288 PETER COLLINSON [1767. 



case of some ingenious people in his way (that I have known) that 

 have been foreigners. If my advice may have any weight with him, 

 it is, to get him a good, notable wife, a farmer's daughter, and 

 return to Ins estate, and set his shoulders heartily to work to im- 

 prove it. A moderate industry goes a great way, too, (in so fine 

 a climate,) to supply the belly, as little is wanting for the back. 



The Spigelia I have in great prosperity ; but I lament the loss 

 of the Agave. For more than thirty years past, I have wished for 

 it. If all the plants had been left, and that sent, I should not 

 have regretted so much. I see the heart must not be set on any- 

 thing. I dare say it never was in England. A drawing of it in 

 flower would be cpuite new. I suppose it is so succulent there is 

 no curing a specimen. * * * 



* * * Puccoon [Sanguinaria] and Claytonia, in flower, 

 April 5th. 



Don't it make thee smile ? I set out to say little, and now I 

 scrawl on ; for I know thou loves long stories. It's past ten 

 o'clock : so good night. 



P. COLLINSON. 



Pray, send specimen of Bee's flower. 



PETER COLLINSON TO WILLIAM BARTRAM.* 



Mill Hill, July 28, 1767. 



I am extremely obliged to my very ingenious friend, William 

 Bartram, for so many instances of his respect and regard for his 



* William Bartram, the fourth son of John Bartram, and twin brother of 

 Elizabeth Bartram, was born on the 9th of February, in the year 1739, at 

 the Botanic Garden, Kingsessing, near Philadelphia. He was educated at the 

 old College, in Philadelphia, under the care of Charles Thomson, afterwards the 

 well-known Secretary of the Revolutionary Congress. Early in life he mani- 

 fested a considerable talent for drawing, especially in delineating objects of 

 Natural History, and this predilection occasioned some delay and difficulty in 

 deciding upon a profession. At one time he inclined to be a printer ; next, an 

 engraver ; but he was finally, at the age of eighteen years, placed with a respecta- 

 ble merchant of Philadelphia, where he continued about four years ; after which 

 he went to North Carolina, with a view of doing business there as a merchant ; 

 but being ardently attached to the study of Botany he soon relinquished his 

 mercantile pursuits (in which he was rather unsuccessful), and accompanied his 

 father in a journey into East Florida, to explore the natural productions of that 



