208 PETER COLLINSON [1756. 



manage himself, and that was engraving ; and which he thought 

 would suit Billy well. * * * 



We had a small shock of an earthquake. It awakened me ; but 

 many were not sensible of it. * * 



By the common Laurel, I mean what you sometimes call Ivy 

 [Kalmia]. * * * * 



PETER COLLINSON TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



London, June 8, 1756. 



I am obliged to my kind friend, for his letter of the 21st of 

 February. 



We here are greatly affected at the ravages and cruelties exer- 

 cised by your ungrateful perfidious Indians. We hope proper 



measures will be taken to prevent their depredations for the future. 

 * % ^ % * 



Why may not a murrain fall upon dogs, as well as amongst our 

 bulls and cows ? which has now been many years in several parts 

 of this nation. At first, the distemper made great havoc ; but it 

 grows less and less, and we hope is now gone off. 



Great and many are the calamities of war, and the expenses that 

 attend it. It is new to you, the yoke sits very uneasy ; but we 

 have felt it in every sense. We all wish for peace. The ways of 

 Providence are unsearchable ; it may be nearer than we imagine. 



I am concerned that I hear nothing from Moses, since the letter 

 from him, that I sent thee. How does my friend Billy go on ? 

 I shall be glad to hear that he is with our friend Franklin. 



Our friend Golden has writ me how he was obliged to leave his 

 habitation. I truly sympathize with him, under such severe cala- 

 mities. Oh ! the delights of peace, when every man can sit under 

 his own vine and fig tree, and none make him afraid. He has 

 sent me the curious stone, thou mentions, that is impressed with a 

 species of bivalve shells that I don't remember to have seen. 



About a week ago, I dined with your new governor [William 

 Denny]. If I may judge by his countenance, he seems a mild, 

 moderate man. He assured me he went over determined, if pos- 

 sible, to heal all differences. I heartily wish he may be so happy. 



Our last winter was very mild. The Aconite was in flower about 

 the middle of December. Many of your American deciduous trees, 

 never lost their leaves. * 



