Cadwallader Colden with Gronovius, Linnaits, fyc. 109 



quisitive into the American plants; but they were then so little 

 known, and I had so little assistance from my books, that I was 

 soon discouraged. In the year 1715, I returned to Great Britain. 

 I had conversation with Dr. Halley, and other men of learning 

 at London in the mathematics, for my taste chiefly inclined me 

 to that study. I went to Scotland, and married my present 

 wife, and the year following returned to Philadelphia. I fixed 

 [myself] there, with a view to practice physic ; but in the year 

 1718, I had the curiosity to visit New York, without the least 

 thought of changing my place of residence. 1 visited the then 

 Governor of the place, General Hunter, as it is usual for stran- 

 gers to do, though I had no manner of acquaintance with him. 

 He received me more kindly than I expected, and though I staid 

 but three days in the place, I was invited by him to particular 

 conversations. General Hunter had served in the army from the 

 time of the Revolution in Great Britain, under King William 

 and the Duke of Marlborough, to the year 1709, when he was 

 made Governor of New York. He had not only distinguished 

 himself in the field, but likewise in the court, among the polite 

 and men of learning;. In about a fortnight's time after I had re- 

 turned to Philadelphia, I very unexpectedly received a letter 

 from Gov. Hunter, with an invitation to come to New York with 

 my family, accompanied with the offer of an office of profit ; 

 which I accepted, and soon after removed to New York. Gov. 

 Hunter continued in his government only two years after my 

 removal ; but I had the good fortune to be in favor with all his 

 successors, one only excepted. In the year 1722, I was ap- 

 pointed one of the King's Council for the province of New York. 

 The business of my office of Surveyor General of lands obliged 

 me to be much in the country, and my intimacy with the gov- 

 ernors occasioning a greater expense than suited my circum- 

 stances and tastes, accompanied with no small share of envy, I 

 removed my family, about the year 1739. to the country. After 

 which time I indulged my humor in philosophical amusements 

 more than I could do while in town. It was some years after 

 this, that I accidentally met with Dr. Linna^us's Genera Planta- 

 rum. I was so much taken with the accuracy of his characters, 

 that I resolved to examine them with the plants that grow near 

 my house ; and this is the sole occasion of what you have seen 



