404 DOCTOR FRANKLIN [1770. 



I suppose Mr. Michael Collixsox, or Doctor Fothergill, 

 have written to you what may be necessary for your information, 

 relating to your affairs here. I imagine there is no doubt but the 

 King's bounty to you will be continued ; and that it will be proper 

 for you to continue sending, now and then, a few such curious 

 seeds as you can procure, to keep up your claim. 



And now I mention seeds, I wish you would send me a few of 

 such as are least common, to the value of a guinea, which Mr. 

 Foxcroft will pay you for me. They are for a particular friend 

 who is very curious. 



If in anything I can serve you here, command freely, 



Your affectionate friend, 



B. Franklin. 



P. S. Pray, let me know whether you have had sent you any of 

 the seeds of the Rhubarb, described in the inclosed prints. It is 

 said to be of the true kind. If you have it not, I can procure 

 some seed for you. 



London, Jan. 11, 1770. 



My ever dear Friexd : 



I received your kind letter of Nov. 29, with the parcel of seeds, 

 for which I am greatly obliged to you. I cannot make you ade- 

 quate returns, in kind ; but I send you, however, some of the true 

 Rhubarb seed, which you desire. I had it from Mr. Ixglish, 

 who lately received a medal, of the Society of Arts, for propa- 

 gating it. I send, also, some green dry Pease, highly esteemed 

 here as the best for making pease soup ; and also some Chinese 

 Garavances, with Father Navaretta's account of the universal 

 use of a cheese made of them, in China, which so excited my 

 curiosity, that I caused inquiry to be made of Mr. Flint, who 

 lived many years there, in what manner the cheese was made ; and 

 I send you his answer. I have since learnt, that some runnings 

 of salt (I suppose runnet) is put into water when the meal is in 

 it, to turn it to curds. 



I think we have Garavances with us ; but I know not whether 

 they are the same with these, which actually came from China, 

 and are what the Tau-fu is made of. They are said to be of great 

 increase. 



