1765.1 T0 J0HN BARTRAM. 269 



specimens, and to get a leather cover the size of the paper to 

 secure the specimens from wet ; and leather bags for to secure the 

 seeds from the rain. 



As for living plants, it will be impossible, unless they grow not 

 far from the sea-port. 



Now, as thou knows my love for Natural History, I desire thou 

 will provide thyself with little flat boxes fit for the pocket, and 

 with pins, that if thou sees any species of insects, to have some 

 contrivance to catch them, such as all sorts of Beetles, Bees, 

 Wasps, Locusts (that is Grasshoppers, for the Cicadas, that you 

 call Locusts, I have enough). Butterflies and Moths are too diffi- 

 cult to manage. Pray, look out for all sorts of Land Snails, and 

 River Shells, one, two, or three of a sort, is enough, and any other 

 production, that I may see the wonderful creatures of this new 

 world. Many of these may be stuck thick together in a little box. 



* * Whether it will not be better to go by sea to Carolina, 

 taking thy son or a servant with thee, and there hire horses for 

 the expedition, than taking so long a journey by land, over and 

 over again, without meeting with anything new, this must be sub- 

 mitted to thy better judgment and experience to determine. 



For thy health and preservation, thou hast the best wishes of 



thy sincere friend, 



P. Collinson. 



About a month agone, I advised my friend John of the King's 

 intention, by a Pennsylvania ship and a New York ship. 



At the same time that thou art collecting seeds for the King, 

 where thou finds plenty, thou may think on me and thy other cor- 

 respondents. 



London, May [1765]. 



I wrote, my dear John, by the packet of April 12th, by way of 

 New York, informing of him that he was appointed the King's 

 botanist, at 50 per annum, and that I have received the first 

 payment of 25, which is carried to account. 



John, thou knows nothing what it is to solicit at court any 

 favour ; nay, though it is for their own interest, they are so taken 

 up with public affairs, little things slip through their fingers. For 

 all I can do, I cannot get thee letters of recommendation to any of 

 the Governors. 



