1759.] TO JOHN BAR TRAM. 219 



I shall take more notice of in process of time : and I have since 

 received thine of February 28th, March loth, and April 6th. 



* * The grafts were such poor slender weak things, I am 

 afraid they will come to nothing ; besides, there were so few of 

 them, our chance was the less. 



I am glad your Governor has paid his bill. I desire to have no 

 more to do with so unworthy a person. 



What I have writ before, I Avill repeat again. If thou will im- 

 power by a proper writing, signed, and attested under your city 

 seal, in which I may be indemnified if any loss should happen on 

 thy money laid out in bank stock, or annuities, I will readily do it. 

 I have not the least suspicion of thee, my dear friend, but I don't 

 think it reasonable to be called to account by thy executors for 

 what I did as an act of kindness, having only my labour for my 

 pains. * * * 



If any Land or Water Terrapins happen in thy way, save 

 them and send them ; but not the great Mud Turtle. I only 

 want his shell; and if Billy would paint his curious figure, it 

 would be better. If any Orchis, Calceolus Maria, Martagons, 

 Lilies, or any other curious plant think on thy old friend, 



P. Collixsox. 



In Jaled Eliot's letter, I perceive thou has a method of 



splitting rocks with water. Pray tell me how that is performed ; 



and give me thy answer to his five cpieries about that operation. 

 * * # * 



London, July 20th, 1759. 



I answered my dear John's letter of the 28th January, and 

 February 8th, per Captain Simpson, April 9th. 



^ * 5-C * 



I am greatly pleased with thy account of our English wild 

 plants. So early as Josselyn, he makes an article, or list, of our 

 plants growing in New England, in his time, which came in grass 

 seeds, or by strange accidents : as the willow and the Scotch 

 Thistle, which I think a fine plant. I had it once in my garden. 



See what climate and soil do. The Yellow Lbiaria is no pest 

 with us. I keep it in my garden; and it is very orderly, for the 

 sake of its fine spike of orange and yellow flowers. 



The Hypericum keeps always on the borders of our fields ; but 



