1741-2.1 TO JOHN BARTRAM. 147 



Wo. 62. Sea Plum, is a curiosity, especially the large one as big 

 as a Nectarine {Prunus Americana, Marshall ?]. 



Your Holly, I am pleased to see : have often heard of it. 



Remember seed of Collinsonia ; for I want it much, for several 

 correspondents. 



The downy specimen, 69 of Lord Petre, that thou gathered 

 near Cape May, is a plant that we have long had in our gardens, 

 by the name of Senecio arborescens, or Groundsel Tree [Baccharis 

 halimifoUa, L.] ; but ours never seen in this beautiful downy state, 

 for which reason we think it the male. If thee happens where this 

 shrub grows, again, pray make some observation about it, if there 

 is male and female plants. These in haste : I wish thou may guess 

 at my meaning. 



Send specimen of Black Gum, in flower. Hast thee observed 

 the mechanism of the seed-vessel, when it chips or sprouts ? It 

 thrusts off a valve, to let the gemma come forth, which is so hard 

 at first, as not to be opened without breaking. The power of vege- 

 tation is great. 



I shall soon send thy specimens to Holland, to Doctor Grono- 

 vius, from whom thou may expect a good account : but only one 

 must stay some time for it. 



London, Feb. 3d, 1741-2. 



Dear Friend John : 



All thy cargoes came safe and well, by Captain Wright : so 

 shall defer saying more, till I come to answer thy other letters in 

 particular. 



I have thine before me of March 22d, which, if I remember 

 right, I have fully answered per Captain Bream, in mine of Sep- 

 tember 16th. 



I must also inform thee, that the box of seeds per Captain 

 Brown, and thy letter, are come safe. We have been very fortu- 

 nate, to escape the Spaniards in all our cargoes, on both sides. 



In answer to thine of July 22d : 



I am delighted with thy account of your Muscle, and with the 

 specimen thee has sent, which confirms all that thee has said on 

 this head : and being on this subject, I will send thee a rough 

 sketch of a muscle that I discovered by accident in one of our mar- 

 kets. It is wonderful to think that anything new is to be disco- 



