1770.] TO HUMPHRY MARSHAL!-. 



I shall think of the books thou desires, wheD I can meet with 

 them. 



I am thy obliged friend, 



John Fotherghll. 



London, 25th 1st mo. 1769. 



London, 15th 3d mo. 1770. 



Esteemed Friend: 



Though I intended thee a long letter, yet I am, through un- 

 avoidable engagements, obliged to send thee only two or three 

 lines. 



I received the seeds, plants, and cask with the Colocasia, in very 

 good order. Nothing ever, I believe, came over in better condi- 

 tion than the plants. I hope some of the roots of the Colocasb' 

 will live ; but they were, some of them, quite rotten by the mois- 

 ture. It will be a better way, I see, to send them over in me 

 than in mud : and please to send me a root or two in this manner, 

 next autumn. 



Dr. Franklin will send all the instruments thou requests, for 

 which I shall pay him, cheerfully. Some of the books thou desires 

 are, at present, out of print ; but I shall get and send the rest as 

 soon as I can. 



I have sent, under Captain Falconer's care, an empty box, 

 locked, and the key secured to one of the handles. It is designed 

 to secure any Insects that may fall in thy way. The drawers are 

 lined with cork ; and it will be easy to fix either Moths, Flics, or 

 Beetles upon them, so as to come with safety. A great variety of 

 Beetles must be found under the bark of all your old decayed 



trees. 



Continue to send me such new seeds or plants as occur to thee. 

 Ferns and Pohjpodiums, of many kinds, are yet to be found ami 

 you; many water plants, likewise, which, wrapt in wet moss, 

 would come to us safe. 



A friend of mine has lately published a tract, describing in what 

 manner plants may be best conveyed to us, together with a de- 

 scription of your Dioncea. Perhaps it may afford thee some little 

 assistance in sending thy plants over. 



I doubt not but you have many curious herbaceous plants yet 

 unnoticed: struck with the greater objects of shrubs and trees, 



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