I always had, and still have the greatest regard for Dr. Fothergill, having in many instances experienced his friendship. I should be sorry thy charge of ingratitude in me towards him should be true — I have stated the case between him and me, respecting my intended publication, to many of my friends, and they were all clearly of opinion that the doctor remained entirely excused from any thing he had said respecting the papers, and the blame, if any, wholly devolved on me.

In regard to what thou hast advanced, that the papers were lent as a piece of indulgence which the doctor begged for me, I must beg leave to contradict thee, and to tell thee that thou wert misinformed: the doctor, at the time I was with him at Joseph Banks’s house, never spoke about the papers till I had demanded them as my property, and which I had done several times before. Joseph Banks produced them before the doctor spake about them, and in all probability they would have given me without any condition, as Joseph Banks never requested any.

I had been for a long time past surprized at not hearing from, or seeing, thee, especially as I had wrote to thee of my intentions respecting my brother’s Journal; but the great secret, or reason thereof is at last come out. It seems then that thou hast heard that I have kept some legacies bequeath’d to thy daughter Ann, which were left in my brother’s will that he deposited in my sister’s hands before he went abroad; amongst other things, some paintings that were in my hands: And, that by a will Joseph Banks brought over there was something left to thee, which I have taken no notice of to thee. This is a heavy charge, but from which (as I have already said) I can eafily exculpate myself.

In the will left with my sister, a copy of which Dr. Fothergill has, and to which I have administred, is the following clause.

"3dly, I desire that my paintings on vellum, &c. may be given to those for whom they are marked on the back, and whatever utensils that are useful in painting or drawing to Mr. Lee’s daughter, my scholar."

I have, accordingly, as bound by solemn affirmation at Doctors Commons, sent thy daughter all my brother’s drawing and painting utensils, that I received from Joseph Banks or had by me, and have disposed of the paintings as directed by my brother in his own hand writing on the back of them; if any of them had been marked for thy daughter she wou’d of course have had them with the utensils.

Voyaging Accounts