298 PETER COLLINSON [1768. 



P. COLLINSON TO JOHN BAItTRAM. 



Mill Hill, 17th February, [1768]. 



My dear John : 



I have received thy ingenious son Billy's wonderful perform- 

 ances ; but, what surpasses all, is the Colocasia. Now I am amply 

 gratified, and wish for no more. 



I am sensible there has been much paper, paint, &c, expended 

 on my account. I request that thou will pay to thy son William 

 the value of a guinea, sterling, in your currency. I intended to 

 have put it in a letter, but I recollected I had formerly lost the 

 letter, for the sake of the money, and that to boot ; for the low 

 officers, that have the handling and sorting the letters, can easily 

 feel, and cannot resist pocketing a Aveighty letter. For that reason 

 I ask the favour, and I will make myself debtor in thy account. 

 What pleasure it must give thee to have such ingenious sons. 

 William, and Moses in his way, has obliged me with his curious 

 observations; and Johnny in his way for plants and insects ; are 

 all very grateful to me, their father's old friend. * * My love 

 to them all. 



I saw the box of plants opened for the King. They are in good 

 order, and a fine collection as is mine ; but there is some formality 

 to deliver a King's box, which will go to Kew garden, where all 

 vegetables are treated with the utmost care, and all that art can 

 do, to bring them to perfection in our climate. * 



It's late, so adieu. 



P. COLLINSON. 



Mill Hill, May 17th, 1768. 



I had the pleasure of my dear John's two letters of December 

 20th and January 24th. These I received April loth. 



My Colocasia nuts don't appear. I despair of them. They are 

 in a pot, in a pond, always covered with water. If any fresh nuts 

 offer again, put them instantly in a bottle of water, and so send 

 them over. Though Billy's lively drawing gives a clear idea of 

 it, yet, to be sure, the real thing is to be preferred to the most 

 perfect work of art. * * * 



