1764.] " TOJOHNBARTRAM. 259 



he is our right hand man. How happy is it to have children of so 

 agreeable a cast ! I speak it feelingly by my own son. 



I hope what I have writ will be read with candour. Our long 

 friendship will allow us to rally one another, and crack a joke 

 without offence, as none was intended by 



Thy sincere friend, 



P. Collinson. 



Doctor Solander gives his service ; is obliged to thee for re- 

 membering him. 



* * * The first paragraph in my Proposals [for a peace with 

 the Indians] is shamefully printed, by omissions is made unintelli- 

 gible. No remedy but patience; though it vexes me to the heart to 

 have it read as my genuine copy : for it is impossible for me to tell 

 the printer's carelessness. * * * 



London, January 1, 1763 [4]. 



I am very thankful to the great Author of my being that I enter 

 the new year in perfect good health and spirits. I heartily wish 

 the like comfortable situation may attend my dear friend, and his 

 family. 



It was a pleasure to me to receive thine of the 30th September ; 

 but that joy was allayed by the sad accident, which I hope will not 

 prove of bad consequence. 



I don't wonder your autumn gardens are so delightful, as your 

 country more abounds with stately fine flowers than in the spring, 

 and we, through thine and other friends' benevolence, have many 

 of these beauties in great perfection, which makes our gardens gay 

 to the depth of winter, and if mild, the autumn flowers join the 

 spring as they do now. 



Gordon has been fortunate enough to raise one of the fine, tall 

 Silphiums, with scaly heads, and we hope some others that have 

 not yet flowered. 



The broad-leafed Commelyna, I take to be what was formerly 

 called John Tradescant's Spider-wort [?]. We have three 

 species. 



Thy quick discernment of plants is a knack peculiar to thyself, 

 and is attained by the long exercise of thy faculties in that amuse- 



