154 PETER COLLINSON [1742. 



safe and well. I much admire thy performance. It really con- 

 veys a good idea of that wonderful natural cascade. 



To-day, I breakfasted with Sir Hans. He always inquires after 

 thee. I hope his books, per Wright, will come safe to hand. * 



Doctor Lawson gives his humble service to thee, and our friend 

 Woolley. I wish I could have a specimen of that large piece of 

 polished iron ore, sent him, last parcel. * * 



M. Catesby desires a dried bird of a night-bird, who has a note 

 that sounds like whippeivill, which he chants all night long. 



Pray look after the elk-horns. Perhaps a broad hint may pro- 

 cure a gift of those from Governor Morris. 



My first leisure, I shall read over all thy letters, again ; and 

 then will take further notice of them. I have sent thy orders for 

 next year's collection, by this ship, and by way of New York per 

 Captain Gill. So hope there will be no occasion to say more, but 

 that I am thy sincere friend, 



P. Collinson. 



London, May 16th, 1742. 



Dear John: 



Having a little leisure, it gives me great pleasure to review thy 

 entertaining letters. Possibly the following hints may have been 

 made before ; but that I rely on thy candour to excuse, for I 

 keep no copies. 



September 25th, 1740, and September 7th, ditto, are the first 

 that comes to hand. I take them in order. 



In thy journey to Minnesink, thou saw the three-leaved and 

 long-coned Pine, and a swamp of Spruce, or Fir, like the New- 

 foundland sort. Query, if this is not a proper place to collect 

 cones, being the sorts we want ? 



Pray send half a dozen yellow wasps, to place with their nests. 



I observe thou mentions three sorts of three-leaved Pines, and 

 they are thus distinguished : First, the Great three-leafed Pine [P. 

 palustris, L.?] ; Second, the three-leafed Pine whose cones keep 

 shut for one, two, or three years [P. rigida, Mill.?] ; Third, the 

 Bastard three-leafed Pine [P. variabilis, Lamb.?]. As our knowledge 

 of these noble trees is very slender, Lord Petre, as well as my- 

 self, desires, when opportunity offers, that thou wilt gather fair 

 specimens of each sort, with their ripe cones on them, each dis- 



