458 MICHAEL COLLINS ON [1774. 



is just published ; by which it appears that in the islands of the 

 South Seas, within the tropics, Nature has been as sparing of her 

 animal productions as of her vegetable. In the delightful isle of 

 Otaheite, in, I think, 19 degrees south latitude, the natives pos- 

 sessed no other quadrupeds than hogs and dogs, the latter of which 

 they preferred to the former. Fish, indeed, was the grand article, 

 their principal support, which abounded ; and, excepting the bread- 

 fruit, mentioned in Anson's Voyage, and the cocoa-nut, they had 

 little else to boast of. The adventurers, however, left them abun- 

 dance of European pulse, stones of peaches, kernels of various 

 kinds, particularly Orange and Lemon, &c, &c, which promised to 

 enrich the island, as many of them sprouted with great luxuriance 

 before their departure. 



I have now only just room to add, that it is with equal respect 

 and affection I remain, dear sir, your very gratefully obliged friend 

 and servant. 



Michael Collinson. 



Manchester Buildings, March 5th, 1774. 



My dear Feiend : 



Your most acceptable favour of the 8th of November last, came 

 safe to hand ; and I am to thank you for all your ingenious and 

 obliging communications, which never fail to make me a wiser man, 

 whilst at the same time they are the sources of much enter- 

 tainment. 



The few things you gave me the hopes of receiving, this [last ?] 

 autumn, I imagine you was disappointed in procuring : though 

 what I principally wished, was only a few perfect specimens of 

 your Oysters, to which, if a land or river shell, or so, had been 

 added, I should have been more than contented ; and have paid 

 freight, and any expense in procuring, that might have arisen. 



With respect to Natural History, though I am at present, from 

 various wayward reasons, prevented from enjoying my beloved 

 amusement in botanical researches, yet I still flatter myself (per- 

 haps vainly) with passing the autumn, or at least winter of my 

 days, in some sequestered situation, far removed from the tumult 

 and confusion of this metropolis, which are the utter aversion of 

 my soul. 



In the mean while, I indulge in the contemplation of what my 



