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The Endeavour Journal of Joseph Banks 1768–1771 [Volume Two]

6 (a) Translation

6 (a) Translation

[Commonwealth National Library Ms; a translation probably supplied from some Portuguese source. Endorsed by Banks, ‘Translation of his excellencys Memorial of Novr 18. 1768’.]

The Memorial of the Count &c &c

In the answer to the Commander of this Ship I satisfy what your Honour expresses in your Memorial: and say more, that, as it is so well known how much His faithfull Majesty my Master values his Ports of America, when Monsr Condamine returned from the Province of page 319 Quito by the River Amazon and Parã in the year forty odd1 upon this account Letters were recieved from His most Christian faithfull Majesty to His faithfull Majesty my master with which your honour should come provided from his Britannick Majesty for me to have it in my power to permit what you request.

And Your Honour may believe me that I should have in this great pleasure if possible: for the interest of communicating and profiting of your shining knowledge.

Rio Janeiro Novr 18–1768.

1 Charles Marie de La Condamine (1701–74), a French scientific traveller of many interests, wormed his way into an expedition to determine the length of the Equator, which left France for Peru in 1735. He carried out useful observations, and it was owing to his tact and energy that the expedition was saved from the disaster threatened by Peruvian ill-will. After the conclusion of the scientific work he crossed from Peru to the Amazon, down which he made a very dangerous journey to Cayenne, reaching Paris again in 1744. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1748, and became a member of the Académie Francaise in 1760.