74 PETER COLLINSON [1736. 



Savage, are come to hand, as well as the sundry parcels, and 

 letters, per Israel Pemberton. * * * * I further took 

 notice of thine of November the 3d, in which thee modestly pro- 

 poses to be allowed for thy pains and trouble in collecting seeds, 

 and to enable thee to penetrate to the original of Schuylkill. His 

 lordship is both ready and willing to encourage so laudable a 

 design, and will endeavour to engage others to join with him. He 

 proposes to be, himself, ten guineas, and to engage some others to 

 be ten more. This, he is in hopes, will enable thee to set apart 

 one, two, or three months, after harvest or as near as thee guesses 

 when all sorts of mast and seeds are ripe. Thee talks of the 

 spring, which is no suitable time to set out on such an expedition, 

 for the interest of the gentlemen concerned : for what they propose, 

 is, that thou may be able to furnish them with sorts of seeds, &c, 

 that they had not before, and so desire thou will make some essay 

 this autumn, and make some progress on the Schuylkill ; for such 

 an expedition may require two or three journeys, to make the dis- 

 coveries thou intends. Every uncommon thing thou finds, in any 

 branch of Nature, will be acceptable. * * 



With the pocket compass, observe two or three times of the day 

 the course of the river, and set it down in thy journal, in which, every 

 day, write in short thy observations of that day. There is a dial 

 to it, besides, which will be convenient to know the hour of the 

 day. * * * * 



Thy account of the effects of the Poison-stick, in thine of the 

 9th December, is very extraordinary. Pray send us a specimen of 

 the plant, and make further inquiries about it. Give me a list, 

 per first ship, what seeds thou Avants. I have the gardener, at 

 the Physic Garden at Oxford, will assist me. 



Be mindful of insects of all kinds, and fossils ; any bird's nest, 

 that is uncommon in its structure or materials. I have two or three 

 humming-birds already ; however, if any more happens to fall in 

 thy way, I'll not refuse them. I have heard say, your swallow's 

 nest, and your bee's, wasp, or hornet's nest that hangs on the 

 boughs of trees, is very curious. 



My dear friend, I wish thee health and increase of thy store, and 

 be assured that I am thy real loving friend. In haste, 



P. Colllnson. 

 London, March 20th, 1736. 



