1761.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 409 



I am very glad to hear that you are perfectly well recovered of 

 your troublesome cough and fever. I assure you, I was under a 

 good deal of concern for your going away, with such a disorder 

 upon you. 



There was one paper of seed you were so kind to send me, in- 

 scribed Dracocephalum, which, by the appearance and smell of the 

 dry calyces, I take to be the same plant which I have had several 

 years in my garden. It is called three-leaved American Molda- 

 vica, with a strong scent of Balm of Gilead. 



I have a species of Aconite [A. uncinatnm, L. ?] in my garden, 

 which grows about five feet high. I found it at our little South- 

 west Mountains. The flowers are blue, and grow in the same 

 manner as those on your large tall species, according to your 

 description. In its natural place of growth, it blossoms in Octo- 

 ber ; but in my garden it is about three weeks forwarder. You 

 say you never found any real species of the true Aconite, ex- 

 cept that tall one, near our South Mountains. Now I should be 

 glad to know what you take our Stagger-weed to be. 



The places you mention for our meeting at again zfre, my dear 

 friend, such as I fear I shall never be able to travel to. 



Captain Bentley, at his return, told me he was at your house, 

 but could not see you, because, as some of your family informed 

 him, you were gone a long journey in search of plants, &c, and 

 could not be expected at home while he stayed. 



When Mr. Franklin was at Vwlliamsburgh, he desired me if 

 I had occasion to write to you, or Doctor Garden, by the way of 

 Philadelphia, to send the letters under a cover directed for him, in 

 order to save paying postage ; but now, as he is not in America, 

 I don't know very well how to act, if I should have no other way 

 of writing to you than by the post. 



I have sent you, here inclosed, three papers of seeds, such as 

 I judged would be most acceptable. They are all natives of 

 Virginia. 



This comes by a young gentleman, a friend and neighbour of 

 mine, whose name is Richard Blacknall, who, I am confident, 

 may be relied upon for his utmost care of a box of rooted plants 

 if you'll please to be so kind as to send it by him, to, dear friend, 

 your most sincere and affectionate friend, 



John Clayton. 



Pray, don't forget to put a root or two of Madder in the box. 



