the back country, and is 
expected home in a month. I have collected about sixty sorts of seeds, which 
will b be sent by Mr. Irvin, passenger in a Dane, who will touch at some port in 
the Cha * am This I send by an Hanoverian officer, passenger in a french ship 
or : 
can express the Je rome I am under to Sir Archibald Campbell and 
all the | entlomen of the E. Talbot, who gave me assurance of a good reception in 
India} had@ I not succeeded at the Ca 
I ta y assistance you gave me at my departure. hall 
remember the w bean sorry to inform you miei . is raised from thi sey nit 
Dollars to Santen: mid every other article in proporti 
Iam, Sir 
Your most humble Servt., 
FRANS. MASSON. 
So depressed was Masson by the obstacles thrown in his way, 
that he was anxious to be allowed to proceed to India. The fol- 
* ‘Annals of Botany,’ ii. 592. The short account of Masson there published 
was furnished by “Mr. Aiton, ne extracted the dates from the books of the 
[Kew] garden, and from some brief notices registered, at the desire of the 
ased, on the frame surrow me his portrait.” This portrait, an oil painting 
me George facesria is now in the possession of Mr. William Lee, of Gunnersbury, 
s Lee, i Redosesint : 
