120 3 “FRANGIS MASSON. 
lowing extract from a letter from George Forster to Banks, dated 
Jan. 30, 1786, bears upon the subject, and is interesting as throwing 
further light upon the foregoing, and showing the estimation in 
which Masson was held :— 
Mr. Masson will have written you that the Dutch Government have permitted 
him to remain at the Cape; tho’ it wo seem that his Residence here is by no 
ters ade an ill 
ans generally approved of. They say that Mr. Pat n n se of 
the Liberty th given him, and an ungenerous return of the great kindness 
that was shewn ; aving accom d Mr. Johnston in the capacity of a 
d at such conduct was dishonourable, and wholly d atory to the 
Character he was received in amongst i , whose worth and excellence 
here is no need aring Testimony of to y s desirous of going to In 
talents or Profession, and where, particularly in Bengal, there is an am 
harvest of natural Curiosities to be reaped. 
ould you therefore procure Masson’s Mission to that Country, a benefit 
would be entailed on the State and Natural History, and a service rendered to 
an honest man. 
This plan, however, fell through, and Masson remained at the 
Cape. The following letter, written shortly after the preceding, 
shows that he had settled down to work :— 
Cape of Good Hope, 
8th March, 1786. 
ir, ‘ 
About the 8 or 9 of last month I wrote you per favour of Mr. Irwin, 
passenger on board a Danish Indiaman, who was also good enough to, take 
my collection by Sir Thomas Milne, who is passenger in a Portuguese Ship 
bound to Lisbon. The parcel contains 117 species; a Catalogue of both parcels 
is enclosed. 
I am, Sir, 
Your most obedient 
humble Servant, 
FRANS. MASSON. 
