1737-8.] T0 JOHN BARTRAM. HI 



have any credit in sending it ; so I would rather have the remainder 

 of thy money ordered in other goods. 



I hope to send thee letters to Maryland and Virginia. I have 

 wrote, already, to several of my friends in Virginia. 

 I am, dear friend, 



Thy sincere friend, in haste, 



P. Collinson. 



Lord Petre has ordered me to give thee two guineas, for thy 

 extraordinary trouble about the specimens. 



The Laurels are perfectly fine. That and the White Cedar are 

 very acceptable. Thee shall not lose thy reward. 



Dear friend, I must beg the favour of thee to remember what I 

 have formerly requested, in behalf of a curious naturalist, who, to 

 engage thy memory, sends thee a specimen of his performance. 

 He neglected, when in Virginia, to draw the Papaw; and as this is 

 a curious plant, in flower and fruit, and not figured by anybody, 

 now there is no way to convey to us perfect ideas of this plant, but 

 by gathering the blossoms and leaves, and drying them between 

 paper; but as the colour and figure of the flower is liable to change, 

 then he begs a short description of its colour; or else, to prevent 

 further trouble, if some of the flowers growing on a small twig, 

 were put into some rum, one small twig would be enough; but thee 

 may put several loose flowers in the jar of spirits, and then a 

 couple of fruit, full ripe; and if it was not too remote, a couple 

 half ripe, for I am informed they grow in couples. 



It is observable, that spirits do very little alter the colour of 

 fruits. If they do before thee sends it, pray give a little descrip- 

 tion of its colour. Now, by these helps, my ingenious friend will 

 be able to delineate the plant and fruit: and if thee will further 

 assist him in the height of its growth, and the size of its stem, and 

 what soil and place is most natural to it, we shall be all much 

 obliged to thee. Pray fail not, and thee will oblige thine, 



P. COLLINSON. 



If it has any virtues, pray mention them. 



