1763.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 247 



he would be used himself. He seems a gentleman, but this is not 

 gentleman-like to treat thee in this manner. My letter was dated 

 May the 12th. December 10th wrote a long letter by packet. 



I inclose Doctor Witt's letter, which may be some entertain- 

 ment, as thou knows the man. 



I am thy sincere friend, 



P. COLLINSON. 



I thank thy wife for her kind intelligence of our friend Frank- 

 lin's arrival. * * Give my love to him and that of our family. 



If the small Alligator caught at Pittsburg has a remarkable flat 

 proboscis, then it is the animal I published in the Magazine. 



A complete skin of that animal would be a great and a new 

 curiosity to all naturalists. Look back to the Magazine, and thou 

 will find what I say about it, I fancy about three years agone. 



London, March 11, 1763. 



Being much engaged, I missed the last packet ; but by the Sally, 

 Captain Patrick, of Philadelphia, I thanked my dear John for 

 the acceptable letter that gave me advice of his safe return from 

 the Garden of Eden. 



Since that, I have suffered much concern for the Carolina, Cap- 

 tain Friend, being taken by the Spaniards and carried into Bil- 

 boa ; but as she was taken eleven or twelve days after the treaty 

 was signed, she has been claimed, and I hear, this day, she will be 

 delivered. I presume all our seed boxes are on board, but, as is 

 customary, all letters were thrown overboard, so shall be at a great 

 loss to find things. So pray write by very first, and send to our 

 friend Alex. Colden, postmaster at New York, to go by first mail 

 from thence, which sails every month. 



I am, in a hurry of business, thine, 



P. Collinson. 



London, April 7th, 1763. 



I am exceedingly engaged in business for your world, yet, as I 

 know, it must be very satisfactory to hear that thy boxes arrived, 

 and delivered the 6th ; though late, it's better than never, and that 



