120 JOHN BAR TRAM TO [1738. 



and hogs ; and I reckoned it good luck if I could gather twenty 

 under one tree and hardly one in twenty bore any. Yet I don't 

 begrudge my labour ; but would do anything reasonable to serve 

 you. But by the sequel of thy letter, you are not sensible of the 

 fourth part of the pains I take to oblige you. 



Thee seems to be surprised that I should write that we have 

 Sloe Trees enough and James Logan wrote to thee for some. 

 But, my good friend, I assure thee, I assert nothing to thee but 

 what is real fact. The first I observed of Sloe Trees, was at a 

 plantation, whose owner came two years into this country before a 

 house was built in Philadelphia. I brought some from there, when 

 I settled on my plantation. I saw another tree, near Philadelphia, 

 as thick as my thigh ; and, last year, I showed James Logan Eng- 

 lish Thorns, Bullaces, and Sloes, growing in a hedge which he 

 rides close by, from his house to town, which I believe hath been 

 planted twenty years : and many others grow in several distant 

 places in the country, but are liable to be bit with the same insects 

 as the rest of our stone fruits, except Peaches and Cherries ; and 



are increased by plenty of suckers. 



* * * * * # * 



Now, my kind and generous friend, I shall return thee my 

 hearty thanks for thy care and pains which thee hath taken, and 

 the many good offices thee hath done for me ; and further, if thee 

 finds any expressions in my letter a little out of the way, thee will 

 not take it in the wrong sense. I assure thee, I bear thee a great 

 deal of good-will ; or if thee thinks I am too short and imperfect in 

 explaining any subject, which I give thee any account of, pray let 

 me know, and I will satisfy thee according to the best of my know- 

 ledge ; for I love plain dealing. 



[December, 1738.] 



Dear Friend : 



I have performed my journey through Maryland and Virginia, 

 as far as Williamsburgh, so up James River to the mountains, so 

 over and between the mountains, in many very crooked turnings 

 and windings, in which, according to the nearest computation I 

 can make, betwixt my setting out and returning home, I travelled 

 1100 miles in five weeks' time ; having rested but one day in all 

 that time, and that was at Williamsburgh. I happened to go in the 



