1762.] PETER COLLINSON. 243 



they are suffocated. I observed at the distance of one hundred 

 and twenty miles from Charleston, all the Fig trees are yearly 

 killed down to the ground, that are exposed to the south or west, 

 hut those in the same garden that faced the north, and were shaded 

 from the sun, did well. The hot sun in the day, and the sharp 

 frosts in the night, kill them. ***** 



I am obliged to thee for the books and prints thee sent me. The 

 print of the Bastard Pheasant, and Cinnamon, I had not before. 

 That fine piece of Stillixgfleet's, I had two years ago. The 

 miscellanies no way suited my taste, except the Calendar of Flora. 

 My head runs all upon the works of God, in nature. It is through 

 that telescope I see God in his glory. * * As for 



those monstrous skeletons on the Ohio, I have wrote to thee 

 largely, just before I set out for Carolina, and since my return. 

 But by thy letter thee seems to think the skeletons stand in the 

 posture the beasts stood in when alive, which is impossible. The 

 ligaments would rot, and the bones fall out of joint, and tumble 

 confusedly on the ground. But it's a great pity, and shame to the 

 learned curiosos, that have great estates, that they don't send 

 some person that will take pains to measure every bone exactly, 

 before they are broken and carried away, which they will soon be. 

 by ignorant, careless people, for gain. * * 



My thanks to Groxovius for his new edition of the Flora Vir- 

 ginia. It's pity the plants beyond the South Mountain, and the 

 draft of that fine country, had not been in it. 



PETER COLLINSON TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



Mill Hill, December 10th, 1762. 



I am here all alone, and yet I have the company of my friends 

 with me. This will be no paradox, when I tell thee, on the table 

 lie their speaking letters, in that silent language which conveys 

 their most intimate thoughts to my mind. In course, thine, my 

 dear John, conies first. I thank thee for thine of the loth August. 

 I have, in my former letters, acknowledged the receipt of thy 

 Journal, which is a lasting fund of entertainment to me and my son, 

 these long evenings. * * "Whilst the Frenchman 



was ready to burst with laughing, I am ready to burst with desire 



