184 PETER COLLINSON [1751. 



It is very extraordinary, what thou writes of the Larch. It 

 grows very fast here, on all soils. 



Pray remember the Faba JEgyptiaca, that our friend Kalm 

 found in West Jersey : specimens of leaf, flower and fruit. 



He and his wife arrived safe here. We have had many con- 

 ferences. He desires his service ; commends thee in most things, 

 but much blames thee for not enriching thy journal [of the expedi- 

 tion to Lake Ontario] with a many curious articles which he has 

 collected from thy mouth, and which, had he come time enough, 

 he would have added. * * * 



The death of our late excellent Prince of Wales 

 has cast a great damp over all the nation. Gardening and plant- 

 ing have lost their best friend and encourager ; for the prince had 

 delighted in that rational amusement, a long while : but lately, he 

 had a laudable and princely ambition to excel all others. But the 

 good thing will not die with him : for there is such a spirit and 

 love of it, amongst the nobility and gentry, and the pleasure and 

 profit that attends it, will render it a lasting delight. 



I admire in thine and Kalm's travels, that you got no intelli- 

 gence of the great Moose Deer, so celebrated by the first settlers. 

 This great formidable animal cannot be extinct. I wish only to see 

 a pair of its horns, to compare with the great fossil horns found 

 in Ireland, which is certainly extinct in that kingdom. 



Now, my dear John, it's time to conclude, with my sincere wishes 

 for thine and family's preservation. 



Thy real friend, 



P. Colliivtson. 



[Date omitted : probably in the summer of 1751. J 



I was delighted to see the son* of my old friend John Bar- 

 team. The honesty and good disposition of the youth pleases me, 

 as well as his industrious disposition. 



The ship being sold, the poor lad is adrift ; and no passage to 

 be had back, without paying for it. He thinks it a hard case, and 

 I think so too : for at this time there are very few ships going, 

 until about Christmas, which is too long to stay, and then will only 

 have the chance to go to Maryland, or Virginia, or West Indies, 



* Moses Baeteam, third son of John Baeteam, bora June, 1732. 



