1767.] T0 JOHN BARTRAM. 293 



I don't remember thy finding the Red Acacia. It has been so 

 loaded with flowers, I am obliged to prop up the branches. It is 

 the glory of our gardens, and flowers twice a year. I think it one 

 of the finest trees of America. * 



I have sent thy case to Doctor Fothergill, who resides in 

 Cheshire for two months, to get rid of too much practice. If it 

 comes time enough, will send it by this ship. I wish it may, for 

 thou art in a bad way. 



Mill Hill, September 19th, 1767. 



I cannot let this ship sail without inquiring after my dear John 

 and family's welfare, and acquainting him with mine. I am, 

 thank God, in perfect health, no complaints of any sort attending 

 me ; I Avish my old friend could say the like. 



I hope thou hast mine, with Doctor Fothergill's advice, by, I 

 think, Captain Falconer, with a box of Tulips and Hyacinths, a 

 present from James Gordon, Jr., an ingenious young man who 

 deserves thy encouragement, for he has a garden of his own. 



This day thy countryman, Doctor Kuhx, and Doctor Solander, 

 dined with me here. He will tell thee of the prosperity of my 

 garden, and how all thy kind presents flourish, being now arrived 

 to some magnitude and perfection. Unless something new and 

 rare, don't trouble thyself in my behalf. 



* * * * 



Thou canst scarcely think, my dear John, what I have been for 

 some time employed about : then I will tell thee. After perusing 

 thy entertaining Journal, two or three times, I found so many 

 curious articles blended together, in the length of seventy-nine 

 pages, that it was impossible to find them out, after a tedious 

 search. If there had been a large margin left on the sheets, then 

 note of the principal matters would have led to the principal sub- 

 jects on that page. But as there was no room left for this, I then 

 determined to compose three indexes. In the first I selected all 

 thy botanic discoveries ; in the first column the page of thy Jour- 

 nal, next the particular place, then enumerating the plants there 

 found. This is contained in two sheets of paper, which I can pre- 

 sently run over, and see the produce of each place in each province. 

 The second contained all thy remarks and observations, abridged, 

 on the petrified rocks and bluffs. This comprehends a sheet, and 



