84 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



vania gazettes before the revolution. I have had great use often in 

 days past for historical researches, and the recurrence of the name of the 

 Hessian Fly in these early days was a frequent matter of conversation 

 with me and friends, friends of two generations older than myself While 

 I am perfectly convinced that my memory is accurate, yet a statement of 

 that nature should be verified for historical use. I regret I have not the 

 present opportunity of so doing; yet, in view of the minutes of 1768 

 bearing upon the matter, I don't doubt the accuracy of my memory, 

 although it was obiter. 



The importance of these letters is an excuse for their publication, 

 which is done with the permission of the writer.* 



April nth, 1884. 



The old minutes of the Philosophical Society are now in the way of 

 publication, and as they contain two papers in 17 68 about the damage 

 done to wheat by the Hessian Fly, both delivered in the first half of the 

 year, the fly must have been observed in 1767, if not earlier. Dr. Bond's 

 paper. No. 4 of original papers, ordered to be published by the Philo- 

 sophical Society, has not yet been discovered. Of course the old tradition 

 of the importation by the Hessian troops is now effectually done away 

 \with, but some other papers never quoted show that even seventy years 

 ago this tradition had been considered as not acceptable. The President 

 of the Philad. Soc. for Prom. Agr., Mr. Richard Peters, in his Notices for 

 a Young Farmer, etc. (Mem. of the Soc, 1818, vol. iv., p. xxix), says : 

 " Its name (Hessian Fly) does not prove its importation ; for that 

 appellation was bestowed during our revolutionary excitements, when 

 everything we disliked was termed Hessian. In Hesse they have not this 

 vermin to annoy their crops." The Vice-President of the same Society, 

 Mr. James Mease, M. D., in his address on the progress of agriculture, 

 Jan. 14, 181 7 (ibid. p. Ix.) says: "The wheat . . . was much 

 injured by its old enemy, the insect absurdly called Hessian Fly." Mr. 



* The proof sheet of the minutes of the Am. Phil. Soc. has, p. 15 : — 

 The Com. for Husbandry reported a paper on the Hessian Fly by Dr. Bond, which 

 was read, and Dr. Bond was requested " to prepare it for the press, that it may be com- 

 municated to the public without loss of time." See No. 4 of original papers. Mr. H. 

 Phillips, jr., to whom I am indebted for being able to compare myself the proof sheet, 

 remarks that Dr. Bond was one Dr. Thomas Bond (1712-March 26, 1784), or it may 

 have been Dr. Phineas Bond (1717-1773). Neither was British Consul at Philadelphia. 



