410 JOHN CLAYTON [1763. 



Dear worthy Friend : 



I have been in great expectation, a long tedious time, of having 

 the satisfaction of receiving a letter from you ; but alas ! my 

 wishes and expectation have hitherto been quite disappointed ; and 

 if it was not for my correspondence with Mr. Collinson, and now 

 and then meeting with persons from Philadelphia, I should be 

 totally in the dark as to your being still in the land of the living. 



I have wrote to you several times, since I received your enter- 

 taining, agreeable letter ; and the last I sent, was (I think) by one 

 Mr. Wm. Adcock, who, I am informed, lives in your city, and is in 

 partnership with one Mr. JonN Peyton, an elderly man, and I 

 have great reason to believe that that letter, with several sorts of 

 seed inclosed, got safe to your hands. 



I hear, by common fame, that you have made some excursions, 

 in quest of vegetables, as far as the Lakes Michigan and Superior, 

 and should be highly delighted with some few sketches, or an epi- 

 tome of voifr travels and discoveries in the vegetable kingdon. I 

 had much rather have it from you, than at second-hand from our 

 friend Collinson, who is generally, upon such a topic, too concise. 



I should, in particular, be very glad to know if you saw any- 

 thing of the Canada Bonduc, or Nickar-tree \Grymnocladus Cana- 

 densis, Lam.], and if you brought any of the seed home with you. 

 I should esteem it a great favour to be admitted to participate 

 with you in that, or any other curious seed, where your stock is 

 sufficient. 



This comes by a gentleman of Philadelphia, Mr. Willing, who, 

 I understand, sets off from Colonel Byrd's the beginning of next 

 month ; and who, I dare say, will take particular care of any 

 letter or parcel you shall please to send me, and forward it (in 

 case he should not return soon to Virginia) by a safe, careful 

 hand, to Colonel Byrd, whom I have the honour to be well ac- 

 quainted with, and without vanity, esteem him one of my friends. 



I wish you and all your family, health and prosperity ; and am, 

 dear sir, your sincere, affectionate friend, 



And humble servant, 



John Clayton. 



March 16, 1763. 



