200 JOHN BARTRAM TO [1755. 



cover) to Mr. Dalibard, Buffox, or Jussietj, or Dr. Groxovius. 

 If the French, should take them, and see them directed to such 

 noted men, they might take care to send them to them. 



Last war, they took care to send my letters, and part of the 

 curiosities, to GrRONOVlUS, as directed ; the rest, Jussieu kept him- 

 self. Pray direct me how to act for the best ; for I suppose little 

 can be sent in merchant ships, without a convoy, but what will fall 

 into the enemy's hands ; and I had rather that the descriptions and 

 drawings should fall into learned, than ignorant hands, * 



September the 28th, 1755. 



Dear Peter: 



I have received thy kind letters of March 25, April 23, June 17, 

 and July 3d, sent in by Captain Buddex ; also one by 1ST. E., and 

 one by New York. 



I have been at Killingsworth, with our friend Eliot, who is a 

 good sort of a man, and endeavours for the general good of man- 

 kind. His time is fully employed in visiting the sick, looking after 

 his farm, supplication and thanksgiving in his family, praying and 

 preaching in the pulpit ; and very agreeable in his conversation 

 with his friends. 



In my return home, I travelled more back in the country, and 

 crossed the North River below the Highlands, and went with my 

 Billy to observe the falls of Second River, which are very re- 

 markable for such a body of water to precipitate about sixty feet 

 perpendicular into a narrow gulf, between two rocks about ten feet 

 distance. ***** 



I am well pleased that Billy gives you such satisfaction in his 

 drawing. I wish he could get a handsome livelihood by it. Bo- 

 tany and drawing are his darling delight ; am afraid he can't settle 

 to any business else. Indeed, surveying may afford an opportu- 

 nity to exercise his botany ; but we have five times more surveyors 

 already than can get half employ. If he could get a surveyor- 

 general's office, for life, it might do. 



The specimen of your Oak comes near our White Oak ; yet dif- 

 fers pretty much in its acorn-cups : seems to be of the summer 

 kind. * * 



I doubt Dr. Coldex can't find that stone, composed 

 of sand and cockle-shells. I found it on the south side of the 



