250 PETER COLLINSON [1763. 



many seeds lose their vegetation coming over, that few are raised 

 (notwithstanding all his skill), when we consider the infinite quan- 

 tity of seeds that we have received from thee, in thirty years past. 



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But I will try thy patience no longer, than to assure thee I am 

 thy sincere friend, 



P. Collinson. 



London, June 8th, 17G3. 



My dear John: 



I am in high delight. My two Mountain Magnolias are pyra- 

 mids of flowers, almost the extremity of every branch is a flower. 

 My short and long-leafed Sarracenia, growing close together, are 

 both in flower, and make a charming contrast, the one red the 

 other a golden hue. Well mightest thou say, how fine they looked 

 to see a number together. 



I received thy acceptable letters of April 24th and May 1st. 

 My good John makes no allowance for one or two packets that 

 were taken thinks enemies, wind, and tide should obey his 

 wishes. I never had thy letter with the leaves of Tipitiivitchet, 

 yet I never complain, and think my dear friend dead and buried. 

 Bad news comes fast enough, and therefore I always think the 

 best. I cannot get Solander, who has thy 



list, to settle the names of the last specimens. I want to send 

 them to thee. 



Gordon has raised the fine Periploca, from the Ohio. It is 

 growing in my garden. 



Pray look, where grows nearest, some Azaleas, Kalmias, and 

 Rhododendrons, for my son-in-law, who has lately bought a fine 

 estate, and built a noble house, and made extensive plantations, 

 and is quite cracked after plants, has plundered my garden all he 

 can, and looks with such a longing eye on what remains, that 

 unless thou sends me a box of those plants to keep all quiet for 

 my own son is so ardent to keep what I have that I shall have 

 something to do to manage my two sons. They are so fond of 

 plants, and take such care in planting in proper soil and situation, 

 it gives me entertainment to see their ingenuity and emulation. 



But my son Cator deserves encouragement; for when he married 

 my daughter, about ten years agone, he scarcely knew an apple 



