MEMOIRS, &c. 



329 



of writing, and thy observations and descriptions 

 •of several plants. For want of them, I shall only 

 take notice of thy proposal, in one of them, for an 

 annual allowance to encourage and enable thee to 

 prosecute further discoveries. Lord Petre is very 

 willing to contribute very handsomely towards ir. 

 He will be ten guineas, and we are in hopes of 

 raising ten more. This, we think, will enable 

 thee to set apart a month, two, or three, to make 

 an excursion on the banks of the Schuylkill, to 

 to trace it to its fountain. But as so great an 

 undertaking may require two or three years, and 

 as many journeys, to effect it, so we must leave 

 that wholly to thee. But we do expect that after 

 harvest and when the season is that all the seeds 

 •of trees and shrubs are ripe, thou wilt set out ; 

 and them that happen not to be ripe when thou 

 goes, they may have attained to maturity when 

 thou comes back. We shall send thee paper for 

 specimens and writing, and a pocket compass, — 

 ■expect thee ''.1 keep a regular journal of what 

 occurs every day; and an exact observation of the 

 course of the river, which, with a compass, thee 

 may easily do." p. 72.. 



*' Dear Friend — As thee has given me many 

 instances of thy curious speculative disposition, it 

 has put me on enlarging thy knowledge in natural 

 enquiries, as the earth is filled with wonders, and 

 every where is to be seen the marks and effects of 

 Almighty power. Most things were made for the 

 use and pleasure of mankind ; others, to raise our 

 admiration and astonishment; as, in particular, 

 what are called fossils, — being stones, found all 

 the world over, that have either the impressions, 

 or else the regular form of shells, leaves, fishes, 

 fungi, teeth, sea-aggs, and many other produc- 

 tions. Thai th*re may better apprehend what I 

 ■mean, I have sent thee some specimens, in a 

 packet of paper for specimens of plants for Lord 

 Petre, with some seeds, and a pocket compass. 

 Captain Savage has promised to take care of the 

 parcel. In the course of thy travels, or in digging 

 the earth, or in thy quarries, possibly some sorts 

 of figured stones may be found, mixed or com- 

 pounded with earth, sand, or stone and chalk. 

 What use the learned make of them, is, that they 

 are evidences of the Deluge." p. 73. 



" One thing I must desire of thee, and do in- 

 sist that thee oblige me therein ; that thou make 

 up drugget clothes, to go to Virginia in, and not 

 appear to disgrace thyself or me; for though I 

 should not esteem thee the less, to come to me in 

 what dress thou wilt, yet these Virginians are a 

 very gentle, well-dressed people, and look per- 

 haps more at a man's outside than his inside. For 

 these and other reasons pray go very clean, neat, 

 and handsomely dressed, to Virginia. Never mind 

 thy clothes ; I will send more another year." 

 p. 81. 



" By what I can observe of the fine Laurels, 

 No. 102 and 108, Chamcerhododendros, their seed 

 seem to be light and chaffy, which is the worst 



VvOL. IV. 34 



sort of seed to send over for keeping ; that I don't 

 expect we shall ever raise them here, but must de- 

 pend on plants : so, prithee, go at a proper sea- 

 son to the nearest place, and load a pair of pan- 

 niers or baskets, with young plants, and set some 

 in thy garden to take root, and send half a dozen 

 at a time ; for this seems to me to be the best tree 

 that has been discovered in your province. 



Indeed, in South Carolina, there is the Magnolia, 

 or great Laurel-leafed Tulip Tree, which is an 

 evergreen — grows sixty (eet high — its leaves are 

 as large again as yours, and the flowers white, of 

 a rose or water-lily figure, but as large as the 

 crown of one's hat. There is one in England that 

 flowers every year finely ; and I have several plants 

 in my garden. 



Another particular thing I must request, that is 

 to get a handful or two of White Cedar cones, for 

 Philip Miller ; lor, in separating the seeds, by ac- 

 cident he had none of the White Cedar cones." p. 

 96. 



" I assure thee thou canst not do me a greater 

 pleasure than to entertain me with any history of 

 nature. But this I must tell thee, as a friend : I 

 am afraid thou takes up too much of thy time to 

 oblige me. I am so much thy friend that I entreat 

 thee not to Jet any of thy affairs suffer on my ac- 

 count. 



Indeed, when thou art collecting, thou art paid 

 for it. I hope this year will prove kindly, that we 

 may have a collection of oaks. Send but a few of 

 the White Oak, and the Swamp Spanish Oak. I 

 believe most thou sent ate come up, and thrive 

 finely. We have a great quantity of the Cherry 

 up ; it is a fine plant. Red Cedar comes up very 

 strong ; but I don't see the Sassafras. Tulip Pop- 

 lar in great abundance. This, with most other of 

 your country seeds, will some come up the first — 

 but more the second year. Send me more Tulip 

 Poplar. Some of your Swamp Laurel or Bay 

 (Magnolia glauca, L.) is come up, and thrives 

 well ; but we want a great deal more of its cones. 

 It is a fine plant ; and when the wind turns up the 

 silver side of its leaves, it has a pretty effect. As 

 to the Bay Laurel, called Ivy (Kalmia, L.) it is in 

 vain to send any of its seed . (unless soon as gathered 

 sown in a bed of mould.) for it is so small and 

 chaffy, it will not keep. I have had a great deal 

 from Virginia ; but none grows. There is no way 

 so good as plants. I have sufficient for myself, 

 but Lord Petre may want some. But a year or 

 two hence may do. I am afraid a like fate will 

 attend the seed of that noble Laurel thou discov- 

 ered near the Blue Mts. A cargo of growing 

 plants will be a rarity worth accepting. Next 

 time thou must try what thou canst do. 



First, yet a strong ergo of young plants into 

 thy garden. Pray make it thy business this fall ; 

 and when they have stood a year, and drawn root, 

 they may with more safety be sent, as opportuni- 

 ty offers." pp. 98,99. 



I shall now, tell thae something, which very 



