of Mr, John Clayton. 141 



botanist, says, that this work, which was in the pos- 

 session of his father, when the revolutionary war com- 

 menced, was sent to a Mr. William Clayton, clerk 

 of New- Kent, as to a place of safety against the invad- 

 ing enemy. It was lodged in the office, with the re- 

 cords of the county. An incendiary put a torch to the 

 building, and thus perished, not only the records of 

 the county, but the labours of Clayton. 



" Several of the botanist's original letters still re- 

 main, and other papers, which may be valuable. It 

 is proposed to give them all a careful examination. 



" The character of Clayton stands very high, as a 

 man of integrity, and as a good citizen. 



" Considerable remains of hisgarden are to be seen: 

 most of the shrubs and plants are in a flourishing state, 

 as I am informed by Dr. Gait, who was lately at the 

 place. He took particular notice of the Purple-Fringe- 

 tree*, which must be very rare. At least, I have never 

 seen it." 



*' When any one (says the very respectable Gover- 

 nor Page, of Virginia) described to Mr. Clayton, what 

 he thought a newly-discovered tree, shrub, plant, or 

 flower, he would, in a modest manner, say, " did you 

 not find it in such a county, and in such and such a 



* ChionanUius Vii ginicus. The purple or rose-coloured viuiety 

 of this fine shrul) is occasionally to he met with in Pennsylvania. 



Editor. 



