312 COLONEL VV. BYRD [1738. 



for horses and deer. Pray, my good friend, write to me, and let 

 me know wherein I can do thee any farther service ; which will 

 oblige thy sincere friend, 



J. B. 



JOHN BARTRAM TO COLONEL CUSTIS. 



The 19th of November, 1738. 



Dear Friend Colonel Custis : 



I am safely returned home to my family, which I found in good 

 health, as I have been ever since I left thee ; for which I am 

 thankful to Divine Providence, whose powerful regard is to all his 

 creation. 



Now, dear friend, I can't forget thy kind entertainment ; and it 

 is with a great satisfaction and pleasure that I think upon the 

 agreeable hours I spent in thy conversation, as well as thy kind 

 expressions at parting, which hath engaged my respect after a par- 

 ticular manner. 



I had a successful journey up to, upon, and beyond the Blue 

 Mountains, where I collected a fine variety of curious plants. 



There grows on the other side of James River, a little above 

 Isham Randolph's, a tree, the kind of which is known in Europe 

 by the name of Thuja, or Arbor Vita?, which, if thee could pro- 

 cure some seed thereof, if it growed, would be a curious ornament 

 in thy garden. I doubt not, if thee was to write or speak to 

 Isham, he would procure thee some. He was very kind to me, 

 during the time I stayed with him, and sent his man with me to 

 the mountains, which was kind indeed. If it lieth in thy way, 

 pray, give my love to him. There is the Umbrella-tree cones 

 near thee, and the ripe berries of Yapon, and the acorns of the 

 Live Oak, growing near Captain Caswell's, would be very ac- 

 ceptable to me ; but I know not how to get them to Philadelphia. 



COLONEL W. BYRD* TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



Virginia, the 30th of November, 1738. 



Sir: 

 No sooner than yesterday did I receive your kind letter, which 



* Colonel William Byrd, a distinguished citizen of Virginia, was a member of 

 the Council about the year 1682. When, in 1699, about three hundred of the 



