1735.] TO JOHN BART RAM. 69 



for the reasons above ; but yet transmit me yearly what thou wants, 

 and anything in my power, or my friend Miller's, will be always 

 at thy service ; and if I send thee the same thing two or three times 

 over, thee must excuse it, and place it to the multiplicity of affairs 

 that fill my thoughts, and not suspect my care ; and then thee will 

 deal kindly, and friendly, and lovingly, by 



P. COLLINSON. 



All these seeds come in Joseph Breintn all's packet. 



London, March 1st, 1735. 



Kind Friend John Bartram : 



I am now just returned to town from paying a visit to a noble 

 lord, my most valuable and intimate friend. One of my proposals, 

 I sent thee last year, to collect the seeds of your forest trees, was 

 for him, as he is a universal lover of plants. I presented him with 

 a share of the seeds thou sent last year, which was very acceptable. 

 As he is a man of a noble and generous spirit, he very rationally 

 considered thy pains and trouble in collecting them, and desired 

 to make thee some returns, and left it to me. I thought a good 

 suit of clothes, for thy own wear, might be as acceptable as any- 

 thing, so have sent thee one, with all appurtenances necessary for 

 its making up, which I hope will meet with thy approbation, and 

 help in some measure to compensate for thy loss of time. 



My noble friend desires thee to continue the same collections. 

 Send the same sorts over again, and what new ones happens in thy 

 way, and sent at the same time o' year, and in the same manner, 

 will do very well. Please to look in my other letter for my 

 further remarks on this head. 



All the seeds were in good order, except the Allspice seed, 

 which was musty. Perhaps that was owing to the dampness of the 

 roots put up for Sir Hans Sloane. For the future, put up no 

 moist thing with the seeds, but send them in a little box by 

 themselves. 



If thee can compass to send thirty or forty sorts of your herba- 

 ceous seeds every year, it will be sufficient. As to invoice of 

 forest tree seeds, their quantity and price is fixed, so thee knows 

 what thee does. Thee has had great luck, hitherto, in sending the 

 seeds in good order ; I hope the like will attend thee in the forest 



