1743.] PETER COLLINSON. 163 



upon Captain Isham, Randolph's land, or very near it. He went 

 with and showed it to me, supposing it to be a Juniper. Within a 

 few yards, grew the Leather-bark, or Mezereon ; both which I 

 believe he would send thee the seed of, if thee writes to him for it. 

 He is a man of great humanity, whom my heart opens to receive, 

 when I think of him, which is very often. * * * 



My wife is well pleased with the silk thee chose for her. She 

 is much obliged to thee for thy care. I am very thankful to my 

 good friend, Sir Hans Sloane, for his fine present of five guineas. 

 Being he hath so generously bestowed it upon me, I desire thee 

 would send me a silver can, or cup, as big and good as thee can 

 get for that sum, which I or mine may keep to entertain our 

 friends withal, in remembrance of my noble benefactor.* 



June 11th, 1743. 



Friend Petee : 



I have lately been to visit our friend Doctor Witt, where I 

 spent four or five hours very agreeably sometimes in his garden, 

 where I viewed every kind of plant, I believe, that grew therein ; 

 which afforded me a convenient opportunity of asking him whether 

 he ever observed any kind of Wild Roses, in this country, that was 

 double. He said he could not remember that ever he did. So 

 being satisfied with this amusement, we went into his study, which 

 was furnished with books containing different kinds of learning ; 

 as Philosophy, Natural Magic, Divinity, nay, even Mystic Divinity; 

 all of which were the subjects of our discourse, within doors, 

 which alternately gave way to Botany, every time we walked in the 

 garden. I could have wished thee the enjoyment of so much 

 diversion, as to have heard our discourse, provided thee had been 

 well swathed from hips to arm-pits. But it happened, a little of 

 our spiritual discourse was interrupted by a material object within 

 doors ; for the Doctor had lately purchased, of a great traveller in 

 Spain and Italy, a sample of what was imposed upon him for Snake 

 Stones, which took me up a little time beside laughing at him 

 to convince the Doctor that they were nothing but calcined old 

 horse bones. 



* This seems to be the origin of the Silver Cup, presented by Sir Hans, in lieu 

 of the "five guineas." See John Bartram's letter to Sir Hans Sloane, dated 

 November 16, 1743. 



