1742.1 T0 PETER COLLINSON. 159 



Fern. The bladders of balm, which I sent thee, I gathered on the 

 Balm of Gilead Tree, on the Katskill Mountain, a delicate, fragrant 

 liquor, as clear as water. 



I design, next month, to go myself and gather some seed for 

 you, which I hope will be as much pleasure to you, as fatigue and 

 charge to me to get them. There is no more trust in our Ameri- 

 cans, than curiosity. Colonel Salisbury, who lives near them, 

 sent me last winter, a very loving letter, affirming he did what he 

 could to procure them, leaving orders, when he went to York, to 

 gather them ; but at his return, there is none gathered. He sent 

 a man on purpose to the mountains, to gather them ; but he said 

 the birds had picked all the seed out, being very fond of them. 



I am glad my map and draught were acceptable, although clum- 

 sily done, having neither proper instruments nor convenient time ; 

 being, most of them, in part of a first day, or by candle-light, 

 having no whole original but nature, nor time to take a copy, 

 being hurried in gathering or packing of seeds. 



I am greatly obliged to thee for thy necessary present of a suit 

 of clothes, which just came in the right time ; and Barclay's 

 Apology, I shall take care of, for thy sake. It answers thy ad- 

 vice, much better than if thee had sent me one of Natural History, 

 or Botany, which I should have spent ten times the hours in reading 

 of, while I might have laboured for the maintenance of my family. 

 Indeed, I have little respect to apologies and disputes about the 

 ceremonial parts of religion, which often introduce animosities, con- 

 fusion, and disorders in the mind and sometimes body too : but, 

 dear Peter, let us worship the one Almighty Power, in sincerity 

 of heart, with resignation to His divine will, doing to others as 

 we would have them do to us, if we were in their circumstances. 

 Living in love and innocency, we may die in hope. 



***** 



July 24, 1742. 

 I am just returned from Amboy, and Shrewsbury ; having waited 

 on Governor Morris, and discoursed with him about those great 

 horns, which I was informed he kept as a curiosity. He told 

 me he had sent them to England, several years ago. The beast 

 was killed near Albany ; and was supposed to be above fifteen 

 hundred pounds weight; and was excellent good eating. The 



