442 JOHN HILL [1766. 



make his banishment less galling, and present him with some pros- 

 pect of reaping the fruit of his labours. 



Here I shall drop the subject ; and, after presenting Mrs. Lau- 

 rens's and my own hearty good wishes, put an end to this long 

 letter, subscribing myself, sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



Henry Laurens. 



JOHN HILL- TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



London, Dec. G, 17GG. 



Sir : 



There is wanted here, on a very particular occasion, four 

 pounds of the root of Lobelia supltiUtiea, or the Blue Cardinal, 

 dry'd, to be used in medicine. My Lord Bute has given me per- 

 mission to desire you to gather and send it over. 



The same occasion wants, also, two ounces of the root of Actcea 

 racemosa ; and eight ounces of Collinsonia root. If you will take 

 the trouble of adding these, it will also be very acceptable. 



I believe the name of Doctor Hill is known to you, although 

 we never corresponded. I always have, and always shall espouse 

 your interest. 



I am your faithful, humble servant, 



John Hill. 



Please direct the roots to me, at my house in Arlington Street, 

 St. James's. 



* Sir John Hill, an indefatigable book-maker, and a person of mucli notoriety 

 in his day, was born in 1716. Possessed of some talents, great industry, and 

 infinite assurance, he made lofty pretensions to science, though the scientific of his 

 own time, and since, have ever regarded him as an empiric, both in Medicine and 

 Natural History. Peter Ascaxius, in a letter to Lixx.eis, dated London, April 7, 

 1755, says, "Dr. Hill, the too famous naturalist of England, is in the lowest 

 possible condition. I do not think any mortal has ever written with more impu- 

 dence or more ignorance. His only excuse is, that he must write in order to 

 exist." Yet he obtained the patronage of the great especially of the Earl of 

 Bute ; and was such an assiduous courtier, that Linnaeus, in allusion, it is said, 

 to his obsequious habits, named a plant Ilillia parasitica I This remarkable man 

 died in November, 1775, aged fifty-nine years. 



