1743-4.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 169 



Anemones, and Periwinkle, and Woodroff [Asperula], with its 

 white flowers. 



Now I want to know what you abound with instead of our 

 flowers ; for I presume you have not one of them, that are natural 

 to your country : but have a progressive set of flowers, for every 

 spring month, that differs from ours, and is peculiar to your soil 

 and climate. 



I can't add more, but that I am thy sincere friend, 



P. Collinson. 



JOHN BARTRAM TO P. COLLINSON. 



[Date obliterated, but some time in 1743-4.] 



Dear Peter : 



I am now returned from my long journey, from the country of 

 the Five Nations of Indians, and the Fort of Oswego, on the On- 

 tario Lake, having had a very prosperous journey. I also found 

 several curious plants, shrubs, and trees, particularly a great moun- 

 tain Magnolia \M. acuminata, L.], three feet in diameter, and 

 above an hundred feet high very straight, and very fine wood ; 

 specimens of which I hope to send by next ship, with a particular 

 account of my journey, and the Indians' manner of living, and order 

 of their councils ; having been at their chief town, and the meeting 

 of the deputies, and the treaty of peace between the Virginians and 

 them. 



I visited the Salt Springs, and boiled the water thereof into salt. 

 I observed the fossil shells all over the country even on the top 

 of the mountain that separates the waters of Susquehanna and St. 

 Lawrence, in the Vale of Onondago, and on the banks of the Lake 

 Frontenac [Ontario]. I designed, when I went from home, to 

 have returned by the way of Albany, then to travel from Hud- 

 son's River, and climb the Katskill Mountains, to gather the Balm 

 of Gilead cones, and Fir cones, on my way to Delaware : but I 

 found it impracticable to ride between Onondago and the Mohawk's 

 River, and I missed of them, this year ; for there is none to be 

 found where we travelled, which was too far westward for them and 

 the Paper Birch ; for I find more difference in the kinds of plants, 

 in the same distance of longitude, than latitude. If I am employed 

 next year, to gather seeds especially of the Fir kinds I design 



