LETTERS 



FROM PETER COLLINSON* TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



London, Jan. 20, 1734-5. 



My good friend John Bartram : 



I now do myself a further pleasure to consider thy curious enter- 

 taining letters of November 6. I am only afraid, in doing me a 



* Peter Collinson, F.R.S., and F.S.A., one of the earliest and most constant 

 correspondents of Linnaeus, was highly distinguished in the circle of naturalists 

 and antiquaries in London, for nearly half a century. He belonged to the 

 Society of Quakers ; and his upright, benevolent, active character did honour to 

 his religious persuasion. He was born January 28, 1693-4, in a house opposite 

 to Church Alley, St. Clement's Lane, Lombard Street, London; but he resided for 

 many years at the Red Lion, in Grace Church Street, as a wholesale woollen 

 draper, where he acquired an ample fortune. He married in 1724, Mary, the 

 daughter of Michael Russell, Esq., of Mill Hill, Hendon. This lady died in 

 1753, leaving him two children, a son named Michael, and a daughter Mart, 

 married to the late John Cator, Esq., of Beckenham, Kent. They are said to 

 have inherited much of the taste and amiable character of their father. 



Mr. Collinson appears to have occupied, in the earlier part of his life, a 

 country-house and garden at Peckham, in Surrey (where his brother had also 

 a garden) ; from whence he removed in April, 1749, to Ridgeway House at Mill 

 Hill, and he was two years in transplanting his collection. The English gardens 

 are indebted to him for the introduction of many new and curious species, which 

 he acquired by means of an extensive correspondence, particularly from North 

 America. Among these was the Collinsonia Canadensis, so called by LiNNiEUS, 

 who has given a beautiful engraving of this plant, in his Hortus Cliffortianus. It 

 was first imported (sent by John Bartram), in 1735. He enjoyed throughout 

 a long life, the communications of most cultivators of science in general, for he 

 interested himself about every new or useful discovery, and was one of the first 

 who attended to the (then recent) wonders of electricity ; on which subject the 

 great Franklin was obliged to him for the earliest European intelligence. 



Nor was his personal friendship less valued by people of distinguished character 

 and abilities in various ranks, among which the names of Derham, Sloane, Ellis, 

 and Fothergill stand pre-eminent ; as well as those of the accomplished Robert 

 Lord Petre, who died in 1742, and the famous Earl of Bute. 



Mr. Collinson became acquainted with Linnaeus, when the latter visited 

 London in 1736. He died August 11, 1768, after a short illness, in the 75th year 

 of his age, in the full possession of all his faculties, and of all his enthusiasm 



