1740-1.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 139 



If thee hast any complaint, Doctor Gronovius is answerable. 

 I am, my good friend, much thine, in haste, 



P. COLLINSON. 



"We are much in fear, lest the rascally Spaniards should fall foul 

 on our vegetable cargoes. * * * 



As thee has the Flora Virginica, thee will find most if not all 

 the plants mentioned there. I have sent thee a correct preface, 

 in our worthy friend J. Logan's parcel. 



Loudon, February 25, 1740-1. 



Dear Friexd : 



I now come to answer thine of November 7th, 1740, and give 

 thee some account of thy cargoes. 



The three long boxes of seeds came all safe and in very good 

 order, and gave content. The two boxes of plants in earth, were 

 of a right size, and came in excellent order ; everything appearing 

 as fresh and lively as if that minute taken out of the woods. 



I wish we had been so lucky to have thought of this method be- 

 fore : thy pains, and so many fine plants had not been lost. 



One box I gave to Lord Petre, and the other to M. Catesby, 

 and reserved only for myself the Lady's Slipper and Ipecacuanha; 

 the others I had before ; and the little box of insects was in fine 

 order. * * * * 



The box of specimens, with seeds and nests, came very well. The 

 mechanism of the last will afford much contemplation. One I 

 shall give Lord Petre, and the other keep myself. The Indian 

 curiosity and piece of pot, I shall speak more particularly to, at 

 more leisure, for now is our greatest hurry. 



In return for so many rare things, I desire thy acceptance of 

 four volumes of Natural History, which I don't doubt will give thee 

 great entertainment. Thee will find the account of the Sea Muscle 

 will explain what thee has formerly observed, and writ to me about ; 

 which I had intended to have answered, but that I intended to send 

 thee these books, which are much esteemed here. 



I can't enough commend thy diligence in procuring such a noble 

 collection of herbaceous seeds. Lord Petre, P. Miller, and Dr. 

 Dillexius, have principally shared in them. Then I pick and 

 choose what plants I like. A few favourites I sow myself ; but as 



