1756.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 205 



year : but, my dear Jonx, how canst thou imagine I could remem- 

 ber a specimen, sent so many years agone ? But Billy's fine 

 painting has given me a complete idea of its beauty ; and that fine 

 Red Helleborine [Calopogon, R. Br.?], which I have long wanted. 

 The female Cornus is exquisitely done. It resembles ours ; and 

 yet there is a difference. 



I am very sensible of the great pains Billy has taken, about the 

 turtles. I can't reward him equal to his merit. I send him a 

 small token, and some fine drawing-paper all in the Library 

 Company's box, to B. Franklin, with sundry parcels for thee. 

 The Marsh Hawk is admirable. I don't see that either Edwards, 

 or Ehret, can much excel it : but I wish he would paint the Pond 

 Turtle over again. It is the most indifferently performed ; the 

 shell is made almost white, whereas it is black. But then, again, 

 I must do him justice. Nothing can be finer executed than the 

 Horned Turtle. Such ingenuity brings truth to light. Time won't 

 permit what I could say, on this strange creature. What can be 

 the use of its horns ? To strike its prey ? I have another request 

 to Billy : that is, to draw the wrong side of the Spotted Turtle, 

 he has sent with fine Red Helleborine. So paint all the belly-side 

 of all the turtles ; for there is always something remarkable there. 

 * But, as I hope Billy will go into the printing 



business, I desire he will apply himself diligently, and not think 

 on me, or his favourite amusement. 



But yesterday, I had a letter from Dr. Groxoyius. He admires 

 much the drawings of the Oaks ; but he can get nobody to 

 engrave and print them : so will return them to me. Our friend 

 Ehret will do them, he tells me ; but I can't say when. Those 

 original drawings of plants were our ingenious friend Catesby's. 

 I am, my dear friend, thine in great sincerity, 



P. Collinson. 



JOHN BARTRAM TO P. COLLINSON. 



February 21, 1756. 



Dear Peter : 



We are now in a grievous distressed condition: the barbarous, 

 inhuman, ungrateful natives weekly murdering our back inhabit- 

 ants ; and those few Indians that profess some friendship to us, 



