1753.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 193 



The Cranberry thrives -wonderfully, and is in blossom ; every 

 way agreeing with ours, but much larger. * * 



Pray give my thanks to Moses, for his two letters. In the box, 

 with the other things, I have sent two fine Cedar of Lebanon cones, 

 just come from thence. * * * * 



There is a little token, in a box, for Billy,* whose pretty per- 

 formances please me much. 



Thy account of the frogs is very humorous ; but would it not be 

 more so, to import a cargo of them ? And had I a park, or place 

 inclosed, I would wish it. But as it is, strolling people and boys 

 would destroy them. A bull-frog would surprise the whole village ; 

 but then it would be certainly killed. 



Dear John, farewell. 



P. Collinson. 



JOHN BARTRAM TO P. COLLINSON. 



August the 20th, 1753. 



Dear Peter: 



I am now very intent upon examining the true distinguishing 

 characters of our forest irees, finding it a very difficult task as I 

 can have no help from either ancient or modern authors, they hav- 

 ing taken no particular observation worth notice. I expect, by 

 our worthy friend Benjamin, specimens of the evergreens of New 

 England, which I intend to compare with ours, and those of York 

 government ; so that I may give a particular account of the ever- 

 greens natural to our northern parts, which I hope to send thee, 

 this fall or next spring with a fuller account of our Oaks and 

 Hickories ; and for thy present amusement, I here send thee, as a 

 specimen of my method of proceeding, a near perfect description 

 of the characters ojf our Hop Hornbeam. 



******* 



I am preparing for a journey to Doctor Colden's, and the moun- 

 tains. I design to set out with my little botanist ["Billy"], the 

 first of September, which is ten days sooner than usual ; hoping to 

 gather the Balm of Gilead and Larix seed which was generally 



* "Billy," the fourth son of John Baktram, discovered an early talent for 

 drawing. He was, at this date, in his fifteenth year. 



13 



