1757.] T0 JOHN BARTRAM. 215 



The Skunk-weed (Arum Betas folio) began to show its flowers, 

 7th of February, though we have had a very severe winter. 



% 5fc * ^ 



I shall be heartily glad your treaty with the Indians may pro- 

 duce a settled peace, that bloodshed may cease. * * 



JOHN BARTRAM TO P. COLLINSON. 



September the 25th, 1757. 



Dear Peter : 



I have received thy kind letter of June the 16th, 1757. I am 

 glad that my cargo came safe to your hands, and was in some de- 

 gree acceptable ; yet must reckon myself in several cases unfor- 

 tunate, and in particular in this, that when I have endeavoured 

 to give the greatest satisfaction, my labours have been the least 

 valued. Last year, thee wrote to me to send thee a variety of seeds 

 of forest trees, shrubs, and plants, to give to thy friends, for that 

 they expected thee was able to supply them with a variety ; and, 

 according to thy earnest request, I did what I could to oblige both 

 thee and thy friends, and freely sent a variety, which came safe to 

 thy hand. But when I read these lines in thy letter, " What didst 

 mean, to send me so large a box of seeds ? It made much trouble, 

 and time, to part it" this answer quite astonished me ; to think 

 it a trouble to part a few seeds, sent ready to hand to one's intimate 

 friends. 



I reflected upon myself what pains I had taken to collect those 

 seeds, in several hundred miles' travel, drying, packing, boxing 

 and shipping, and all to put my friend to trouble ! 



Indeed, my good friend, if thee was not a widower, I should be 

 inclined to tell thee that old age advanced as fast upon thee as 

 upon myself ! And perhaps these lines may give offence ; for, as 

 times go now, we must not complain of either private or public dis- 

 appointment, no, not to one's particular friends. * 



* * * My family is generally pretty well, at present ; 

 but it is, I believe, the most grievous time for general sickness, in 

 the provinces, that has ever been since their settlement. 



My Billy comes on finely with Captain Child, who is very 

 kind to him, and keeps him very close to his business. He hath 



