1771.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 447 



I am projecting a little tour through France, part of Spain, and 

 Italy ; but this will not be attended with the least postponement 

 to finally balancing the above account, as I shall take care your 

 drafts on me shall be properly honoured ; so that you may draw 

 how and when you please for it. When you draw, do it for near 

 the whole, if you please, at once. It will be the most agreeable 

 to me, to finish at once, if we can. If I go, it will be in a month's 

 time ; and my absence will be about six or seven months. 



You have, sir, of course, I conclude, heard from Dr. Fothergill 

 that I have let my premises at Mill Hill for two years, with a 

 reserve, in the lease, that not a single plant or the soil that con- 

 tains them, is upon any terms to be moved ; for, even yet there 

 are still some very few fine plants remaining, of the rich collection 

 which your bounty furnished us with, the miserable remains of 

 three most cruel robberies, which have torn the garden all to pieces, 

 and left me only the wretched apprehension of finding fresh 

 devastation on every little absence from home. This, with some 

 other unimagined and disagreeable circumstances operating, ren- 

 dered a residence at Mill Hill both uncomfortable and inconvenient, 

 at present. 



As no notice has been taken, to me, of the draft of the 

 Colocasia, I conclude the Doctor will convey the same to the Duke 

 of Portland, agreeably to your orders. Sir Wm. Bretton is 

 acquainted with your pleasure respecting the King's bounty. 



I should think some very singular kinds of fresh-water shells 

 might be met with, on the shores of your vast interior lakes ; and 

 some of the land tribe, as well as river, I think must be a curiosity 

 here, even in the best cabinets. I should be very glad to see a 

 specimen or two of them. 



I shall always find myself happy in hearing of the prosperity 



and health of a gentleman for whom my most valued parent felt 



the sincerest regard and friendship to his latest hour ; and I am 



sure it will be ever with the truest respect that I shall be, dear sir, 



Your faithful and most obliged servant, 



Michael Colllnson. 



Manchester Buildings, March 1st, 1770. 



Manchester Buildings, Jan. 9th, 1771. 



My dear Sir : 



It was with great pleasure, soon after my return home from the 



